Unlocking the Secrets of FOREST Photography: a Personal Challenge

Feeling overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of forest photography? 🌲 Join me in the majestic redwoods as I tackle this challenge head-on!
In this video, I'm sharing the lessons I've learned from studying the masters and experimenting with different techniques to capture the unique beauty of these ancient giants.
We'll explore:
- The mindset shift that transformed my approach
- How to find structure in the chaos of the forest
- Using light to your advantage, even in challenging conditions
- Creating depth and dimension in your compositions
- And even how to tell a story with your photos
Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this video will inspire you to see the forest in a whole new light. Hit that play button, and let's unlock the secrets of redwood forest photography together!
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== PHOTO GEAR ==
Camera: Nikon Z8 - amzn.to/3RGCGYL
Wide Angel Lens: Nikon Z 14-24 - amzn.to/3KUfLp0
Mid-Zoom Lens: Nikon Z 24-120 - amzn.to/3XDFkm5
Long Telephoto Lens: Nikon Z 100-400 - amzn.to/45BsR4a
Camera Vest: Cotton Carrier G3 - amzn.to/45BsR4a
Tripod: Really Right Stuff TVC-24L Mk2 - amzn.to/4c7JEOB
Tripod Head: Leofoto G4 Pro - bit.ly/3ytjl6R
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== SOCIAL ==
Instagram: / jameslphoto
Facebook: / jameslphoto
Website: www.jameslorentson.com/
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== CHAPTERS ==
0:45 Why Forest Photography is So Hard
01:12 A Personal Challenge
01:51 My Systematic Approach to Improving
02:52 Patience, Observation & Connection (Mindset Shift)
04:20 Creating Depth in Forest Photography
06:48 Storytelling in Forest Photography
08:42 Creating Structure & Separation in Forest Photography
09:46 Light in Forest Photography
13:05 Reducing Distracting Light
14:00 Fog in the Forest!
18:20 My Hope for You
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*The Amazon links to the equipment I use are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the channel, so I appreciate any affiliated purchases :)

[@jamesfkey]

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park (north of Orick), James Irvine Trail, late 1990. Started at visitor station before sunrise. Extremely dense fog. In a very old grove of redwoods fog started lifting. The base of the fog was below the lowest limbs of the trees. Bare tree trunks disappeared into into the thick fog ceiling. Seemed as if we were in a great cathedral. Looking forward the trail ran up a hill and disappeared into the fog. A haunting dream like memory that only me my wife share.

[@Diego.r.photography]

Awesome video James, well put together. Now I’m itching to go shoot trees. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@danielspenner3683]

Truly one of the best videos in forest photography so gar and I have seen a lot of them. The analytic approach may not be for everyone, but it's the fastest way to success. You really worked the scene, even in different conditions, which is also key to beautiful images. I stumbled upon your channel browsing for woodlandphotography videos, I hadn't watched before. I subscribed right away. Great work, really beautiful photography!

[@cguerrieri4866]

Great job. The way you used the chart to organize!!! Really cool.

[@johnstricklen4093]

I live in the Ozark mountains and have always struggled with how to make something of the forest, usually defaulting to small stuff and macro photos. I love these tips on how to look for good shots amidst the chaos. One critique on your video is that your zoom out transitions on your stills blanks them with just a fraction of a second to pause and look at your composition. Distracting - skip the zoom out and just present the image for the same amount of time. I've subbed and look forward to more of your videos. Thank you!

[@martinekwall4671]

Great breakdown on how you sorted out the subject of photographing trees. It took me decades till I understood how to do it.

[@SvitBit-hw9rr]

Thanks for this. Just the inspo I needed to fuel my next adventure.

[@ClaiCesar]

Wow these are cool photos. My favorite is the sunrays through the fog and the flowers being highlighted. 😊 I love taking photos of plants and trees with my phone everytime I visit a park. Im a plant enthusiast and I love taking pictures of my plants and post them on social media. I recently purchased a used camera on ebay. I have been binge watching photography videos ever since. I will try the techniques you showed here. Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@JamesLPhoto]

I really appreciate your comments and feedback! It means a lot to me that you took the time to share your thoughts and experiences. I'm excited to continue sharing my love of nature and photography with you all. Happy shooting!

[@photographilife]

Thanks for the information!

[@glenblaven]

James. Just stumbled on your channel. What a wonderful video. Very informative and your pictures are inspiring. Look forward to seeing more of your content. Subscribed!

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

Fantastic video and photos 👍🙂

[@1958zed]

Nice tips and images. I generally agree with the notion of leaving the camera in the bag while you explore and connect with the location. However, you may stumble across ideal light and conditions that make you want to grab your camera and take a photo.

[@DeborahBernal]

Forest photography has always been a challenge for me too. I like the idea of a dedicated trip to focus on getting better.

[@TonyHogrefe]

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[@antonjoantonjo5719]

Really dig the tips, I appreciate the effort you put into this. Sub'd.

[@cguerrieri4866]

The chart that you showed is really a stroke of genius

[@JAMANI-po3jv]

Good content, but you take a while to get to the good bits. Get to the point.