Photography Challenge: Trees
One of my favourite environments is woodland. I have loved exploring the natural undulations of trees since I was a young boy.
My friends and I would spend the weekends at my house, and as soon as we could, we would run down to the woods to have fun! Those times in the woods are indescribable.
I cannot actually remember specific activities that we used to do but I have many memories of hours and days spent exploring, wondering and having a laugh in the woods.
Woodlands and specific trees can mean so much to different people for different reasons. For me standing in a woodland reminds me of my childhood and the happiness I had with my friends.
As I grew older and my interests developed I began to explore Bushcraft after becoming fascinated with the documentaries of Ray Mears (for those that don’t know about Ray, he is a British outdoorsman that you should definitely check out!). As my fascination with woodlands grew into learning about specific species and there uses, my appreciation for forests and nature in general grew.
This evolved into my love of photography. I wanted to capture the beauty and essence of nature for posterity and for myself. To make others see what I see.
This is a challenge so after reading through my examples and ideas, I want you to have a go and get some great images. The best examples I will include in a future article, with links to the creator’s social media/website. Show me what you can do by sending your photos to me at:
E-mail: info@drlphotography.co.uk
Disclaimer
All images shared with me will remain the property of the creator and will only be displayed with their permission. If you wish to use your own watermark to protect your images and show your brand, then please do. Anyone that has a go at the challenge and communicates with me, shall get a personal response and I hope we can discuss photography more. Your images will never be sold by me or anyone associated with this site. They are your images.
These photography challenges are about creating a community and inspiring creativity for you (my readers) and for myself. It is meant as a way of inspiring each other, critiquing each other and discussing new techniques and ideas.
Trees in the Landscape
Above are some of my images where trees are the main feature in the landscape. We often take trees in our environment for granted, not paying any particular attention to them and even being annoyed by them as they ‘ruin’ the landscape we wish to capture. Instead I want you to accentuate that relationship.
Find new ways to isolate a single subject that adds a feature to your image, rather than distracts you from the landscape beyond. Have a go at using a line of trees to draw you into the image.
Have the trees reflect an interesting light.
A couple of photos I have missed above, is an intimate image of a forest or a forest from above.
Go out and try to make trees the subject of your next landscape photograph.
Tree Profiles
Above are 3 images that focus directly on trees, the whole frame is consumed by a single tree. This is a great way to explore the patterns trees make as they grow.
The 3 images above come from 3 different countries: the top left is an Araucaria or Monkey Puzzle, taken in Chile; the top left is a conifer from just outside Vancouver, Canada; and the bottom one is a snow covered Scot’s Pine from Scotland.
For me all 3 images looked better in black and white, it removed the distraction of colour to allow you to focus on the contrast and shapes.
All 3 trees have different shapes and growing patterns, as there are no 2 trees the exact same. Explore their uniqueness and express it as creatively as you can.
Each tree is unique as a person and has a different story to tell. Try creating some images that accentuate the uniqueness of a tree and, in which, the tree is the only subject.
Tree Abstracts
These 3 images use trees in abstract way, each one has used a long exposure and either intentional camera movement or the trees responding to the environment (i.e. it was bloody windy!)
By moving the camera vertically as I took these pictures in a dense forest, patterns were created.
Some other ideas for abstract tree photos are: extreme close ups of branch patterns or changing the angle of the camera to create a new perspective.
This is the hardest part of this challenge for creativity, I’ve given some examples and ideas but I imagine that some of you are more creative than me and can produce some amazing images.
Think way outside the box and I’m sure that you will create some images that not only blow me away but many others!
In Conclusion
Get out there and make trees the subject of your next photo session. I’ve given some examples of my work with trees, and ideas of new images to be captured but this is a challenge so I want to see your work! Use these ideas and examples a starting point for your own experiments and projects.
Show me your work and the best will be featured in a future article with the creator’s social media/website linked. You can send me your images at:
E-mail: info@drlphotography.co.uk
Disclaimer
All images shared with me will remain the property of the creator and will only be displayed with their permission. If you wish to use your own watermark to protect your images and show your brand, then please do. Anyone that has a go at the challenge and communicates with me, shall get a personal response and I hope we can discuss photography more. Your images will never be sold by me or anyone associated with this site. They are your images.
These photography challenges are about creating a community and inspiring creativity for you (my readers) and for myself. It is meant as a way of inspiring each other, critiquing each other and discussing new techniques and ideas.
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Written by Daniel Long
Daniel Long created DRL Photography as a place to showcase his work as a photographer. Daniel has learnt a lot about photography and wishes to impart this knowledge with you, although the world is an ever changing place and he always says “you can never learn everything.” So as he makes his way, he continues to learn knew techniques, skills and information about photography. He focuses on Landscape and Wildlife photography and Daniel has a special focus on Scotland, his home away from home. As well as writing about photography and taking pictures out in the field, Daniel offers guided photography days so he can share his knowledge and locations in an effort to give his clients the best opportunities possible. Have a browse around this website to see his images, guided experiences and articles about photography. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in contact.