Echo of a Tree

I was shooting the introduction of a long-form video when I came across this scene. After winter, I had driven south looking for places where the snow had already melted, and what struck me was this dense carpet of moss everywhere.
This tiny piece of moss immediately caught my attention. It felt like it captured that exact moment… that feeling of spring slowly coming back to life.

[SCENE SETUP]
A small piece of moss standing on the forest floor, surrounded by a dense green background. A textured piece of moss (4) was placed behind to create separation, and brown leaves (3) were added in the foreground to balance the composition.

[LIGHT PLACEMENT]
(1) Flexible LED Light (left side / through subject)
Placed on the left side, slightly behind, allowing the light to pass through the translucent subject and create a natural halo on the left side.
(2) Flexible LED Light (top / background)
Aimed down toward the textured moss (4) to mimic soft sunlight coming from the top left and add depth in the background.

[KEY SETTINGS]
f/2.8 · 1/50s · ISO 400
~50 images (focus stack)

[INTENT]
Create a simple, graphic composition that isolates the subject while using light to reveal its structure and give it a tree-like form.

[KEY IDEA]
Use light through the subject… not just on it.

Explanation

What makes this image work is the balance between structure and light. The subject has a very defined, almost graphic shape, and the way the light passes through it enhances that structure without flattening it.
The subtle background texture adds depth, while the foreground leaves create a visual anchor and help guide the eye toward the subject. The overall scene remains simple, but every element supports the composition.

Gear Used

– Adaptalux Flexible LEDs
– Canon R5 + RF 100mm Macro

Settings

Camera: Canon R5
Lens: RF 100mm Macro
Aperture: f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO: 400
Focus stacking: ~50 images

Breakdown

I started by lowering the camera angle to isolate it from the background.
I placed light (1) on the left side, slightly behind, so the light would pass through the subject and naturally create a halo on the left side.
Then I added the textured moss (4) behind the subject to introduce depth in the background.
I used light (2) from the top left to illuminate (4), creating a soft, natural-looking glow that mimics sunlight.
The foreground felt too green, so I added leaves (3) to create a V shape that echoes the subject and helps guide the eye into the frame.
The key part here was balancing the light so the subject remained the main focus while still keeping enough detail in the background.
I captured around 50 images at f/2.8 and stacked them in post to keep the subject sharp while maintaining a soft background.

Quick Tip

Always take more variations than you think you need. Once everything is set up on your tripod, it only takes a few extra seconds to capture different versions that you might prefer later.

Final Thoughts

I really love this image. It felt like the perfect way to capture that moment… the return of spring, the moss, the forest. It just brings me right back to that feeling.

Watch the process