How to Photograph Trees, Mushrooms and Rivers | Woodland Photography Tips

Sometimes when the weather is a bit rubbish, but you have that nature photography itch, heading into some secluded woodland is your best bet for photographic success.
In this tutorial, official Nikon Ambassador Ross Hoddinott shows you 3 great techniques you can use to properly capture and document a woodland area.
Learn how to take beautiful woodland stream images, as well as macro photos of fungi and some creative ICM images of trees with bold shapes.
This video was produced by NatureTTL.com, in partnership with B&H Photo Video - www.bhphotovideo.com
-- KIT LIST --
Got your eye on some of the gear used in this video? You can find everything at the following (affiliate) links:
Nikon D850: geni.us/LHnqM4
Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8: geni.us/JT9gL
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8: geni.us/Fw4cUi
Nikon 105mm Micro: geni.us/MERpNMP
LEE Filters 105mm Polariser Filter: geni.us/aHDhs
Manfrotto 405 Geared Head: geni.us/rb9b
Gitzo Systematic Legs: geni.us/MHJupx
Manfrotto LUMIMUSE 8 LED: geni.us/0fBeB
Lastolite 50cm Reflector: geni.us/oi2GmwZ
-- RECORDED ON --
This film was recorded using:
Canon 5D Mark IV: geni.us/YkJr
Canon 16-35mm f/4 EF L IS USM: geni.us/vsIEP
Learn more about nature photography at www.naturettl.com/start-here/

[@TheErajat]

By far the best video tutorial that I've come across on KZbin. Like the other viewer said, you should totally do more videos. Great content, precisely delivered. Thank you for the effort. Learnt a lot!

[@majicMix911]

I had not even thought of using a portable light source to back light a subject. Can even use it as a rim light. Duh! WOW. THANK YOU!

[@jakemcavoy2554]

Great presentation indeed! Thorough, precise, thoughtful, and filled with useful info. Thanks, Ross

[@dueyneau6699]

off to the woods first thing in the morning ! Thanks for some great tips I can use to improve my work.

[@Glasshousebc]

Second video I’ve watched from you... great video, and much appreciated. A brand new photographer thanks you. 🤙

[@Snowcatnz2]

Some really great tips and content thankyou!!!

[@kobiorama]

Thanks for the video. Some very nice ideas, both with the motion of the tree and the use of constant light for the macro.

[@gwarlow]

Wow! 11 minutes of very useful tips presented in a thoughtful manner. Thanks, so much!

[@paulscottfilms]

Nice. I especially liked the little LED light as a backlight .

[@lcador9]

I agree with the prior posting. One of the best instructional documentations of considerations in one's shooting process that I have seen.

[@jenssieckmann]

Some of the best and precise explained videos in terms of composition and technics. Lots of dense information. Thanks for sharing.

[@Carouliss]

Thanks for the tips, can't wait to try it out! Your works are amazing!

[@drewgazmik3275]

What a gorgeous location!

[@andylowther1]

Ross you inspire me to take better photos . i love nature and asp by the sea ,clouds asp. and sunrise or sunsets with a wide landscape view. .i get confused with all the maths and calculations , but your approach getting out in the open helps me to grasp the subject.your a good teacher and know you subject well. thanks a bunch.

[@chandlermcquoid7900]

Just subscribed. Excellent tips, all very well delivered. Thanks!

[@eszee7474]

I love capturing images of fungi. Great tips! Will definitely get an LED light and reflector. Thanks for the video. Subscribed!

[@DerekB931]

Always inspired by your macro work and try to emulate your style - unsuccessfully of course but your work always makes me strive to improve - thanks

[@tendertears2001]

Great ideas, I'll definitely put them to use in my next photo projects. Thanks

[@johnguillaume5919]

Super useful tips. I’m keen on ICM and you were spot on with your tips.

[@michellehuey1]

Loved this, such great usable info. thanks

[@anujasharma9677]

Excellent Tips, Ross!. Thank you

[@dwelker3778]

I really liked the description of why you were doing certain things to get the shot you wanted. This was very informative and helpful. The shots were really nice.

[@Naturettl]

Thank you - we'll make sure there's more of that guidance!

[@craigcarlson4022]

Great suggestions. Am actually heading out to a national park and we have rain in the forecast for the first half of the week. So i'll take the macro and try this out.

[@photobyjewell1987]

Thanks again for the video and camera tips on shooting in woodlands

[@dijones624]

Absolutely brilliant.... given me the inspiration to go and visit some woodland near me. Thank you Ross.

[@Naturettl]

Awesome, thanks Di!

[@subwaysurfers9168]

Di Jones kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYXEaJ2Qn6ifrtE

[@mariosnicolaou8770]

Excellent video. Really great ideas. Thank you!!

[@robertdenlow8694]

Terrific video - the macro tips at the end were very helpful

[@MileyonDisney]

Very well done! You covered a lot of great tips. Thanks!

[@stevieukuk]

I love that place!! one of my favourite places!!

[@peterc11364]

great. very informative and getting to the point quick. good job.

[@MrDjlavor]

I love your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@lefthandright01]

Top tip about white balance and overcast days. It took me a while to get out of the habit of auto WB. My camera does do a a good job of getting it fairly accurate, but it wasn't until i started setting purposeful kelvin levels and carrying a white card to set a custom WB that my nature images began to remarkably improve and have life to them.

[@stavrosk.2868]

I rarely subscribe...having watched only two of your videos, I did subscribe. Clear, to the point, understandable, helpful. Thank you.

[@isabelladavis1363]

Without a doubt the best informative video I’ve seen in ages...excellent and learned so much,, thank you for sharing...just subscribed!

[@LailaPH]

So beautiful thank you for sharing

[@cii1072]

Good video. I enjoyed your discussion about decision making and strategy for making your photos. I learned from this video.

[@hannabolate5657]

Excellent tutorial. Very clear, concise and informative. Thank you

[@yujinlandscapephotography.7787]

well done, Absolutely images. Thank!

[@dozerblade]

thanks Ross, I have had some of my best shots in those woods, I usually visit spring and fall. for uk people this is Golitha Falls in Cornwall.

[@montanasojourn]

Thanks for giving the location.

[@WonderingGreenMan]

Great tips! I especially like the bit about the mushroom lighting! Thank you for sharing!

[@markharris5771]

Great video, the first I have seen of your though I recently started getting your brilliant news letter. Personally, and this is purely a taste thing, I’m not a lover of ICM. Fantastic information all the way through with great advice. A very professionally presented video.

[@TylerMartinPhoto]

Woodlands are so difficult to photograph, thanks for making this video!

[@ericgeorge5483]

Great advice, thank you.

[@miketodd2870]

Very Nice!! Loved the fungi shot!

[@Naturettl]

Thanks Mike! :)

[@fernandevaudan7774]

Thanks for your video I leave close to 2 nice forest and your advises will help me to be more imaginative

[@prashantnz]

So good. Thanks heaps.

[@five_star_images3019]

I really enjoyed watching this!

[@JasonEdwardsPhotography]

Again great video. Well done. Professional. Your presentation is spot on.

[@Ival5311]

Спасибо! Отличное видео!

[@Don_terrenos]

Great video!

[@GH-jb2rv]

Fantastic, a great really informative video, that has me itching to get out in to my local woods, definitely will do when the weather is not great , there are a lot of boring videos on KZbin, this is most definitely not one of them. Where is the next one...?

[@Naturettl]

Coming every Tuesday!

[@RichardFrenchPhotography]

Great video really enjoyed it.

[@lesstringer]

An excellent and timely video Ross!

[@Naturettl]

Thanks Les!

[@lawrencewhitehead6120]

Great video very informative and very well presented

[@JayWelton92]

I agree with you that a lot of photographers get hung up on foreground interest. Obviously it's important for many shots but certainly not all of them. I think that's one of the reasons many landscape photographers are switching from wide-angle to telephoto as their main landscape lens. Compressing the background, bringing everything closer to the camera and focusing more on light, shape, texture etc. can create really powerful images. This also steers you away from taking those boring, repetitive postcard shots and allows for a more creative approach that show your unique view as an artist.

[@axelbjornberg44]

I learned a lot, thank you.

[@simplyphil.photography164]

I just watched this out of curiosity, but to my amazement, found that it was a very good video, TTL knew what he was talking out, no waffle, l shall take a look at TTL's other video's

[@subwaysurfers9168]

simplyphil.photography kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYXEaJ2Qn6ifrtE

[@TomKaszuba]

Thank you for this video.

[@canturgan]

When using intentional movement during exposure, I use the delayed shutter so I am moving when the exposure starts. The reason I do that is to have a smooth image with no hard edges. Good video👍.

[@watsonzaire9081]

I know im asking randomly but does anyone know a trick to log back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot the account password. I love any tips you can give me

[@shepardlucian4485]

@Watson Zaire Instablaster ;)

[@watsonzaire9081]

@Shepard Lucian i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm in the hacking process now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@watsonzaire9081]

@Shepard Lucian It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out !

[@shepardlucian4485]

@Watson Zaire you are welcome =)

[@ludvigyttergren4928]

You are doing a huge mistake....by not making more videos!! This is the pace, level of tips and knowledge most youtubers dont have. Looking forward to more videos :-)

[@subwaysurfers9168]

Ludvig Yttergren kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYXEaJ2Qn6ifrtE

[@ramblersnook]

Great share!

[@angelaparker7607]

Thank you! I have taken notes :)

[@Naturettl]

Awesome - hope it helps Angela.

[@nerpaint]

me too :)

[@MrRenoman2011]

Great Video thanks

[@emadali4833]

Very good information , straight to the point , but I got question as I'm not pro ..well do you use manual setting for your macro pics or built in macro setting . Thanks

[@marievalayoodum9546]

Thanks for sharing

[@davekelly8168]

Great tips..

[@jamesss1953]

enjoyed your video, like its helpful tips and well presented :)

[@valdiskrebs566]

Great tips! Never considered a polarizer in the woods.

[@amithanuradha2874]

very helpful tips

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Some good advice nice one

[@mashietatun767]

Beautiful fotos 🥰

[@codainhanh5767]

Thank you

[@thevalleywalker]

Nice one Ross

[@kaiworleyphotography]

Great video :)

[@walkaboutphotographymedia4988]

Ty so much

[@Nat.ImagesLarge.F.Photographer]

Excellent video,great,Thanks!

[@clintonoxcjc]

Great camera height. If lowered you would lose the little stream coming in on the left side which sort of indicates an island in the center of the great composition. Thanks for all the tips.

[@Nivenization]

Thank you.

[@JohnGilbert49]

Enjoyed your video. I just purchased the D850 and I am in the process of setting it up. Do you have any recommendations for settings?

[@darrenoakley6680]

Hi Ross just stumbled across your channel whilst looking for inspiration and i was not disapointed great video and tips. Can I ask which woodland you was in the fast flowing river was awesome. I live in cambridge so its very flat and do not have rivers like that around here but was just curiuous as to where you where.

[@georgemelo5326]

today u have a new subcriber good job!

[@bbbb6066]

How do you like the Nikon D850. Black and white would make an interesting pic. I use ICM to take pic of lights. Christmas make a great shot. Thank you Ben

[@thomaswerts2418]

very good video

[@jimjam6598]

Where were you shooting? The forest looks amazing!

[@teddyromero5196]

You great, I learn alot with you. Please which tripod is that please. Regards from Perú.

[@MichaelKantormusic]

I like the use of the polarized lens. Is there one that will fit all different lenses without having to carry a lot of kit ? Also looks like a d850. Did you try the focus stacking on the 850?

[@wylie_photo]

Are you at Golitha falls on Bodmin Moor?

[@nyuthevlog2146]

I wish I have a camera like you...but I don't have camera like you...but I love to watch your video..as I love it n it's my interest to b a photographer

[@RobertSE6]

Thanks for a very useful video - beginner question please - in the first shot - where are you focusing and what sort of aperture did you use?

[@Naturettl]

Hi Robert. It tends to be a case of focusing not right at the foreground, but a little bit further in. An aperture of around f/11 will render the majority of the scene sharp on a wide-angle - just check on the LCD the front to back sharpness. Check this article for more information on more precise focusing techniques: www.naturettl.com/how-to-use-hyperfocal-distance/

[@philipblair7307]

Nice first vodeo guys.

[@Naturettl]

Thanks Philip!

[@nitrousblast1]

What type of polarizing filter is that ?? I can't find anything similar online...thanks

[@blythewarland1166]

taking into account your a professional and I'm an amateur, the mushrooms DOF seemed to narrow to me, or for my tastes in photography I would have gone for a longer DOF

[@rsmc48091]

I might try shooting a mushroom using a mirror and light with the camera on a timer in order to get a low angle shot, that way I'll still have both hands free for lighting and angle.

[@williamriach2261]

Do you adjust for the LED light in post production?

[@scottpitner4298]

Autumnal 😎🔥 lol

[@JBOutdoorsAndMore]

Amazing job on the video. I will definitely be using this to help me with my photography. Also i like what you did with your channel. You have my subscription would love to have your support as well. ATB Joe 😎👊🏻

[@GuitarSlinger2112]

when using a sticky tripod use a piece of elastic like a bungee cord attached to the handle. It will act as a damper and reduce jerkiness

[@vannakny4792]

what lens do you use?

[@theeclecticphotographerajr5372]

With regards to polarizers, can’t you just boost saturation in post and decrease highlights

[@user-zj4wo1yy1i]

What is your tripod head?