Woodland Photography

355858

355858

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Ben
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Hi Guys, i'm trying to take some photos in woodland but struggle with getting the sunrays through the trees. Any tips?

Thanks
 
There's really only two things you can do. Either go find a bit of woodland where the canopy isn't too thick and allows sunlight to filter through or ... chop down a few trees.
 
Hi You need a misty or smokey atmospher. This helps to show up the light rays. Depending on the area you want to cover this can be created with a smoke box. You can make one or hire one.
 
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You just have to find the right woodland and pray for a sunny day.
 
WillNicholls said:
As said above misty morning with a thin canopy.

Don't do the smoke machine idea said above. A great quote is "leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time".
You don't know what effect the smoke has on the bird life and insect life etc. May sound trivial but it's unethical photography imo.
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:plusone:


Heather
 
Try to get to the woodland you have in mind as early in the day as you can. That hour or so after sunrise will be your best bet to catch the waking trees..
Evergreen woodland often has a floor of fallen needles which get damp, these can create lovely misty patches, which with the sun give you the light beams.
Shoot into the sun, use a tree to hide the sun itself..
And good luck! Enjoy the woods :)
 
This is where dedication comes in, you need to watch the weather reports, get down there very early on a bright morning just after a rain, when the mist rises and gives you the effect your looking for.

Last year I twice got to a location at 4am just to shoot a large oak tree in the middle of a misty flood plain during the sunrise, unfortunately the conditions were wrong both times..... It's trial and error, but one day you'll get that shot.
 
355858 said:
Hi Guys, i'm trying to take some photos in woodland but struggle with getting the sunrays through the trees. Any tips?

Thanks
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Location location location! I notice you are from Suffolk, perhaps Thetford Chase is near enough to you? I travelled 45miles last weekend and got some reasonable shots through the trees (much to learn) they were well spread out with very little other foliage in the way. Cast your mind around where you live and be prepared to get up early, especially as summer draws nearer. One thing I learnt very quickly is just how fast the sun actually comes up so be prepared!

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=478822

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=479172

I've got a little time off next week so I'm hoping to have another go and like yourself wondering just where to go, I think it will be the location in my first posting as it really was a reliable and varied area.
 
Make use of bracketing its amazing the difference a stop or half can make to a shot.
 
Later in May, a verdant woodland floor will give up an awful lot of pollen, wild garlic etc if you can find woods near a river or stream.
The backlit pollen is enough 'pollution' to show up the sunlight.

I am pleased no-one has suggested a 'plugin' though.
 
Phil V said:
Later in May, a verdant woodland floor will give up an awful lot of pollen, wild garlic etc if you can find woods near a river or stream.
The backlit pollen is enough 'pollution' to show up the sunlight.

I am pleased no-one has suggested a 'plugin' though.
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That's an interesting one, I'll look out for that or is not visible to the naked eye and can only be seen by the camera?
 
As others have said, you need the right atmospheric conditions. You can't "see" light until it hits something. You need mist/smoke/pollen etc. to be suspended in the air to get visible shafts of light.
 
metroman said:
That's an interesting one, I'll look out for that or is not visible to the naked eye and can only be seen by the camera?
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You can see it, but you have to remember what it is you're photographing here, it's backlit dust/mist.
 
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