T2 Nature - Bodenham Arboretum

 Assignment 208 Principles of Location Photography Theme 2 Nature

19th November 2011

Bodenham Arboretum, Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Research, planning and influences

A visit to Bodenham Arboretum was planned to capture the last of the strong autumn colours. My Internet research had indicated that they have a lot of trees that turn red and gold rather than just brown. As the colours were very important I checked the weather forecast on the Internet and chose a day for the visit that although overcast was dry and would give the possibility of warm colours in the afternoon. 

I was influenced by the work of professional photographers Wayne Brittle and Tim Parkin for my visit to Bodenham Arboretum. 

Equipment planning, operation and health & Safety

It was a dry day but very dull with little light so the camera ISO setting was moved from its usual 100 to a 200 position. Also the white balance was set to the cloudy position to boost the colour temperature and show the images as we perceive them. The equipment used was chosen for the wide landscape images (a wide to normal zoom lens) and for concentrating on parts of the foliage as well as close up work (a telephoto zoom with a macro facility). I wanted to capture strong close up images that would convey the time of year. A tripod was used whenever possible taking health and safety into account as a number of other people were walking around the arboretum.

Choice of final images selected

The 16 images below were chosen from the 96 taken on the day to convey the time of year by the colours of the trees, plants and fungi in the arboretum.  

 

Log of image capture

This image was chosen from a number of general views across the lake as it shows that the arboretum has a series of lakes as well as an extensive collection of trees from many parts of the world. The view down the lake has been strengthened by the inclusion of a brightly coloured tree in the left and bottom thirds of the frame. This gives a balance to the image using the rule of thirds and the eye is drawn from the tree into the distance towards the yellow trees on the far bank of the lake. Other images of the trees and lake were taken but I thought this conveyed the soft light and tranquillity of the day as well as showing the time of year. 

Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/50 sec f/4

Many close up images were taken of the brightly coloured leaves and the following two were chosen which demonstrated best the deep reds, yellows and greens. 

This image works because the colour composition with the bright red foliage in the foreground contrasts against the out of focus green and yellow leaves behind. The overall effect is two different random patterns of colour and texture. 

 Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/40 sec f/4

Again a composition of bright colours and textures but this time on a single plane to form a carpet of pattern. As above the tonal range is good to hold all of the leaves in good exposure.

 Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/40 sec f/4

A beautiful fungi set against the woodland leaf litter. A central position in the frame was selected to concentrate on the fungi and as there was little else of interest around. However this single point of interest concentrates the viewer on the main subject. The colour balance and soft light gives a pleasant tone to the image. Other images of this fungi were taken in a portrait format and at different exposures but I thought that this image captured the fungi and its setting best.

 Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/20 sec f/4

I took this image because of the beautiful texture, colour and tonal range of the bark of this redwood tree. The low afternoon light enhanced the colour temperature and texture of this image to give a simple but strong composition.

 Focal length 28 m set on manual 1/20 sec f/2.8

Another fungi but this time a portrait format worked as there were other examples of the fungi behind the main image. A landscape format would not work as there was a tree branch to the left of the fungi which cut a landscape image in half. The fungi in the background are a distraction but also help to balance the tonal quality of the image and were kept out of focus with an appropriate aperture.

 Focal length 50 m set on manual 1/80 sec f/4

Taken as a contrast to the textured bark of the redwood tree above. This tree has a smooth textured bark with beautiful red sheen. 

 Focal length 50 m set on manual 1/20 sec f/4

Another fungi but with a dramatic red colour that gives a strong image with a contrast of texture as well as colour between the fungi and the leaves around. 

 Focal length 50 m set on manual 1/25 sec f/5

A study of another type of tree bark to show the peeling effect and the range of colours. From brown through red to green and also a range of textures between the smooth areas and the rough parts. 

 Focal length 35 m set on manual 1/50 sec f/5

Another single plane carpet of leaves this time on the ground under a tree. There is a large range of colours and textures with a wide tonal range. 

 Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/25 sec f/5

An orange tree set against a backdrop of dark green which gives a large range of tone and colour. There is also a texture contrast between the orange tree and the background. The trunks of other trees do detract from the impact that the image could have.  

 Focal length 70mm set on manual 1/13 sec f/5

This is a close up of the above tree which is a much better image showing the colour and texture of the small leaves. 

 Focal length 70mm set on manual 1/6 sec f/7.1

 Further contrasts between red and green leaves with different textures of the leaves and the ground below. 

 Focal length 18mm set on manual 1/5 sec f/7.1

A close up of the branch of a bush with bright red berries in the top third of the frame contrasted against the yellow and green leaves in the lower two thirds of the frame. There is also a contrast between the bright foreground and the dark background. 

 Focal length 50mm set on manual 1/6 sec f/7.1

In this image the eye is drawn into the image by the bright reflections in the water to a single vanishing point. There is a contrast in colour between the trees on the left and right of the image.  

 Focal length 35mm set on manual 0.6 sec f/7.1

This image is a composition to show the range of colours in the leaves. There is also a contrast of textures between the trees and the water and the eye is drawn from the bright water up the tree trunk in the background. 

 Focal length 43mm set on manual 1/2 sec f/7.1