Inspired by the documentary The World of Lars van de Goor

Saturday 14 November 2020, 20:10 by Erik Nevels | 4,468 views | 0 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Recently, I watched the Photofacts documentary 'The World of Lars van de Goor'. A fascinating story about an 'artist', as he was once called, and how it marked the start of his development into a professional landscape photographer.

A far-reaching development when you consider that he gave up his home and livelihood to eventually travel through Europe in a campervan, looking for beautiful nature and trees in particular. Lars's world has inspired me to look at trees differently!

Difficult

I find photographing trees quite difficult. How do I capture the beautiful tree I see beautifully in a photograph? What is it that actually makes me find the tree beautiful?

The shape and colours of the trunk and branches, the colour(s) of the leaves, the grandeur, the bareness, the details, the surroundings, the movement in the wind?

Perhaps it is a combination of several factors that makes you captivated by beauty. Whatever combination is responsible, the light at that moment certainly plays a decisive role.

If the light is not 'right', it is questionable whether I notice the (latent) beauty.

Inspiration

While watching 'The World of Lars van de Goor', I think of some more and less successful photographs of trees that I have taken so far.

What would I do differently now with the new inspiration I get from seeing Lars's results and the way he works? Is it worth looking up those trees or group of trees again?

The positive answer does not take long. I already know where I will definitely return, probably more than once!

Beegderheide

The tree I have in mind is on the Beegderheide. This unique area of nature lies on the edge of the Maas valley, north of the village of Beegden, as you might expect.

It is an area with a great variety of open heathland, deciduous and coniferous woodland, a sand drift and several pools. One of my favourite areas to photograph.

From the archives

Before I set off, I look in my archive for my first photographs of that tree, a Scots pine. I took them last August.

I remember it well. Getting up pretty early to be there in time for sunrise. Fog was forecast, as was visible sunshine. In short, perfect weather conditions for beautiful light and patches of mist.

On location, I choose two viewpoints for interesting compositions as it gets lighter.

The tree in its surroundings

For the first series of shots, I choose a viewpoint some distance from the pool, behind which the Scots pine stands. I zoom out to a 33mm wide angle. A second striking tree on the left also comes into view, along with the purple heath.

The disadvantage of this viewpoint is that the lower hanging branch of the tree with the split trunk is not completely separated from the background. I do not notice this on location, only discovering it in front of the computer.

A lower viewpoint will probably make the pool disappear from view. So I need to return for a better viewpoint.

Sony A7-3, 33mm, f/8, 1/40sec, ISO 125

The tree on its own

For the photograph of the tree 'solo', I walk forwards and descend to the pool. The sun appears in the meantime and the modest clouds have moved to the right as hoped. As I am now standing lower, the crown is nicely separated from the background. I also zoom in a little more.

Looking at the photograph again now, I am bothered by the fact that the trunk reflected in the water is cut off at the bottom of the photograph. The same is true of the previous photograph, but there it looks natural because of the heath in the foreground.

Sony A7-3, 50mm, f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 100

Another attempt

Both photographs therefore deserve another chance, or several. With Lars's documentary in mind, I decide to revisit the tree as soon as the forecast promises sunshine and mist again.

It is more than a year later by then, at the end of October. Unfortunately, I am disappointed. Because it is later in the year, the sun appears later and therefore further south on the horizon, making the sky behind the tree much less orange than it was in August.

I expected this, but not to this extent. Still, I try to find a composition in which both the crown is separated and the reflection is not abruptly cut off. I can only manage this in portrait orientation, but as mentioned, the light is disappointing.

I take a few photographs, but only to remember the viewpoint and composition. Before I even pack up my equipment, I already know. Next year I will return to this viewpoint, but in July or early August, when the sun rises behind the tree.

Sony A7-3, 42mm, f/11, 1/13sec, ISO 100

Sunbeams

I walk another lap around the tree and take up a different viewpoint, with the sun rising behind the tree.

The sunbeams are now beautifully visible and, with some adjusting and zooming, I choose the following composition with 'my' Scots pine among the trees behind it and the dew-covered little fir trees in the foreground.

There is not much time left, because there is no turning back for the sun this morning either.

Personally, I prefer the previous composition because the tree is not separated from the background in this last photograph. In short, no world-class shots, but a challenge to keep walking new laps around this tree in the future in search of the ultimate viewpoint and light.

Now all I can do is hope that the tree will still be there next year, because the observant viewer may have noticed. Sadly, it has been ringed!

Sony A7-3, 28mm, f/11, 1/80sec, ISO 100

Feeling inspired too?

Watch the documentary on Photofacts Academy. You can currently join at a discount, receive a free book about landscape photography and also have a chance to win some great prizes.

» Discover everything about the prize draw

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