I've tried a bunch of times to get one of these Tree ICM shots that I'm happy with. I feel like this one maybe close. I wish there was a touch more texture. Does anyone have any tips for focal length, shutter speed and how fast you move the camera? I have tried all sorts of combos with various results. Any tips/tricks would be appreciated. Also would love to know how this image stands up? You can even use the 5 star scale. I kind of lean towards a 3 my self. But after I look at it long enough I may change my mind to a 2. I see some of these online and from other photographers that I love but have struggled to get my own that I love.
Hey, thanks for posting Kyle. As indicated in the MAE group I actually like this image the way it is, it contains both character and mystery.
I would recommend you check out the ICMphotography(.com) site and Facebook group of the same name for inspiration and discussion.
Stephanie has also kindly included a free tutorial at the your of this group that may help answer some of your questions.
Furthermore, I can highly recommend an ICMphotography online magazine subscription. Stephanie does a great job of compiling quality content from exceptional artists, and well as providing options for mentor session, workshops and more.
Kyle Foreman Hi Kyle. I always tend to feel, and suggest, that experimenting A LOT is really the best way to learn and figure out what works and what doesn't work for you individually...especially since creating a tree ICM that you are happy with is a very subjective thing.
For me personally, when I first started out with ICM a few years ago, my go-to shutter speed was about 1/13 of a second...and even today, years later, I'm still in that ballpark at between about 1/2 to 1/5 of a second.
I typically use my long zoom lens - 70-200mm - even in woodland areas such as this...and I'm probably likely to be somewhere between 70-100mm with the focal length. But, a lot depends on what I'm actually shooting, what the trees look like, how much light is coming through, and things like that.
I generally move the camera very quickly, and for my own images I prefer quite smooth lines...and achieving that really does require taking a number of things into consideration...like the trees themselves, the underbrush, the light, the shadows...things like that.
My own images also don't necessarily have the same kind of 'texture' you referred to or even the kind of texture in this image of yours.
This image...for me, and this is just my personal opinion, based on my own personal aesthetic...is that it is a bit dark. I sometimes do find it helpful actually to over expose tree shots, to achieve the look I'm going for. So, that might be something you could experiment with.
Also, there are those two really lovely tall, straight, trees, with a lot of surrounding not-so-straight newer trees...and the lines of those newer trees make the image a bit busy and they are a bit of a distraction...especially because they are so dark. The two in the front right corner pull my eye right to them because they are so much darker than the others. But, what I really want to see more of are those two older trees, with all the lovely lines of texture created from their bark.
Here's a link to my tree ICM gallery on my website, if you are interested to see my style of tree ICMs - https://stephjohnphoto.com/tree-icms
I think it really comes down to just playing around and experimenting a bit more to figure out how to achieve the result you are going for. The only way to know how to achieve the results you are going for is to get out there and experiment as much as you can.
Hopefully this helps...but please do ask any additional questions you might have. I'm always happy to share knowledge and advice based on my own experience. But please always remember, there is no right or wrong way to do ICM...it is a very personal and individual thing...and you really do learn how to do it to your own liking by doing it as much as you possibly can.
Sorry also for the delay in responding to your questions. Things have been a bit chaotic the past few weeks, and I've not had a chance to check in here on Fstoppers. I need to try to do a better job of that.
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for all of the advice. I checked out your website and you have some lovely photos. Your tree icm shots are the look that I'm striving for. So I'm going to play around with maybe a slightly slower shutter speed and moving the camera faster.
I agree that my photo is too busy. It's too busy for me and I took it, haha! I think one of the biggest problems for me is all of the woods in my area look like this. There's just a bunch of skinny small twiggy trees all over the place. It's hard to find an area with some solid trees with out too much getting in the way. I will definitely keep explore and experimenting though!
Thanks again!
Kyle Foreman Thanks so much for your kind words, Kyle, about my images.
I can definitely relate...to the local woodlands being full of a bunch of skinny, small, twiggy trees! :) There is a lot of that where I am in Iowa, as well.
I think if you can work with your movement to move the camera faster, that will help smooth out those lines quite a bit.
I hope you will share your experimentations, and I look forward to seeing how you get on with it.