As a nature lover and hobbyist photographer I’m always on the lookout for beautiful scenery to photograph. One of my favorite subjects is the magnificent larch tree. Larches have a unique beauty that really comes alive when captured in pictures. In this article I’ll share some tips on how to take eye-catching photos of these glorious trees.
A Bit About Larches
Before diving into photography tips, let’s take a quick look at what exactly larch trees are. Larches are a type of conifer, but unlike other conifers like pines and firs, larches are deciduous. That means they shed their needles each fall. Larches are found throughout cool, mountainous regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
One of the unique things about larches is their brilliant golden fall color. When autumn arrives, a larch’s needles turn a dazzling shade of golden yellow before dropping to the ground. This creates a stunning pop of color in the midst of the evergreens that retain their greenery year-round. It’s this amazing fall foliage that makes larches such a great photography subject.
Scouting the Perfect Larch Stand
To take stunning pictures of larch trees, you need to find a grove that is at its most colorful in the fall. This involves carefully timing your shoot. If you go outside too early, the needles will still be green. Too late and they’ll already be on the ground. I like to start looking for places to shoot a few weeks before the peak color is due.
Your best bet is to look for larches growing at higher elevations. The cooler temperatures at altitude delay the change of color. While trees in the valleys lose their leaves early high-elevation larches will showcase golden needles for weeks longer. Study topographic maps to identify mountain roads and trails that pass through larch stands.
Once you’ve found good spots, keep coming back as fall goes on. Keep track of when the larches start to change color and come back when the show is at its best. The optimum time is a narrow 2-3 week window. You should be ready to leave right away when the larches in the place you chose reach their golden peak.
Composing Your Larch Photo
Now comes the fun part – using your artistic eye to compose the perfect larch photo! Here are some tips for capturing these trees at their most photogenic:
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Focus on the larches Make sure they are the dominant element in the scene Move around until you find an angle that highlights their golden needles.
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Include fall colors in the foreground. Putting orange or red shrubs in front of the larches gives the scene more depth and contrast.
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Shoot in side lighting. Early morning or late afternoon sun casting shadows creates striking definition.
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Frame with mountains or hills. Use the surrounding peaks and slopes as a dramatic backdrop. Or position larches in the foreground with a valley below.
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Reflections double the impact. Plan your shot so that mirrored larches in a lake or stream are in it.
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Highlight one tree. Isolating a single larch as the focal point can really showcase its radiance.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with angles, perspectives, and compositions to find what works best. Taking multiple shots of a scene gives you options later when editing and selecting images.
Post-Processing the Photo
After a successful shoot, you’ll likely have many great larch photos to choose from. Select the images with the most eye-catching compositions and optimal lighting. From there, you can use photo editing software to take your shots to the next level:
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Adjust color. Boost the warmth and saturation to really make those golden larches pop.
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Increase contrast. Up the contrast and whites to add more drama.
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Deepen the blues. Make a blue sky backdrop more intense.
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Sharpen details. Carefully sharpen the image to accentuate details in the larches.
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Reduce noise. Eliminate any unwanted noise or graininess from high ISO settings.
Take time to meticulously process your best larch pictures. Your goal is to produce images that capture the amazing beauty of these trees at the peak of their autumn splendor.