Photographing Trees

Florida's 5th largest Live Oak

Taking a decent picture of a tree can be a daunting task. The scale of the subject is an issue to be sure, but the biggest problem is isolating the tree from it's surroundings. Think of trying to photograph a single tree in the midst of a tropical rainforest.

A one page article on the work of Myoung Ho Lee in the New York Times' T Magazine highlighted one approach. He gives both the tree and its surrounding landscape a rather surreal appearance simply by erecting a white canvas panel behind the tree. While effective artistically, the technique is unnecessary from a practical standpoint since each tree sits as a specimen in a nearly empty field.

This got me thinking about other photographers who have tackled this challenge in particularly effective or creative ways. The first one who came to mind was Michael Nichols work on redwoods for National Geographic. He tackles both the scale of the tree and the density of the forest stand as only an NG photographer can.

James Balog's Changing Forests project uses a variety of techniques, ranging from producing detailed photo mosaics to draping his subject in fabric. All the while his photos lead us to consider the character, condition, and environment of each trees he documents.

Try it yourself. Visit your favorite tree and try to capture its essence in a single image. Whether you are totally successful or not you'll likely have a good time while gaining a greater appreciation for your woody friend.