Moody Winter Woodlands

Creating images full of mood and atmosphere takes a keen eye and an ability to see order in chaos, as Neil Burnell explains

- Neil Burnell

While many landscape photographers are drawn to shooting sunsets and sunrises with drama light and colour, I’ve always taken more enjoyment from shooting in conditions more suited to atmospheric scenes. Woodland can be a daunting genre for many photographers who are led to believe that it’s an extremely difficult subject to master. While I agree it’s not an easy subject I’d also say that all genres are difficult if you don’t put the time and effort into them. I’ve found woodland to be an enjoying challenge and extremely satisfying when it all comes together.

Rise to the challenge

To begin with, woodland can be a bit overwhelming: tangled trees seem like a complete mess and it’s hard to make sense of it all let alone take an image. Almost certainly the best place to start your woodland journey is by going on a few scouting missions – try keeping it local if you can. Travel light and go with no expectations and I can almost guarantee you will find some scenes with potential that you can return to. Work the edges of the woodland first. Looking into a woodland can often reap rewards and is an easier way to spot compositions, especially if you haven’t shot this genre before.​

Heading straight into a woodland can often be very overwhelming. Once you’ve found a scene make sure you give it time by checking out various angles and taking reference shots, so you are fully prepared when the conditions are right.

When you first start shooting woodland, don’t expect to shoot keepers from day one. Yes it can happen, as in every genre, but I almost guarantee that it will take some time and several outings for your confidence to grow first.

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