The Many Ways to Photograph a Tree

The tree is a timeless and deceptively simple subject, capable of being rendered in numerous ways, each compelling and interesting in its own way. And so, with all those different ways, how do you pick? This interesting video discusses the topic and shows some options. 

Coming to you from aows, this great video discusses the process and options when photographing a tree. One thing I have really enjoyed using my drone for is photographing trees and forests. The aerial perspective can be a great way to capture the patterns of colors and textures or to create symmetry in your compositions. And of course, as interesting as that elevated, faraway perspective can be, don't forget about the other extreme. Trees have remarkable textures in the bark and leaves, and a macro lens can help to bring those out and give you many more looks from a single subject. If you are headed out after a storm or in the snow, be sure to take a polarizing filter with you. These can cut through spurious reflections from the water on leaves, bringing back contrast and giving you more saturated and eye-catching colors. Check out the video above for the full rundown. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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1 Comment

I found this video rather shallow, in that the discussion was about a single tree isolated by fog. The video is actually a simple lesson in composition, just using this tree as an example.
When it comes to understanding how to photograph trees there are only 2 words: Eugène Atget.