Photos from the WFIWC Archives:
Insects and Damage

Ponderosa pine stand killed by the western pine beetle NW of Timber Mtn, Modoc N.F., California. Photo by John M. Miller, Sept. 1934. He wrote to Paul Keen: "This is the first time that I have been in the northern Modoc area for 3 years and was impressed both by the improved roads and the deterioration of the forest since my last visit. The areas where we first noticed heavy killing in 1925 have been greatly extended and the belt of dead forest seems to be extending into the better timber to the south." Severe drought occurred during that period and from Miller's observation, it would seem that over-mature pines on the poorer sites such as evident here were first to go. Miller took stand photos that show great composition. He also always positioned a person in the photo, which enhances viewer interest and provides scale. I believe that he was influenced in that regard by association with John E. Patterson, who had been an apprentice photographer before being hired by Miller in 1914 at Ashland, OR, during study of bark beetles and seed and cone insects.

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