P#20 Q3A: Overcoming the Tendency to "Miss the Forest For the Trees" When Searching for a Foreground for Your Wide Angle Lens Shots

Seeing the Forest Through the Trees

Bryan Peterson: One of the biggest pitfalls that photographers fall into when they use their wide angle is that they are looking for foreground flowers. As a result of that, their thinking is that a foreground must be something on the ground. Subsequently, that's where flowers grow from so it's only natural, since flowers are also colorful, that they're a great entry point for storytelling composition.

There is more, however, than just flowers to use as a foreground. For example, as you're going down the trails of the Blue Mountains, get off the trail momentarily and nuzzle up against a tree. See if you cannot find yourself under that tree where you have branches coming in from the top that become a foreground.

Ironically, with the power of the branch's lineal nature, they become like fingers pointing in the foreground to the distant mountains. They not only act as a great opportunity to create depth and perspective, but they subsequently take the eye and say, "Look at those mountains in the background."

Another good standby for a foreground with a wide angle lens is rocks and boulders. I'm going to get in a lot of trouble for saying this, but I will defend it to my grave. If you've got a couple of rocks in the Blue Ridge Mountains and all around you on the forest floor are leaves that have fallen off the trees, pick up those leaves and carefully place them on the rocks.

Some people will say you shouldn't do things like that because it's messing with nature. That's not true. We don't live in a perfect world. I take my upbringing seriously. I was raised by a Lutheran minister and I know the Bible well.

The Bible says that God gave man dominion over the earth, which is another way of saying photographers are supposed to do what Mother Nature Intended. As a result, I take those leaves and put them on the rock, because I know that's what Mother Nature meant to do.

Just make sure you do it in a way that doesn't look contrite. I suppose that's vitally important. Know the difference. I'm certainly not going to be a person who's going to go around with chainsaws by any means. I've never done that. You don't chop trees down just to get the photograph.

So first remember, when you're looking for a foreground for your wide angle lens shot, it does not necessarily mean something that's on the ground. Secondly, ask yourself why you need a foreground at all? As you're walking along and you're bent on finding those foregrounds, it's possible you don't see the telephoto opportunities around you. That's what I call tunnel vision, so be careful there.

In Summary

Sometimes we get put into a box. We look so hard for one thing, we miss out on seeing something else. Such is the case with those who search for a specific type of foreground. To overcome this, Bryan Peterson suggests taking a less conventional approach to wide angle lens photography.