Bristlecone Pines
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, CA
BRISTLECONE PINES
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF BRISTLECONE PINES
Home to some of the oldest living trees in the world (some more than 4,500 years old), the ancient Bristlecone Pines offers both fantastic photographic opportunities and many great adventures.
These magnificent trees exist in one of the most inhospitable environments in the American Southwest. Found between 10,000 and 11,400 ft in the White Mountains, near the little town of Big Pine, CA these warrior-like survivors have endured brutal temperatures and gale force winds back to the time of the Pyramids. As a result, their shapes and statue provide great possibilities to photograph everywhere you look.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Annual Subscription
Lifetime Membership
DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH BRISTLECONE PINES SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). The hike from the parking lot to the location of the shot is only about 500 yds. However, the hike is uphill (with a 200 ft elevation gain) and you are already above 10,000 ft elevation.
Slow and steady is the name of the game.
This is an interesting place to photograph…
As you can see from the images above, you are pointing upward at not one, but two magnificent trees with a series of slippery rocks (which you are not supposed to stand on) in front. The trick to photographing the front tree - is lining your shot to hide as much of the back tree as possible.
Also, the placement of your shot will impact the shape of the front tree. I found the tree appears larger (and more interesting) from directly in front. As you move to the left or the right, the shape of the tree becomes more narrow and less interesting.
To further complicate this shot, the tree is on a sloping hill that continues to rise for several hundred feet behind the tree. For my composition, I wanted to isolate the front tree as much as possible and let the power of the tree stand out. To accomplish this, you must keep your camera as low as possible - shooting upward toward the sky.
Options to shooting the tree
As mentioned in “Best time of day to shoot” below …
There are lots of ways to shoot the Ancient Bristlecone Pines. Mostly, you will be shooting with wide to ultra-wide-angle lenses.
10,250 Ft. Elevation
Other Resources Available with Membership
KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
