Large, mature trees are among the most important elements of urban and rural landscapes, contributing to ecological function, cultural identity, landscape character, and climate resilience. Yet their significance is often underestimated in planning, development, infrastructure, and land management decisions.
Photography is a powerful tool for documenting these valuable assets, supporting design and planning processes, communicating landscape values, and advocating for the protection of significant trees. Effective images can reveal the scale, form, condition, and contribution of trees to the landscape in ways that technical reports alone cannot.
This workshop is designed for photographers, arborists, landscape architects, landscape designers, planners, environmental professionals, and anyone interested in trees and landscapes. Participants will develop both technical and creative skills to create images that are visually compelling and professionally useful.
Tree photography presents unique challenges, from capturing scale and structure to working with complex backgrounds, difficult lighting, and diverse landscape settings. Through a combination of discussion, image critique, and field-based practice, we’ll explore practical techniques for overcoming these challenges and strengthening visual storytelling.
The workshop begins with a discussion of participants’ interests and challenges, followed by a constructive critique of pre submitted images (participants may remain anonymous). The day concludes with a session to photograph trees and apply techniques and knowledge.
Participants will learn how to:
- Photograph trees to communicate scale, form, character, and landscape context.
- Create images that support design, planning, assessment, and conservation outcomes.
- Work effectively with challenging light and site conditions.
- Improve composition and visual storytelling
- Build a photographic record suitable for reports, presentations, publications, and advocacy.
- Convey the beauty and diversity of trees and communicate their value within the landscape.