Trees are a majestic subject to photograph and experience. The changing seasons, unpredictable weather, and fleeting lighting make this pursuit both rewarding and frustrating. (Often the same trip.)
How many times have you seen a beautiful tree, snapped a few pictures, and then returned home to find that the photo was a poor copy of what you saw?
It is no surprise that trees tend to grow in forests. Even the most photogenic trees are competing with distracting distractions such as leaf litter, dead branches, and bright sky patches, not to mention another tree that creeps into the frame.
In photography, the challenge is half the fun. I have prepared seven tips that will help you capture the beauty of the tree.
1. Return under Better Conditions
This first tip may be the most straightforward–show up again. This will improve your photography.
Imagine you have seen a beautiful tree, and it has caught your attention. Great! Take a few pictures.
It’s unlikely that, if you are visiting a new place for the first time, you will get the best possible shot. If you’re able to, please share your secrets. There may be too many dead leaves, or it could be the wrong time of year. It could also be that the wind is blowing, causing all of the branches to blur.
Do what professional nature photographers do: note the location, wait and then return in a better light. What I mean by ‘better light’ will vary depending on the scene. You could return when:
- The direct sunlight reflects from a nearby rock shelf
- The soft sidelight produced by a sky filled with wispy clouds creates a scene that is more sculptural and dramatic.
- After daybreak, the exposed hillside glows a golden hue
- The fog softens your background and draws attention to the subject tree.
- Backlighting is harsh and creates a glowing halo around the branches.
2. Keep your eyes open to capture the details that define you
Forests can be complex and full of distractions. The chaotic elements, such as messy leaves and wayward branches, can combine to reduce the harmony of your images.
Focus on the details when you feel that tree scenes are too overwhelming. You can isolate certain features and hide others.
You might approach scenes with an open mind and curious eyes.
- Focus on trunk patterns–experimenting with swirls, lines, and shapes
- Use a telephoto to fill your frame with some shapely branches
- Find bark that has a fresh texture and color.
- Use a shallow depth of field to separate the background from the tree.
- Shoot at a distance, showing the forest as a grouping of abstract trunks.
Remember that even if you capture the details (and fail), not all images will be portfolio-worthy.
It’s not about producing perfect frames. It’s important to try out new angles and focus more on the unique features. See what works and doesn’t. Then, refine your composition until you’re satisfied with it.
3. Don’t stand still: Explore and gain elevation
It’s often not until you reach the base that you realize a tree’s true potential. Looking up in this way tends to increase distracting canopy gaps – patches of bright white skies between leaves – at the top of the picture.
Look for landscape features that will allow you to shoot from a higher altitude. You can use a boulder, a tree trunk that has fallen, or a hill.
It’s better to shoot down at the scene than up. Even a few feet of elevation can reduce the amount of canopy gaps.
You will also only be able to see a small fraction of all the possible frames when you are on a worn-out track. Leave the path to see the scene from different angles. Look at the tree from the side or behind.
Above all, be careful and considerate when you deviate from the path. Keep the vegetation intact. Leave the area as it is if you think it’s pristine. It is not worth ruining the photo.
4. It’s OK to exclude parts of the tree
You don’t need to take a picture of the entire tree when you see a beautiful tree. We often zoom in too far to capture every branch and leaf.
Cutting off the stray branches and ending the frame early serves two purposes.
You’ll also give more weight to the elements that you find most attractive. Do not just include the nicest features in your photo, such as fractal branches and autumnal colors. Make the entire photo about these features.
Second, close cropping adds a mysterious feel to the scene. The viewer will wonder, ‘what else could there be?’ beyond the frame.
A trunk can be used to frame a side of the picture. This acts as a natural anchor by blocking the edge of the scene and directing your viewer’s attention to the main subject.
By cropping just before the end of the trunk, you can give the illusion that the tree is much larger than it actually is. This will turn an ordinary tree into something giant.
5. FINE-TUNE YOUR FRAME FOR AS CLEAN A VIEW AS POSSIBLE
If you see a beautiful tree, don’t feel the need to set down your tripod immediately.
It would be best if you always tried to work within the limitations of the landscape. Don’t just stay in the same spot where you saw the scene.
You can also crouch, turn sideways, and try every angle.
- To ensure subject separation, avoid trunks overlapping.
- Avoid branches creeping into the corners of your frame
- Step forward and backward to create breathing space between trees
It is possible to create a more pleasing scene by moving your camera a few centimeters.
Distant trees will indeed block each other no matter where you place your camera. In the immediate area of interest, say 2-10 meters away, give your subjects space to breathe and allow them to stand on their feet.
6. Introduce context to tell a richer story
Include supporting elements to enhance your photo. While you want to avoid distractions and keep your image feeling uncluttered, it can also help tell a story.
You could include a fallen tree trunk to represent the lifecycle of a forest. You could use a flowing stream to draw the eye of the viewer. You can also frame the foreground using vibrant ferns in order to show off the lushness of a forest.
When you add new features, make sure to do it with purpose. Do not simply add elements to “add foreground appeal.”
Use these elements to frame your subject better. Add elements to allude to the ecosystem surrounding your topic. Add more elements to create a richer narrative.
7. MASTER POST-PROCESSING TO ADD SUBTLE FINISHES
Each tip so far has dealt with what to do on the field. But post-processing skills are just as important. Here are two powerful yet simple techniques.
First, lighten the shadows to reduce harsh distractions. Why? The viewer’s attention is drawn to areas with strong contrast. To minimize distracting regions, such as the dark shadows between trunks or the roots of trees, you can brighten only the harsher, darker areas.
You can use a luminosity layer in Photoshop to add a brightness adjustment. Then, depending on how intense the shadows are in your scene, boost the brightness of these areas between +20 and +40. This will ease the transition from light to dark.
Second, reduce the contrast in your scene to increase depth. Because air particles scatter light, our minds tend to associate low contrast with greater depth.
To enhance the depth of your two-dimensional picture, soften the contrast on distant trees. But very subtly. A slight contrast increase in trees near you and a slight decrease in tree distance will help to create a more dimensional image.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
Forests can seem overwhelming to capture in a single photograph.
As photographers, we face this challenge every time we capture a new scene. To innovate, we must be able to work within the limitations of nature.
You can create art by going beyond just taking photos and capturing the best of trees. Enjoy your shooting!
