It is easy to see a forest as a whole. Trees, mosses, plants, and branches merge into a dense landscape. But the longer I linger, the more small things emerge from that abundance. A branch in the light. A tiny patch of moss. A form that appears from the darkness for only a few seconds.
I was not looking for a photograph of the entire forest. I was interested in its overlooked fragments. The light decided what could be seen and what would remain hidden. The resulting photographs show only the smallest parts of the forest, yet retain something of its mystery.
The film behind the photography project
In the film, I follow the search for subjects and the photographic decisions made on location.
The photographic challenges
When the Light Lasts Only Seconds
Light was the greatest challenge. As the morning sun moves through the trees, the bright patches keep shifting. A subject that was perfectly lit a moment ago can disappear the next. There is little time to recognise a form, find the composition, and release the shutter.
Images from the project
Nine photographs revealing different observations and decisions.
An Encounter in the Light. Almost completely surrounded by darkness, a fragment of a tree trunk enters the light for a brief moment. The forest reveals very little, just enough to hold the gaze.Found in the Light. A slender branch briefly emerges from the dark. Light brushes its surface and reveals something that might have gone unnoticed a few steps away.At the Edge of the Light. A curved branch takes shape against the darkness, while a small patch of moss below catches the light. Beyond it, the invisible begins again.Hidden from ViewCatching the Light. Only a few rays find their way through the dense darkness. Fine twigs catch the light and glow for a moment before the forest swallows them again.Encounter. Just a few traces emerge from the dark. A trunk, a slender branch, a hint of light. The rest stays hidden, leaving the imagination to wonder what the forest still holds in its shadows.Out of the Darkness. The trunk slowly emerges from deep black. Light traces its rough surface, briefly revealing something that might disappear into the darkness in the next moment.Into the Darkness. From the last light, bare branches reach into the darkness. Their outlines remain visible for a moment before fading into the black of the forest.The Hidden Stone. Almost entirely surrounded by darkness, part of a stone enters the light. Moss and lichen become visible, telling of a small world concealed in the forest's shade.
