A photographer's guide to the Tzora President's Forest

Whether you’re exploring the depths of a dense forest or strolling along a winding trail, immersing in nature offers a profound sense of peace and connection. While the joy of capturing a stunning photograph is undeniable, true fulfillment comes from deep immersion in the natural world. Observing nature’s rhythms and humbly learning from them allows us to become a part of the landscape, understand its nuances, and convey its beauty and significance through our images. This intimate connection and reverence for nature enrich not only our photography but also our psyches.

Among Israel’s many enchanting forests, the President’s Forest, known as Tzora Forest, stands out for its unique features. Tucked away in the Judean highlands, this forest offers a mesmerizing view of the Coastal Plain, the Judean Plain, and the Judean Hills. My first visit remains fixed in my memory; the forest was a riot of early spring flowers. The joy of capturing a photo of cyclamen peeking through the rocks was unparalleled, a moment of pure connection with nature that still brings a smile to my face.

Forest photography presents unique challenges. Unlike deserts and seascapes with clear horizon lines, forests often obscure these visual aids. However, focusing on rock formations, wildflowers, and grasslands can help create compelling compositions. In winter and spring, the forest is full of flowers. In early winter, the narcissus and autumn crocus emerge from patches of soil between the rocks, and later in the season cyclamen, anemones, and Persian buttercups blossom. The landscape, seasons, and weather constantly change in the President’s Forest, making each visit a new adventure.

Using Waze 

You can easily reach Tzora Forest by car. The forest is located between Shimshon Junction and Nahshon Junction (Route no. 44). Follow the large wooden sign to the south of the road, between kilometer indicators 1 and 2, directing you to the Sculpture Trail. 

Pro tips 

• Look for unique textures: While capturing vast, sweeping shots of the forest can be awe-inspiring, don’t overlook the smaller details that can add depth and richness to your photos. Textures like bark, leaves, and moss can create intriguing, abstract compositions. 
• Use a macro lens: A macro lens lets you focus extremely closely on bark, flowers, bugs, and butterflies, capturing intricate details. For instance, when photographing flowers like cyclamen or anemones, a 100 mm. macro lens can help you isolate the subject against a soft background, enhancing its delicate features. Remember to keep your camera steady, using a tripod to avoid blurring at such close ranges.
• Essential gear: Add a tripod for stability during long exposures, especially in low light. A polarizing filter reduces glare and enhances the natural colors of foliage, while a lightweight backpack and sturdy hiking shoes ensure you’re ready for the terrain.

Sculpture Trail

The route we will follow today is the Sculpture Trail, winding through the forest for about 10 kilometers. Along the road, you’ll find sculptures created by artists using large chunks of rock provided by KKL-JNF. With their whimsical and sometimes abstract designs, these sculptures invite you to see the forest through the artists’ eyes, adding an artistic touch to your nature walk. 

After you pass nearly the last set of sculptures, look for a safe place to park. There are many inviting trails on the right side of the road. In this photo of a forest trail, observe the light on the trail. Plan your shoots during the golden hours – early morning or late afternoon – when the light is soft and warm, casting a magical glow through the trees. Use natural leading lines like paths or fallen trees to guide the viewer’s eye through the image. Framing your shots with boulders and rocks helps focus attention on your main subject.

Three trees and stone fence

As you return to your car, notice the steep hills and embankments on the right. Drive a bit further, about 200 meters, until you spot a stone fence with three trees in front. This seemingly ordinary scene showcases the magic of the rule of threes: If you capture two objects, like two apples or two trees, viewers will instinctively try to find a relationship between them, even if none exists. However, with three objects, such as these three trees, the mind focuses on symmetry rather than creating connections. It makes the composition feel balanced and pleasing to the eye. Notice the stone fence in the background. It is an essential element that frames the trees. It would be best if you shot at F/8 to F/11 to get the fence and trees in focus. 

Forest floor

As you continue on the same road and explore the small roads on the right side, take a moment to breathe in the serenity of the deeply forested areas. Leave the camera in the car and take time to walk around. To succeed in forest photography, we need to slow everything down. Slow it down even further when you think you’ve slowed it down. The forest isn’t going anywhere. Walk more – shoot less. Look at the forest floor. It appears at first to be debris: forest junk of broken pieces of fallen branches, cones, and desiccated leaves. Now, walk around looking for these pockets of forest flotsam and jetsam. Look for patterns and variations. Now is an excellent time to switch to a macro lens and take the shot. 

Tree stump

While finding a tree stump with a fallen leaf and red petals might not always be possible, that’s part of the beauty of nature photography. It’s not about creating a picture-perfect scene but about appreciating the beauty that nature presents. We’re here to capture nature as it is, in all its raw and authentic beauty. The elements of nature – wind, rain, sun, and insects – make each moment unique. Capturing this authenticity can elevate a good photograph to an inspired one. Your photos will resonate more deeply when you let nature speak for itself. You’ll feel the difference, and so will your audience.

Final thoughts

Forest photography is an art that, at first glance, may seem straightforward, but it is surprisingly complex and deeply rewarding. Remember the words of the great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson: “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” Personally, my early visits to the President’s Forest were humbling. I often walked away with seemingly little to show for my efforts. But with each visit, I learned to see the forest differently, to appreciate its subtle changes and the quiet beauty that isn’t always obvious at first glance. So, keep going back to the forest. Visit it in the snow, when it’s foggy, in the rain, and on beautiful summer days. Each visit will bring you closer to capturing the beauty of the forest in your unique way. Being in nature is its own reward, and your photographs will reflect the deep connection you’ve cultivated with the natural world.■

Jay Garfinkel is a Jerusalem still life and landscape photographer who has exhibited widely in the United States and Israel. His work has been featured in Landscape Photography Magazine and Lens Culture Magazine. To view his work: https://jaygarfinkel.zenfolio.com/ © 2024 Jay Garfinkel