Capturing the Beauty of the Black Cherry Tree Through Pictures

The black cherry tree, also known by its scientific name Prunus serotina is a gorgeous tree that can add visual interest and beauty to any landscape. With its striking blossoms in spring, lush green foliage in summer and rich fall colors, it’s no wonder so many people enjoy photographing this tree throughout the seasons. In this article, we’ll look at some tips for capturing fantastic pictures of the black cherry tree.

A Close Up of the Spring Flowers

One of the best times to photograph a black cherry tree is in spring when it erupts with white flowers, borne on drooping clusters known as racemes. The flowers have a faint almond scent and appear before the leaves emerge generally in April or May. To capture beautiful close-up shots of the blossoms use a macro lens. This will allow you to zoom in tight while keeping the flowers sharp and in focus. Try photographing the flowers straight on as well as from an angle to get interesting perspectives. Morning and evening when the light is soft creates ideal conditions for flower photography.

The Emerging Green Leaves of Summer

When spring gives way to summer, the black cherry leaves unfold into a lush green canopy. The leaves are oval or oblong in shape, approximately 2-5 inches long, with serrated edges and a dark green color. To highlight the verdant foliage, photograph the tree on a sunny day using backlighting or side lighting to illuminate the leaves. Experiment with wide angle and telephoto lenses for different effects. A wide angle lens can showcase the full shape of the tree while a telephoto lens can isolate interesting patterns in the leaves and branches.

Capturing the Changing Leaves in Fall

One of the most spectacular times to photograph a black cherry tree is in the fall when the leaves transform into vivid shades of yellow, orange and red. The color change begins earlier in the northern part of the black cherry’s range, so plan some fall photo shoots accordingly. Using a polarizing filter can really boost saturation and make the fall colors pop. Try framing the tree against a blue sky background to complement the warm autumn tones. Focus on capturing the gorgeous color gradient as some leaves begin changing while others still remain green.

The Striking Bark Patterns in Winter

Even in winter when the black cherry tree loses its leaves, it still makes for an excellent photographic subject because of its unique scaly bark. The mature bark has an irregular, blocky pattern in hues of blackish gray. To show off the bark’s texture take close up shots and position the tree so sunlight hits the trunk at an angle to create interesting shadows and highlights. Convert images to black and white to really emphasize the striking patterns and lines in the bark. winters scenes with the bark contrasting against the snow also make visually compelling images.

Tips for Composition and Lighting

• When photographing the black cherry tree, pay attention to composition. The rule of thirds is a good guideline, positioning the tree off center so it doesn’t divide the photo in half.
• Capture the tree from creative angles, like lying on the ground looking up through the canopy or framing it through other vegetation in the foreground.
• Take advantage of “magic hour” light right after sunrise or before sunset for moody, golden hour shots.
• On overcast days, the even, diffused lighting allows you to capture all the intricate details of flowers, leaves or bark.
• Silhouette the tree against colorful skies at sunset or sunrise for dramatic high-contrast images.
• On windy days, you can get interesting motion blur effects on the branches and leaves.

Locating Black Cherry Trees to Photograph

While the black cherry is native throughout the eastern and central United States, it can be grown well beyond its natural range. To find trees to photograph near you:

• Look along fencerows, forest edges and fields as these are typical habitats.
• Contact your local parks department or nature preserves to ask about black cherry trees on public lands.
• Drive or walk through your neighborhood and scout for yards with ornamental black cherry trees. Knock on doors and ask homeowners for permission to photograph their tree.
• Check with local nurseries as they may sell black cherry trees or be able to direct you to mature specimens in the community.
• Search for trees in bloom on websites like Instagram where people geotag black cherry.

Getting Creative With Black Cherry Photography

Once you understand the basics of photographing the black cherry tree, let your creativity run wild! Here are some fun photographic ideas:

• Composite images showing the tree through all four seasons.
• A portrait series capturing the tree at different times of day and night.
• Extreme close-ups of flowers, leaves, berries or bark abstracted into graphic art.
• Black and white infrared photography to give the images a surreal look.
• Setting a model, wedding couple or child on a swing under the tree’s canopy.
• Backlighting the tree on a foggy morning to create a moody, mystical scene.
• A time-lapse sequence showing the growth of the tree through spring, summer and fall.

The graceful beauty of the black cherry is a wonderful photographic subject. With its blossoms, foliage, fall color and bark, it provides year-round inspiration for nature photographers. Use these tips to capture stunning images and creatively make this classic tree your own.

Yes, a black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) can be a good tree to have, especially if you’re interested in supporting wildlife and potentially using the wood. It’s a fast-growing, native tree that provides food and habitat for various animals, including birds and insects.