For this photoshoot, I plan to experiment with slow shutter speeds to capture the movement of wind through the branches of a single tree. Rather than simply documenting it, I want to collaborate with nature - allowing uncontrollable elements like wind to directly influence the outcome of the images. This means the final result is not entirely directed by me, but shaped by the environment itself.
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I chose to focus on one specific tree to maintain consistency in subject, while allowing other variables such as light, weather, and wind, to change. I will photograph this tree three times in one day - morning, afternoon, and night. This will allow me to explore how time of day affects the image, particularly in terms of lighting conditions, atmosphere, and the intensity of movement. The wind may vary throughout the day, producing different levels of abstraction, which will further emphasise the idea of change.
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The location was chosen for its accessibility, ensuring I can reliably return at different times without disruption. This is important for maintaining control over the structure of the shoot, even while embracing unpredictability within the images themselves. I have been watching the weather app to find a day where the weather is predicted to change during the day/night to give me a better chance at showcasing those contrasts. Therefore, I will be shooting on Tuesday 24th March.
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This approach is inspired by artists such as Susan Derges and Andy Goldsworthy, who both work collaboratively with natural processes rather than imposing full control over their outcomes. Their work highlights how nature is not static, but constantly shifting, and I want to reflect this by allowing movement and time to shape my images.
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Technically, I will use a tripod to stabilise the camera and eliminate any unwanted blur from camera shake, ensuring that any motion captured comes solely from the wind. I will use my 45-200mm zoom lens for all images to maintain a consistent composition while also allowing me to capture details within the branches that would not be as accessible with a wider lens.
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To maintain consistency across the shoots, I will keep the aperture relatively constant to preserve a similar depth of field throughout. Exposure will be adjusted using ISO depending on the lighting conditions and what is shown on the light metre. As slow shutter speeds will allow more light into the camera - particularly during daytime shooting - I will also have a substitute for an ND filter to hand if necessary to prevent losing any image information to overexposure.
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Overall, this shoot is an exploration of change, control, and collaboration with nature, using both technical control and environmental unpredictability to shape the final images.
I think this photoshoot was successful, particularly in how it explored change across a single day while maintaining a consistent subject and composition. I photographed the same tree three times - first around 12pm under a cloudy, white sky, then approximately at 4pm when the sky had cleared and turned blue, and finally at around 7pm as it was getting dark.
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I feel like I chose the timing well, as each set of images shows clear visual differences while still feeling cohesive and connected. What I found most interesting is that, when reviewing the images, they began to resemble different seasons to me. The first shoot, with its washed out white sky and softer tones, feels reminiscent of winter, especially with the subtle presence of blossoms against the pale background. The second shoot, with the blue sky and more vibrant pink blossoms, feels much closer to spring and reflects the actual conditions of the current season. The final shoot, taken in low light, feels more like summer to me - the branches and flowers become silhouettes against a deep blue to black sky, similar to a warm summer evening, and harder to identify the silhouette shapes as blossom and not summer flowers. This was not something I planned, but it emerged naturally through the changes in light which reinforces the idea of collaborating with nature rather than controlling it.
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Technically, I began the first shoot using a shutter speed of 1/4, but found that the images were overexposed, even at f29 and ISO 100. Although I experimented with using sunglasses as a substitute for an ND filter, this combination made the images overly abstract and less controlled than I intended. I adjusted the shutter speed to 1/20, which became my standard setting for most of the shoot. This allowed me to maintain motion in the branches while achieving a more balanced exposure, using the light meter to measure. At this speed, I no longer needed the ND filter and was able to reduce the aperture to f22, slightly decreasing the depth of field while still keeping the subject clear. Despite the relatively high aperture, this did not negatively impact the images, as the sky provided a clean, uncluttered background with little need for blurring.
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To ensure consistency, I kept my tripod set up in the same position throughout the day, allowing each shoot to maintain the same framing and composition, however by the second shoot I did realise this created images that felt too similar and crossed the line of cohesivity to more of a boring and repeated feel. Before beginning the second shoot, I reviewed my earlier images to evaluate if what I was doing was working and to see if any adjustments were needed, but I was satisfied with the results and continued with the same approach. During the second shoot, the clearer sky reduced the amount of light being reflected back into the camera as opposed to the white sky, meaning I could maintain my settings without additional light reduction.
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For the final shoot, I adapted my settings to account for the lower light levels. I used a shutter speed of 1/15 and an aperture of f7.1 to let in more light into the camera. I also used an ISO of 500 to boost this light and create a good exposure measured by the light meter. These changes also allowed me to retain enough light while still capturing movement in the branches. I intentionally wanted to avoid using a flash, as I did not want to disrupt the natural atmosphere that I was trying to capture. The resulting silhouettes of the branches against the darkening sky added a new visual quality to the images while still feeling connected to the earlier shoots.
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Although I had hoped to include rain as an additional natural element, the weather did not change as it was predicted to. However, the variation in light and atmosphere across the day still provided a strong range of outcomes. Overall, I am happy with the results, particularly the level of movement captured and the way the images feel both dynamic and cohesive.
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If I were to repeat this shoot, I would experiment with a different subject to see how subject matter influences the outcome, and I would aim to work in a wider range of weather conditions to further explore atmospheric effects.
For my final images, I selected two from each shoot that I feel work best both individually and as a series. I chose these images because they consistently capture a strong sense of movement while still maintaining a clear connection to each other through composition, subject, and technique.
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Across all six images, the use of slow shutter speed allows the wind to directly shape the outcome, creating a range of abstract forms within the branches and blossom. What I find most successful is the variation in how this movement appears - some areas are only slightly softened, while others are heavily blurred, creating a contrast between control and unpredictability. This reinforces the idea of collaborating with nature, as while shooting the same subject throughout, I have a variation of results in how it has been captured.
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The first pair of images, taken under a white, overcast sky, feel softer and more muted. The movement is present but more subtle, and the lack of strong contrast creates a calm, almost still atmosphere. The blossom appears delicate, and the overall images feel quieter and more gentle.
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In contrast, the second pair, taken against a blue sky, with the sun shining, feel more energetic. The movement is more pronounced, and the increased contrast between the branches and the sky makes the motion more visible. The colours are also more vibrant, particularly the pink in the blossom, which adds to the sense of liveliness within these images.
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The final pair, taken in low light, again, shift in mood and tone. The branches and blossom become silhouettes, and the movement appears more dramatic and expressive. The darker background simplifies the image, allowing the motion to become the primary focus. These images feel more intense and atmospheric, with a stronger sense of depth and contrast.
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Like I mentioned when reviewing the photoshoot, the different images resemble different seasons to me, despite all being taken on the same day. Because of this, I wanted to gather feedback from others to see whether they interpreted the images in a similar way, and whether the time of day influenced their perception of the images.
It was interesting to hear that the images also conveyed different seasons to someone else, and that this wasn’t just a personal interpretation. Their response highlighted clear differences in mood and atmosphere across the images, particularly how the final set felt more distinct and focused on shape and contrast. This has made me want to explore different weather conditions and times of day further, as I’ve seen how powerfully they can alter both the atmosphere and interpretation of an image.
