Interesting News: 03/2011

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55 Fascinating Forest Photographs (And Tips to Shoot Your Own!)

via Phototuts+ by Joel Bankhead on 3/15/11

Forests are, without a doubt, one of the worlds most amazing natural landscapes! As a photography subject they're incredibly versatile and can go from being mysterious, or downright terrifying, to being majestic and powerful in the space of a few hours!

There is something inherently awe-inspiring about trees, especially when you are surrounded by a seemingly endless host of them. Be it their magnificent size or enigmatic beauty, in the depths of the forest we remember nature's ability to thrive.

In a moment we'll take a look at some inspiring forest-based photography, but first we'll outline a few simple tips that could get you well on your way to capturing something of the essence of the forest!

Take Time

One of the beautiful things about landscape photography is that there is no need to hurry. Take your time and get a real feel for what it is you want to capture. Time is on your side. Lighting conditions can change dramatically throughout the day, and if you're really fortunate, the perfect shot may find you!

Wander through the forest and consider all the possible vantage points, try out both wide and telephoto lenses. A wide lens angled upwards at the trees can bring out the majestic size and scale of your subject, while a telephoto lens is useful for compressing a row of tree trunks and capturing patterns in the trees.

A Point of Interest

As with any photograph, find yourself a good point of interest. It could be a particularly fascinating tree, a splash of unexpected colour, or a pattern in the trees that simply begs you to photograph it.

Whatever your point of interest ends up being, it's vital that you compose your shot in a way that highlights your point of interest to the viewer. Look for interesting patterns in the light; forests have some unique lighting conditions all of their own. Look for rays of sunlight piercing the conopy and creating pools of light on the forest floor.

In Every Season

Forests are a truly wonderful photography subject all year round. In any season, under any weather conditions, and at any time of day forests can show you a new side to their character. From the bright colours of autumn and the bleak depths of winter, to the thriving life of spring.

Hopefully the photographs below will inspire you to get out and capture something of the awesome beauty of the forests.

Share Your Own Images!

Reckon you have a photo that belongs alongside the above images? Post a link in the comments, we'd really love to see your own favourite shots from the forest!