by Rob Moody
I really enjoy the mountains and the forest. Whether it is on skis, snowshoes or on foot, there is something mystical about hiking through it on a crisp winter day. I often marvel at the way the sunlight looks through the trees as it paints its path. Late in the afternoon a few days ago, I drove to a close by trail near Brook Forest, Colorado to take a hike. I always bring a tripod when I intend to shoot in the forest. While it seems bright as you hike along, it’s amazing how dark it is when you shoot into the trees.
For me, there is something compelling about the challenge of shooting into the sun. This is probably because I was always taught not to do it by my father and eventually teachers as I grew up. Just like touching your tongue to a freezing metal light post outside in the winter, I had to try it at least once. While I found out the hard way that others were right most of the time, today I still shoot into the sun.
Here are a few things to think about while shooting. Blocking the sun out entirely with part of a branch or trunk can be compelling. Partially blocking the sun can also be interesting. If you want the direct sun to be more like a star burst, use higher f-stops or close down your aperture. If your color is getting messed up, use daylight white balance. Use your over/under exposure compensation to dial it in. Make sure to set the over/under exposure compensation back to 0.0 afterwards.
If you haven’t tried this before, consider it. The worst thing that can happen is you have to delete the image. It’s a lot of fun, especially when you get a really good one. Good shooting. Both images were created using a Tamron 18-270 VC PZD.
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