Woodland Shadows and Shapes

We often spend our hikes looking ahead at the path or out at the horizon, but don't forget the "worm's eye view"!

This shot is also a perfect example of why I love switching to black and white when shooting in dense woodland. Sometimes, the greens and browns of a forest can muddy the image. By removing the colour, you force the eye to look at texture and contrast instead. The rugged, ancient feel of the bark against the velvet-smooth surface of the bracket fungus creates a visual rhythm that draws the eye right up the trunk.

Pro Tip: If you are shooting a subject like this with your phone, try getting the lens as close to the trunk as possible and tilting upwards. It exaggerates the height of the tree and makes the fungi look massive and imposing!