Portrait of a Tree

[PapaJim]

Our local club has set out a challenge to photograph a tree (singular, not trees). I live in a forested area, so finding a subject is not a problem. My task is to make it stand out from the rest of the trees around it. The most interesting trees seem to be off the path to which I am restricted-- perhaps 30 - 50 yards out. That is OK for I need that distance to frame the entire tree.

But how to make it stand out from the other trees? I'm thinking that I want a portrait of the tree, it being in focus and the other trees blurred around it. Sounds like a depth of field issue to me, all I need do is bracket the aperture setting in an aperture first mode. I was hoping that the correct aperture setting would provide the required depth of field and my focus setting would control just where that in focus field would occur.

Well, my results are not worth presenting at the club meeting. How do I make the tree jump out in my photograph? Oh, it is still summer here, so color is not a good differentiator.

Thanks
Papa Jim
Nikon D5000

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by PapaJim

I was hoping that the correct aperture setting would provide the required depth of field and my focus setting would control just where that in focus field would occur.

That's how it should work: thing is, depth of field is a tricky thing.

You say that you had to step back to frame the tree properly. That's fine, but how close is that tree to the others? If they're too close together, they'll still be within the in-focus range. Furthermore, if you chose a smaller aperture (like f/5.6 or f/8) then you're compounding the issue.

[Sterling]

Go out when the sun is lower in the sky and find a tree that is lit by the sun while the others behind it are not. Make it stand out with lighting rather than focus.

[navcom]

Or change your angle. Maybe shoot from the ground looking up at it. That will isolate it.

[PapaJim]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

That's how it should work: thing is, depth of field is a tricky thing.

You say that you had to step back to frame the tree properly. That's fine, but how close is that tree to the others? If they're too close together, they'll still be within the in-focus range....

In my test case, the background trees are at least 200 ft. back, but they are still sharp. The tree I want to shoot is in a clearing with the background trees 80 - 100 feet back.

I discovered this blog article by Brian Auer http://blog.epicedits.com/2010/03/09...epth-of-field/. Perhaps I'm using the wrong focal length? I'll take more control of my apeture setting with Apeture Priority mode too--I thought Portrait mode would give me that.

Thanks for your help.
PapaJim

[PapaJim]

Originally Posted by Sterling

Go out when the sun is lower in the sky and find a tree that is lit by the sun while the others behind it are not. Make it stand out with lighting rather than focus.

This is my fall back approach. Unfortunaely, my subject is sheltered from low angle sun by the surrounding forest. I'd have to wait for a partially cloudy day with just the right hole in the cloud and such an opportunity would be long awaited and very fleeting.

Thanks for your thoughts

PapaJim

[LeeR]

Can you shoot from a low position with a very wide angle lens so that your tree stands well above those in the background? You wouldn't be eliminating the other trees, just placing them relative to the one you want to feature.

[RecurrentNerve]

This may not be helpful but I think I'd just try and find an isolated tree...

[Eastree]

Might you have a place where you can go with streams and such? That's a way to add some physical separation to the image, helping the DoF further separate the one tree from others. The water will also provide a space where there's no canopy, and sunlight can wash over potential subjects, giving them that extra bit of light.

This photo I took is what came to mind when I read your post:

[PapaJim]

Eastree - Your thoughts and picture have started me on a quest for a different tree to shoot. I'm planning on persuing both approaches, the one you suggest and a continuation of the DOF process. I might even try, as others suggest, using the fall colors for differentiation. I'll be traveling through Amish country from now to the middle of October. Hopefully, I'll have learned a lot aabout tehnique and have something to show you all.

Thanks to everyone for all your help. You got me unstuck as it were.

PapaJim