Discover engaging subjects
Identify positive and negative space in your scene for structured images
As photographers, we often have the inverse job to that of a painter. While an artist using pigment and brushes starts with a blank canvas and must build up detail as they work, a photographer is tasked with careful removal of visual information. This is something that we learn through experience.
However, when presented with a complex landscape, such as that found in a woodland, even the most practised photographer can struggle to identify and isolate the precise aspect that captured their imagination.
There is so much potential subject matter in a woodland scene that we have to stop and ask ourselves which qualities each element lends to the overall effect. A missing piece in the puzzle that is triggering an emotional connection between the viewer and a photo is subliminal recognition.
When someone looks at a scene, they register all of the details separately and how each facet stimulates their senses. The colour of the leaves, the patterns of tree bark, the sound of the breeze and of a nearby stream and the smell of the wildflowers all build up a sensory patchwork. If we can work out how to present these elements in a series of images so they tell a connected story, we can produce a dynamic and engaging picture.
A great way to develop your woodland photography, or indeed shots of any detail-rich scene, is to study your images and make notes of which elements you feel might work as a main subject. Next, write down which lens you might use to shoot each one and if front, side or backlighting might be the best fit.