Are Birch Trees Difficult ?

[Ken Lee]

Are Birch Trees (and Aspens) difficult to photograph well ? If so, why ? If not, why not ?

[RichardRitter]

Easy. Just like snow but a tree. Its like any other subject that is new to you. It is best to go photograph then keep notes and see what works in the way of exposure, development and visually. The hardest part is learning where to point the camera.

[David Karp]

The hardest part is learning where to point the camera.

Isn't that always the problem?

[Bruce Watson]

Are Birch Trees (and Aspens) difficult to photograph well ? If so, why ? If not, why not ?

I love trees. All kinds, from understory trees like my native dogwoods (cornus florida) to the Coast Redwoods (sequoia sempervirens). I like the sempervirens enough that I've got a couple growing (very slowly) in my backyard in NC. Yes, they'll grow here even though they aren't even close to being native plants. And I doubt that they'll be left alone for the 2000 or so years necessary for them to obtain their full height. Still, they are fantastic trees.

But back to birches and aspens. Trees in general are fairly easy to photograph IMHO. They don't run off, they maintain their spatial relationships with the rest of the landscape to a remarkable degree so that you can return again and again as the seasons and weather change. What birches and aspens do more that most trees do less, is move. A quaking aspen actually quakes in the breeze -- the leaves flutter like mad. It's just another aspect of their "treeness". This can be an opportunity or a frustration depending on how you approach it.

[Brian Ellis]

A tip from a John Sexton workshop - photograph aspens when they're side-lit. That will help create a sense of roundness.

[paulr]

Here's a scientific chart showing which trees are hardest:



As you can see, birch trees are harder to photograph than pine trees, but not quite as hard as oak tres. If you're wondering why Ansel never photographed Brazillian walnut trees, just do the math ...

[Ken Lee]

Genius !

[Bob Salomon]

Here's a scientific chart showing which trees are hardest:



As you can see, birch trees are harder to photograph than pine trees, but not quite as hard as oak tres. If you're wondering why Ansel never photographed Brazillian walnut trees, just do the math ...

Wista is now making cameras from Quince wood. So where would that fall on the chart?

[jim kitchen]

Dear Ken,

I always find that a soft northern light, from a clear sky near dusk, works best for me. Unfortunately, my example shows a group of Alders. Distant cousins I think, but then again I do not know...

jim k

Alders at Dusk, Port Hardy, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, 2007

[percepts]

A freind had some garden seating made out of Ipe. The guy who installed it got through 12 circular saw blades cutting it to size and a lot of drill bits. I think it will last quite a long time

Here's a scientific chart showing which trees are hardest:



As you can see, birch trees are harder to photograph than pine trees, but not quite as hard as oak tres. If you're wondering why Ansel never photographed Brazillian walnut trees, just do the math ...