Why your Woodland Photos DON'T WORK

I find woodland photography extremely difficult. Except for rare occasions everything looks a mess to me. Then I watch your videos and others and I marvel at how you find such order in seeming chaos.

It's funny that the ideal woodland photograph is one with no distractions, but the natural woodland is full of distractions and jumbled trees.

I’ve started drinking a shot each time Nigel says “it doesn’t get better than this”. I’m dead

You're right, forest photography is difficult... but you are an amazing forest photographer 👏

2:58 "I think it would be nice if it was dead." -- Something about that was funny to me. I might start using that in my daily routine.

Love the woods for photography! It is sometimes difficult to photograph due to so much clutter and distractions. Enjoying this as I watch it. Thanks for sharing........

That rainbow shot is AMAZING - very well done and glad you could share this light with us

Loved your video today. I had a chuckle while watching it, though. At about 50 seconds in, you stopped your introduction with “Oo, it’s getting foggy!”, followed by an explanation of distractions being the photographers common mistake. I immediately had images of Dug from Pixar’s “UP” exclaiming “squirrel!”.

Yes, I like that photo of Rydal Water at 18:21 very much

I shoot several genres, but find woodland to be the most challenging! Thanks for the advice…and thanks for taking me along!

Kudos to you finding beauty in the mess. I haven’t devoted myself to doing that but my efforts so far haven’t worked. Finding details to shoot has worked better for me. Thanks for sharing your secret sauce so openly.

What an absolutely brilliant way to showcase your compositions and demonstrate objects within a scene.... By literally immersing yourself in the same frame that you are describing. Very clever, very intuitive, and will certainly aid me on my new found photography journey. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this video Nigel. After taking photos for 4 years and avoiding woodland because it's so difficult I by watching videos like this Im giving it a go and producing images I'm quite happy with. I'm learning that a polariser is a must, especially after rain. Yesterday I forgot to rotate my polariser to effect the reflections on the leaves for a lovely composition and I have loads of white over exposed blown out leaves on what otherwise is a nice image. I'm yet to get any fog here in Northampton, but I've also learnt to embrace rain and put a shower cap on my 7Dii 😂. A terrible day to walk with my family is a great day to do woodland photography. Thanks for the great videos and for your unique content.

Very helpful tips, Nigel. Your woodlands are incredible there this time of year. I really appreciate your own self-critique of what you felt doesn't work in some images.

Great video. I've struggled a little with woodland photography until recently. Been out the last three weeks to the same local woods and been able to get some photos that I'm very pleased with. On the second week, there was quite a bit of mist which helped massively. An large number of potential compositions were discounted as could not make them work and instead moved on quite quickly to find several that I was pleased with. Your previous videos have helped me think about woodland photography and to improve my own, so many thanks.

I used SAAL digital to have some calendars printed. The colors were wonderful and made my travel photos look great. It was a simple process and I would definitely use them again. It was an earlier discount code that enticed me to try it. Thanks so much for the “push”. Love these woodland videos 😊

Complete front to back focus can just add to the confusion within busy woodland. Most images need a focal point, when all is in focus the eye just wanders within the image aimlessly !

Great video, love the locations you take us to. The woodland colours are gorgeous at the moment, we are certainly being blessed this autumn 😊

"This tree, I think it'd be nice if it was dead" 🤣🤣🤣 2:51 I can't get enough of this l

Nigel, thank you very much for this video. I concur 100% with your assessment of the environment you are shooting in. One thing I've added to my bag is a dog-training clicker. I have used it to get horses, ducks, owls, and other animals I encounter with outdoor photography to "get their attention". The photo (10:44) of the field/barn with sheep would really pop with their heads up looking at you. For SAAL, I have used them for years and they are spot on with color, and their wedding books high quality.