Seeing the forest for the trees

I’m not a woodland photographer — so that makes it a perfect topic for a new project. Of course, I’ve taken photographs of trees, and I’ve taken photographs in woods. But I can’t say I’ve ever done it with anything other than a kind of artlessness. I’ve always struggled with the complexity of woodland scenes — the chaos of overlapping branches and the general mess of it all.

So last autumn, I made a conscious decision to improve my woodland photography. I went out on several woodland trips in and around the Peak District and I attended a couple of RPS Talk-Walk-Talk events on woodland photography. I viewed dozens of tutorials on YouTube and in the 617 Club and I spent time looking at the images from woodland photographers that I admire. Based on those resources and on my experience out in the woods, here are some notes I made. I used this as a list of reminders to myself about things I should pay attention to when in woodland.

Note: The photographs in this article are a mix of images that illustrate my notes and others that I just like, so each image may not directly correspond to the text beside it.

Compose the frame to avoid sky

One of the most common pitfalls in woodland photography is including too much sky in the frame. Skies can be bright and often distract from the main subject, drawing the viewer’s eye away from the woodland. As a general rule, try to exclude the sky from your images, especially along the top and edges of your composition. This keeps the focus on the woodland itself, allowing the natural textures and details to take centre stage. If the sky is unavoidable, try to minimise its impact or use it more intentionally as part of the composition.

Scout the woodland

Spend time scouting woodland whenever you get the chance. This initial exploration is about finding compositions that will shine when the light and conditions are just right. Walk around, look at the scene from different angles, and identify potential spots where you can set up your tripod. Think of this as pre-visualising your shots — knowing exactly where to place your camera when the conditions are right will increase your chances of getting the shot you want.

Photograph the woodland, not the trees

When photographing woodlands, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to fit entire trees into the frame. But to create compelling images, shift your focus from individual trees to the woodland as a whole. Look for shapes, patterns, and rhythms in the scene, and aim to achieve a sense of flow and balance.

Don’t worry about capturing every detail of a tree; instead, concentrate on how elements like branches, leaves, and trunks interact within the larger environment. If you’re set on a tree portrait, then by all means, capture the whole tree — but otherwise, embrace the chaos of the forest and focus on its abstract qualities.

Photographing chaos

Sometimes you may want to photograph a crazy scene with overlapping branches and/or with an explosion of colour because you are attracted to the colours, shapes and textures. One solution that sometimes works is to compose the image in camera as a square (1:1 format).

A square format can often contain complexity. The key is not to force a square format, but to use it when it enhances the image. Just make sure the image has a solid foundation (e.g. the woodland floor) and pay attention to the corners.

Tell a story

A great woodland photograph often tells a story. Imagine the trees as characters in a narrative — perhaps one tree looks like it’s shielding another, or a group of trees appears like a close-knit family. Maybe a twisted branch resembles a dancer’s arm mid-pose, or a leaning trunk suggests a tree caught mid-fall. Use these visual cues to craft a narrative, and then let that story guide your composition.

Ruthlessly exclude elements that don’t contribute to the tale you’re telling. Focus on the shapes, patterns, or colours that best convey the narrative, and remember that sometimes, a story can be told without including the entire tree.

The wedding dress. I took this in early autumn. This branch had broken off a birch tree and the leaves were beginning to change colour long before the leaves on intact birch trees. I first photographed this scene on a dog walk. I went back to photograph it again with my tripod but couldn’t improve upon this version. The spectacular display reminded me of the train of a wedding dress.

Attention to detail

The difference between a good woodland photograph and a great one is attention to detail. Once you’ve found the composition, make sure that you’ve also considered every inch of the photograph. Photographer Hans Strand talks about “putting four corners on the landscape”. With woodland, he tries to find short diagonals that point in from one or more corners. He feels this helps ground the composition, like the threads of a spider’s web.

Look for separation

Woodland photography can often look cluttered due to the dense nature of trees and branches. To create a cleaner and more impactful image, look for ways to separate elements within the frame. Avoid overlaps by ensuring that foreground trees don’t interfere with those in the background.

Shift your camera position left or right, up or down, to give each element its own breathing room. This separation helps to define individual components of the scene, adding depth to the picture, and making it easier for the viewer to navigate. At the same time, remember that the chaotic nature of woodland is a worthy subject in itself and overlapping elements can create interesting patterns and visual rhythms.

Seek out the pictures within the picture

Woodlands are full of hidden gems — small compositions within the larger scene that can make for interesting focal points. Look for branches that intersect with trunks or spaces between trees that create natural frames within your composition.

Think of the branches and twigs as the lead in a stained glass window, guiding the viewer’s eye to the “pictures within the picture.” These sub-frames and vignettes add layers of interest to your photograph, giving viewers the opportunity to discover “Easter eggs” as they explore your image. Using longer focal lengths can help here.

Connect the branches

To create a sense of flow in your woodland photographs, try to connect the branches of different trees within your composition. Position yourself so that the branches appear to “hold hands,” forming visual links that guide the viewer’s eye around the image.

This connection can create a rhythm, almost like a dance of trees, which can make your composition feel cohesive and dynamic. It encourages viewers to spend more time exploring the photograph, as their eyes follow the natural paths created by these connections.

Centre the light

Pay attention to how light interacts with your scene. If there’s a bright area, such as a sunlit clearing or a shaft of light breaking through the canopy, consider placing it at the centre of your composition. Centring the light can act as a visual anchor, drawing the viewer’s attention and creating a focal point in your image.

Lean into the conditions

Woodland photography isn’t just for days with perfect weather; you can create compelling images in any conditions. It’s true that fog, mist, and rain are often ideal as they add depth and help separate elements in the scene. However, if you’re not blessed with such conditions, ask yourself what the woodland is offering you at that moment.

Is it dappled sunlight creating interesting shadows? Or soft, overcast conditions that would complement close-up views? Use these conditions to your advantage. If the conditions are unworkable, see this as a scouting opportunity for when the weather is more favourable. Remember, every visit is a chance to learn how the location wants to be photographed.

Wrapping up

I’m still very much at Woodland Photographer Version 1.0, but this is a definite improvement from where I was a year ago. Back then, I felt overwhelmed by the complexity of woodland scenes. Now, I’ve started to see patterns and experiment with composition in ways I hadn’t before.

If you’re feeling similarly daunted, I encourage you to adapt any of these ideas that resonate with you. Remember that every woodland has its own personality, and part of the fun is discovering how to capture it with your camera.