Taking a photo of a “tree” or a “leaf” can be fun. I think, in this list, when it says a “tree” or a “leaf”, that perhaps they mean: 1 tree, and 1 leaf, I’m not sure. So, looking at the photo above, the artist took a photo of just one tree, and you can tell it is the main subject, but, it is obvious, it is also in a forest. Let’s work toward the tree or leaf being the main subject.

Typically when you see a photo of just a tree, it is in the scene as a “negative space” object. Such as this:

This tree, although mostly bare, is a great subject in this photo, especially because of the silhouette feature of this photo. I, too, have taken a photo like that:

This is one good way to take a photo of just One tree. At sunset time. I have seen some other great photos of just a single tree, but, during the day, and with emphasis on the tree:

If your tree has something unique to it, then focus on that uniqueness. Like the photo above, we don’t see much of the tree at all, but that lichen on the tree makes for an interesting subject.

Now let’s take a look at taking photos of a leaf:

Taking a photo of a leaf works a lot like taking a photo of a tree. If there is something unique about the leaf, then get in close and capture that uniqueness, even if you help create it. The other times that you see a lot of “leaf” pictures is in the fall, when the color is in the leaf:

There is a lot of color in just a fall leaf. But, do you find that boring? How about we put some action to a leaf:

See if you can give some special background to a leaf, to make it more of an interesting photo.

Try several things with a leaf, again, with a background to compliment it:

Conclusion:

When taking a photo of either a tree or a leaf, look to add a little extra into the photo for background, but, don’t make it so busy that you lose sight of what the subject is. These kind of photos you see above, are the type of photos that will sell.