The Magic of Trees | 8 Amazing Tree Images | Nature Photography
It's no wonder trees images are some of the most popular given the power and symbolism of trees throughout history. Studies also show that looking at trees and forests can reduce stress. Read on to see 10 stunning images of various trees, some specific favorites and other more general discussions of a species and their environments. Trees are such an integral part of our planet and simply put, without them there would not be much of a planet or the possibility of life. Yet just how essential they are, not only to our very existence but our mental well being, so very often goes overlooked and taken for granted. So here is my attempt gain some of that appreciation back and help you feel the magic of trees.
If you want to see more amazing tree photography, I encourage you to view my full collection of tree images and perhaps there will be the perfect one for your home or business.
1 | The Curvy Aspens | Colorado Aspen Trees
The aspen trees of Colorado are always full of magic during the fall but this set is simply stunning and unique. These bent aspen trees near Telluride, Colorado are intriguing and seem to magically dance. Known by many as the curvy trees, their location is a fairly well kept secret to help preserve and protect these trees. Legend has it these trees were pushed down by an avalanche but persevered and tried to straighten up their trunks as they continued to grow. This particular photograph was created on a memorable fall morning with the sunlight trying to break through the mist and fog in the background.
2 | The Japanese Maple Tree | Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon
This tree is beloved by many as its vibrant colors shine during the brief period of peak colors in the fall. The red leaves on the famous Portland Japanese maple tree quite literally come ablaze and the carpet of green moss and ferns below have a vibrant color and excellent contrast to the leaves. Spending time with this tree, I can't help but take a deep breath and slowly exhale when I have had a moment alone with it to appreciate how remarkable it is. The Portland Japanese garden, that this little beauty calls home, can be very busy in autumn and this tree practically gets the red velvet rope treatment with a line of photographers and a time limit to photograph it. Somehow I've been fortunate enough to be the first one in the garden several times now and had this magnificent twisting and turning tree all to myself for quite a while. With so much to look at in this image, it's a great example of how even looking at and studying a nature photograph can reduce stress and improve physiological health.
As I've made numerous trips to photograph this prized Japanese maple tree, in my gallery you'll find many variations of this image to help fit your space and bring this remarkable tree into your home.
3 | The Angel Oak Tree | Charleston, South Carolina
The official plaque for this tree estimates it to be 300-400 years old, although that number varies widely online. It stands 66 feet tall and 27 feet around with branches reaching out like endless tentacles, some of which are 180 feet long! This tree exudes magic and makes you feel as if you're in the middle of an enchanted forest. A forest that consists of exactly one enormous tree that provides 17,000 square feet of shade. Getting its name from the estate of Justus Angel and his wife, Martha Waight Tucker Angel, the Angel Oak Tree is the pride of Johns Island in South Carolina near Charleston. I photographed this in December of 2015 and spent many hours on a quiet weekday exploring all of the limbs and angles to photograph her from. It's such a stunner and I believe images look equally great in color and black and white.
4 | California Redwoods | Redwoods National Park
The Redwood Forests of California are humbling with their grand size. The Coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are known world-wide for being the tallest trees on Earth. These magical redwood groves stretch along the California coast from the Oregon border all the way down to Big Sur with 49 official state parks. Humboldt County is the centerpiece of the region with so many old growth forests. Often shrouded in fog blowing in right off the ocean, it creates a feeling of mystery if you happen to be in there when that is happening. Even better if the sun is piercing that fog with sun beams (aka God rays) that appear straight from the heavens and will make you feel more alive than ever! Viewing their immense size in person naturally brings a new perspective of life and our time here and keeps me coming back again and again to appreciate their strength and beauty.
5 | Bald Cypress Trees | Caddo Lake, Texas
Bald cypress trees draped in Spanish moss are very intriguing to me as they have so much character and live in such a unique ecosystem. Add in some mist rising off of the water in the morning air and the words that come to mind most are hauntingly beautiful. These hardy conifers are found throughout the southeastern United States in swamplands from Texas to Florida. In the fall, the needle like leaves on these ancient trees turn beautiful rust colors at different times in every region throughout the southern bayous. In recent years, it is Caddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border that has grown in popularity among nature and landscape photographers. Caddo Lake formed around 1800 from submerged trees blocking a river system, it was named after the Caddoan people who were early inhabitants of the area. As Bald Cypress seeds do not germinate in water, this means that the majority of trees in and around the lake are over 200 years old. That may seem rather young as they are known to live up to 600 years, with some having survived 1200 years. But I assure you experiencing these floating forests, you can't help but to feel surrounded by old souls.
6 | Oak Lane | Wormsloe Plantation, Georgia
Live oak trees are prominent throughout the southeastern United States as well. Already discussed was the amazing specimen, the Angel Oak Tree, and certainly another location at the top of this list is Wormsloe Plantation near Savannah, Georgia. This Avenue of Oaks is 1.5 miles long with a perfectly tangled canopy of branches and Spanish moss that catches the light shining through the translucent green leaves. The long tree tunnel seems to go on forever and never end. Or perhaps back in time to the unfortunate past long ago as a slave plantation. Today Wormsloe Plantation is an official historic site after being acquired by the State of Georgia in the 1970's. The main attraction of the Oak Lane has over 400 trees that were planted while the property was under the care of Wimberley Jones De Renne until his death in 1916. And despite the ugly past, it remains a beautiful tribute to the land and the people that passed through it over the centuries.
Personally as I look at this particular image of the long road and surrounding trees, I can't help my thoughts gathering around the idea of striving for a purpose. Amongst all the chaos around it, the road symbolizes a singular vision, a pathway to keep your focus on without knowing all of the distractions (or branches) that will be thrown at you. A great metaphor for life.
7 | The Flooded Aspens | Alberta, Canada
Abraham Lake is a man made lake in the Kootenay Plains of the Canadian Rockies near Banff. It was created in 1972 by the Calgary Power Company with the construction of the Bighorn Dam. Despite it not being a natural lake, it still takes on the distinct blue color from the many glacial lakes in the Rockies from the rock flour particles suspended in the water. Now owned by TransAlta power company the water levels here vary and sometimes in the fall can turn this normally dry area on the outskirts of the lake with aspen groves into a flooded forest. The beautiful white trees, with vibrant warm fall colors compliment the cool blue waters almost too perfectly. A truly special place nestled among the towering mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies that draw so many annual visitors.
8 | Cottonwood Trees | Zion National Park
In Utah during the fall, cottonwood trees turn vibrant yellow and glisten throughout the desert terrain. And nowhere else is quite like Zion National Park when this happens. Prevalent throughout the canyon, the leaves are green in spring and summer and soften the rugged terrain of the Navajo Sandstone oasis. Fall comes to this region at the end of October and the golden cottonwood leaves stand out more than ever. In particular, the trees found in the Virgin River Narrows, with the towering canyon walls are some of the most photogenic in my opinion. The shining yellows contrast spectacularly against the orange and red canyon walls. Soft trees dotting the scenery in pockets with a backdrop of rugged carved stone all along a crisp refreshing river make for sensory overload. Any other time of year this one of a kind slot canyon, The Narrows, is the main attraction. But during the fall, it's those gold cottonwoods that steal the show in this amazing national park. Just another example of unique trees and breathtaking nature photography.
9 | Dogwood Trees | Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Ahhhh the white flower buds on these distinct woody trees mark the beginnings of spring. With these pops of white petals throughout the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee along creeks and rivers, the most famous scene is quite possibly that of Sparks Lane in Cades Cove. This gravel road leads right through several picturesque trees with gnarly limbs perfectly framing up this scene. In the spring when the trees are in full bloom during April, you will find more than a few photographers here to capture their own take on this iconic view. On my visit in 2014, I was fortunate that the distant mountains in the background got a dusting of snow the night before. This created a cool toned backdrop against the warm glow of the trees once the sun rose high enough to light them up. There's a good reason the Great Smoky Mountains tops the list of most visited national parks in the country with 14 million annual visitors.
10 | Magical Forest Scenes | Woodland Photography
While individual tree images can be incredible, there's an appeal to forest scenes that can transport you into the scene where you can imagine being surrounded by trees and walking through them. Enchanted forest and mythology have created stories for centuries that feed our appetite for forest scenes. They indulge our imagination and creativity just looking at them. Consider the Legend of Sleepy Hollow just to name a few of the popular media that have fueled our love of forest stories and mystery. Being in the forest, just wandering around and taking in the sounds and smells, brings me right back to my childhood explorations. Memories of endless days without a purpose other than to just be in the woods and see what I could find or do. And because of that, these scenes will always be special to me.
Stunning Tree Images | Nature Photography | Chris Byrne Photography
And there you have ten amazing tree images in settings from forest scenes, gardens, National Parks, Southern plantations, and more. I hope you enjoyed this read and that you'll check out my online gallery collection of trees and panoramic images and find an image that personally connects with you!
