SheriDec 8, 2022
Tim Smalley

I don't tend to photograph the #forest at the #goldenhour - particularly when the sun is strong.

That doesn't mean I am not out looking for images at this time of day; it's just that direct sunlight usually adds unwanted complexity to most scenes. The woods are full of chaos & need to be simplified.

Below are some images where the strong golden light did add something extra.

p.s. A big THANK YOU for all of the awesome support on my Groot #tree post.

#photography #naturephotography #woodland

Dec 7, 2022 at 9:37pmWeb
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022

The real fun comes once the sun has gone down (or in the 30 minutes before the sun comes up) on a clear day. I'll share some images in another post - stay tuned :)

For those who missed Groot ⤵️

https://mastodon.green/@timsmalley/109468225328774487

Tim Smalley (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image For this week's #ThickTrunkTuesday, I've got a special guest... Allow me to introduce you to... Groot. An ancient oak tree that can be found in some of the oldest parts of ancient woodland in Cannock Chase AONB, the UK's smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. #Trees #Woodland #Forest #Fog #Winter #landscapephotography

Mastodon.green
Show threadgazspDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley Beautiful. Thanks for posting these!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 8, 2022
@gazsp thanks a lot :)
Show threadSuswati Basu (巴苏) Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley oh my heart just melted looking at these stunning photos!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@suswatibasu thanks so much Suswati - I hope it's still beating post-melt 😇
Show threadSuswati Basu (巴苏) Dec 8, 2022
@timsmalley absolutely!
Show threadBilly1shoeDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley
Sensational...really lovely.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@Billy1shoe thanks very much 🙂
Show threadPhotoDavid78 📸 🟦 🇮🇱🇺🇸Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley these are all beautiful images but that green one really speaks to me. Well seen!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@photodavid78 thanks for your kind words David. The last shot was a great lesson in looking behind you. I was walking away from this with my back to it... noticed the light on the brambles on the right, turned around and managed to get the shot before the light disappeared.
Show threadKeith MacKinnonDec 10, 2022
@photodavid78 @timsmalley
Exactly my thought. And the plant on the right helps draws the eye to the open area behind. Two places to go in my mind.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 13, 2022
@Keith thanks Keith :)
Show threadIrvin LinDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley these are gorgeous! The light quality is quite magical.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@eatthelove thanks for your kind words Irvin :)
Show threadAnaKaye 🖖🦀🛸✒️Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley Those are beautiful! They actually look a lot like what I see in my mind's eye when imagining the setting for a particular couple of scenes in a story I'm writing.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@AnaKaye Thanks Ana - I hope they can be helpful when you're writing your story :)
Show threadAviva GaryDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley neat
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@Aviva_Gary thanks :)
Show threadAngrySexagenarianDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley great art.
I would disagree with 'the woods are full of chaos'.
#fractals
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022

@PetraPanda yes, I agree to an extent. Complexity is perhaps a better word - the woods are complex, naturally built over hundreds and sometimes thousands of years.

The experience is different in person because our eyes can appreciate the depth of our surroundings and the relationships between individual trees because we are stereoscopic.

The challenge is bringing some kind of sense and order to the immersive in-person experience to a four-sided frame. :)

Show threadJames KiersteadDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley Wonderful work. What's the location? I'm thinking England but I'm not sure
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@Kleisthenes thanks for your kind words. They are all shot in England, yes - Hertfordshire to be specific. The first two are just a couple of miles over into the next county.
Show threadKeith BalmerDec 10, 2022
@timsmalley Is no.2 at Sharpenhoe Clappers?
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 13, 2022
@kbalmer hey Keith, #1 and #2 are both from Sharpenhoe. Thanks for the work you're doing - I've been on a few walks with the Heartwood Butterfly count... fascinating and important work!
Show threadComputeforloot Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley those are beautiful- there’s something special about forests 😊
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@Computeforloot there is... the best natural medicine I've ever consumed :)
Show threadLaura GouldDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley So magical!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@JizoGarden thanks very much :)
Show threadJ.R. OrciDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley Those are amazing! ✌️
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 7, 2022
@orci much appreciated :)
Show threadPhoenixSerenityDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley the second & last images are my favourites from this grouping 🌲🌲❤🌲🌲
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@msquebanh thanks for your kind words - apologies for the late reply... just catching up!
Show threadLAIRDDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley truly amazing! What camera do you use Sir? Greetings from Berlin
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@Laird I'm a Sony Alpha guy these days, but I shoot on a variety of cameras from a 4x5in view camera, to a variety of different film formats, and of course my Sony Alpha cameras. My main camera at the moment is an A7R III - I've been thinking of upgrading it to the A7R IV if/when it's on sale - £4k for the A7R V is a bit steep at the moment and, as much as I admire what Sony has done with the AF system... it's not that important to me these days as most subjects are static.
Show threadAnn1944Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley
Beautiful
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@Ann1944 thanks Ann!
Show threadGigawatt121Dec 7, 2022
@timsmalley incredible! It looks surreal
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@Gigawatt121 glad you enjoyed them, thank you :)
Show threadTohillArtDec 7, 2022
@timsmalley gorgeous and rich images
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@TohillArt thank you! 🤩
Show threadNiciHW🦋Dec 8, 2022
@timsmalley exquisite
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@battusphilenor ❤️
Show threadSheriDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley thank you for sharing your amazing shots.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@Iwearcoolshoes you're welcome Sheri - thanks for your kind words :)
Show threadGataDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley stunning photos!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@gatasucia thank you :)
Show threadKurt RisserDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley personally, when I'm taking outdoor pictures I love the delicious dawn or dusk golden light.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@kurtrisser yep, for the wider landscape there is nothing better. In the woods, I find myself drawn more to other conditions... but that's perhaps more to do with the difficulty of coming across scenes where the light works for a given composition. In some cases, I will literally wait a year to the day to go back to (hopefully) get similar conditions so I can photograph what I saw a year earlier, but hadn't managed to refine the composition.
Show threadSavah RellcastDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley harder to catch images like these are so worth it. Timing and placement rarely line up. It's always accidental for me when I find a moment just after dawn to catch the light kissing treetops. These shots of yours are inspirational. I'll be looking to find them in my own environment. ❤️
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@SavahRellcast Thanks for the kind words, Savah. I'm sorry for the late reply! They are difficult shots as they are very hard to plan. Most of my woodland photography is built on familiarity... I visit & revisit areas over & over. Eventually, the photos come instinctively - I'm just reacting to my surroundings. I also bank a lot of compositions for those special conditions - fog, mist, atmospheric haze & light rays - so I can visit compositions I've refined over time to get them at their best.
Show threadink and yarnDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley Oh, *wow*.
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@emery ❤️
Show threadAlex Z | WriterDec 8, 2022
@timsmalley
Really beautiful images!
Show threadTim SmalleyDec 9, 2022
@AlextheZee thanks Alex!