Trees almost always show up in my landscapes, but they are rarely the focus. I have even taken pictures where the space between them was the focus, like in the picture below.

There have been a few exceptions to trees not taking center stage. Most recently, Oregon opened a few more of the trails that had been closed after the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. One of these is the Upper McCord Creek Falls Trail. I took a very short hike there in early January 2021, and decided to capture some of the burn scars on the trees. I was surprised to find that I liked the pictures aesthetically as well.

And the same image in black and white

Trees are the lungs of the planet. They make the countryside interesting. They house us, and the birds and squirrels. They can make for good pictures as well.

Thanks for looking

–Gary L. Quay

Technical Data

Featured Image
Tree Fromundah
Camera: Hasselblad 500 CM.
Film: Kodak Portra 400.
Lens: 40mm Zeiss Distagon

Off Walker Farm Road, September 2011
Camera: Sinar Alpina 4×5
Lens: 150mm Fujinon with a green filter.
Film: Ilford FP4+ Developed in 510-Pyro.

After the Fire, Yeon State Park, Oregon
Camera: Nkon D810
Lens: 24-85mm Nikon

Burn Scars Along the Upper McCord Creek falls Trail
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: 24-85mm Nikon

Burn Scars Along the Upper McCord Creek falls Trail B&W
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: 24-85mm Nikon

Backlit Spruces, Rt 12, Washington
Camera: Deardorff 8×10.
Lens: 300mm Nikkor-W with no filter.
Film: Ilford HP5+ developed in Caffenol C-L, stand development for 70 min.

The Treetops
Camera: Hasselblad 500Cm
Lens: 80mm Zeiss Planar
Film: Kodak E100SW

Winter Woods in the Oregon Coast Range
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: 28mm Zeiss Distagon F2

Long-Haired, Scruffy, and Snow-Capped
Camera: Nikon D810
Lens: 70-210mm Nikon

Japanese Maple
Camera: Hasselblad 500 CM
Lens: 80mm Carl Zeiss
Film: Fujichone Velvia