In the Field: Winter Woodland Patterns
I have always been fascinated with the seemingly random patterns created by trees in the woods, especially in the winter when the leaves are gone and snow is on the forest floor. And I have found if you study them long enough, not-so-random patterns can start to develop.
During a late October snowstorm, which dumped a foot of heavy wet snow, we had a lot of broken branches and downed trees here in the heart of the hardwood forest where I live. The landscape has been drastically altered and I have been able to photograph many of the changes.
However, I have been waiting for the perfect moment to capture this one tree with two broken branches. It is at the edge of our property and I see it every time I walk out onto our deck. We had a small amount of snowfall a few days ago, and the other morning the temperatures rose, creating a misty foggy atmosphere. Finally…the moment I had been looking for.
I set up the tripod and took a series of shots. Both horizontal and vertical formats worked well and I also played around with the white balance. Some settings rendered the scene as it was, and other settings gave a colder tone.
I liked the contrast of the dark wet trees against the snow. And the muted spot of color from leaves on the oak trees, which will stay until Spring. The foggy mist added just the right mood. And the crossing of the broken branches provided a focal point against the jumble of smaller criss-crossing branches.
I finally got the shot of those trees I wanted. Sometimes it does pay to be patient…
Nice. Very atmospheric, and manages somehow to be warm and cold at the same time!
Thanks Lee, I know what you mean by warm and cold. It was about 40 degrees when I took the photo but still felt cold and damp!
It has an almost sepia cast to it, nice. I think it looks almost like a pretzel.
The color of the fog was really strange…in some areas it had a blueish cast and other areas it had the sepia look. I guess the color of the leaves influenced the color of the fog. Daylight/sunny white balance made it really blue. I used a shady preset to get a more natural look in this photo. It does kind of look like a pretzel!
A super great shot, David. This one absolutely needs to be framed and hanged on your wall. 🙂
Thanks Bob, ya know…I may just be doing some printing this weekend!!!
Beautiful subtle tones, and such an atmosphere – you feel as if you’re breathing in the mist. I just love the colours and patterns.
Thanks Jo, you are right regarding breathing the mist, I could feel it drifting past me and actually see it. It would be really thick for a minute or two and then clear up for a minute. I definitely needed a rain sleeve for this one!
I love the way the copper-coloured leaves still show through. Beautiful and well worth being patient for!
It sure was worth it…it’s foggy again today, but the snow has melted. Got lucky this time!
Nice! The feeling I get from this is Asian art and dreamy, which I like. Maybe because the red leaves reminded me of Japanese maple.
You know, you are right!!! I never looked at it that way but now I definitely see it. Hmmmm
Great shot! I love the foggy quality of it.
Thanks Maggie, it’s foggy again today but it just isn’t the same without the snow. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Love it, David! It almost looks like a painting.
Thanks Gracie, it does have a painterly air to it…I love how fog can totally change a scene!
Love it! *Almost* makes me wish it would snow again so I could get some more winter photos… but I’m just fine waiting until next year. 🙂
Thanks Sarah, I would bet that mother nature has more snow in store for us…I just hope it’s not 4 feet in a week!
Beautiful, so beautiful dear David, the misty view standing so impressive and as you named woodland patters, especially the colours… Fascinated me so much. Thank you dear David, with my love, nia
So glad you are enjoying this one NIa, I love the serenity of the scene.
I like that a lot. I love walking in the forests in winter, especially in a mist.
Thanks Montucky, I too love the mystery of the forest when it is foggy or misty. I think in a past life I lived in the woods…it always seems so familiar to me.
i really like this and can feel the dampness…sur know where your focal point is!:)
Thanks Jane, it was pretty damp that morning but warm at the same time!
Really nicely executed, David. These kinds of shots are really tough (in compositional terms, I mean). It takes a good eye to tease them out.
Thanks Kerry, I had several to choose from (horizontal vs. vertical), a little left or a little right etc. but this one seemed to work the best. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Great photo, David! The fog is doing its work, making me to look deeply into the picture. Nice textures. 🙂
Thanks Nandini, the fog actually got thicker later in the day and I could hardly see the trees!!!
Your right David. It pays to be patient. Great shot.
Gerry
Thanks Gerry…I’m curious to see what that scene will look like in the spring and summer. I don’t think those branches will be coming down anytime soon.
The destruction in the image, combined with the fire-red leaves really gives this a dramatical look. With the covering fog I start getting ideas for books where this should be on the cover. You inspire 🙂
Glad I was able to inspire! Hmmm, now you have me curious. Are you writing books?? Novels, mysteries, fiction???
I think it always pays to be patient! What a lovely, misty shot! Feels cold brrrrr…… Poor tree, the snow was obviously too heavy! 🙂
IPatience is a good thing…usually. It was an odd day, it was cold, damp and warm at the same time. Yeah, the snow that the October storm brought was wet, and heavy and there was a lot of it. It broke trees all over the place.
This is so beautiful.
Thank you My Beautiful…more snow is on the way today so I will get to see the scene in a different way!