Deep Forest, a Mellow Woodland Look

Classic Chrome film simulation recipe for deep and mellow woodland moods

Autumn is known as the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness (John Keats), and this is a film recipe that captures that aesthetic. Images are deep toned with a mellow colour palette that’s perfect for capturing moody woodland details.

The base film simulation is Classic Chrome, but the combination of chrome effects, strong white balance shift and a +1.5 shadow setting, give it a look all it’s own. For extra deepness (depth?), you can underexpose as well.

If you use this on a sunny day, you may get best results with that bit of underexposure. On dull or rainy days, it should deliver reliably moody images as exposed. All in all, it’s just right for Autumn when the mist and murk become more common, and through the Winter months or when weather is gloomy.

Capture the mellow fruitfulness of Autumn with the Deep Forest recipe

Deep Forest Film Recipe

  • Simulation: Classic Chrome
  • Grain Effect: Weak, Small
  • Colour Chrome Effect: Weak
  • Colour Chrome Blue: Strong
  • White Balance: Auto
  • WB Shift: +7 Red, -5 Blue
  • Dynamic Range: DR400
  • Highlights: -0.5 (use 0 if you need to)
  • Shadows: +1.5 (use +2 if you need to)
  • Color: -4
  • Sharpness: -2
  • ISO Noise Reduction: -4
  • Clarity: 0
  • EV compensation: -2/3 to 0 aiming for moody shadow areas
Soaked by the morning dew, toned by the Deep Forest film recipe
Red toadstool, with the mellow tones of Deep Forest film recipe
Ruby red bracken, captured by the Deep Forest film recipe
Strongly sunlit fronds, mellowed by the Deep Forest recipe
Moody tones in cloudy wet weather, Deep Forest film recipe
Fully loaded oak branch, using the Deep Forest film recipe
On the forest floor, with Deep Forest film recipe
Moody mushroom tones, using Deep Forest film recipe
Forest details, captured with Deep Forest film recipe
January gorse flowers, Deep Forest film recipe
Pine branch in the sunlight, Deep Forest film recipe
Autumn tones in the ferns, with the Deep Forest film recipe
I took so many photos of this cobweb, this one with Deep Forest
Late summer spiderweb, snapped with Deep Forest film recipe
Aftrer the rain, captured with Deep Forest film recipe
The fly amantia / agaric are in season, Deep Forest film recipe
Fly agaric detail, with the Deep Forest film recipe
The cherry tree leaves are turning, midday sun, ND64 filter.
Turning red, mellow tones with Deep Forest film recipe
Backlit leaves, mellowed by the Deep Forest film recipe
Curling bracken, captured with the Deep Forest film recipe
The mellow autumn feel of the Deep Forest film recipe
A woodland lane, with deep shadow from the Deep Forest film recipe
A little feather on a sweet chestnut leaf, Deep Forest film recipe

Urban shots with Deep Forest

If you don’t have a moody woodland in your area, you might try some urban shots. Here’s a few from London on a sunny morning.

Outside the Hilton, taken with Deep Forest film recipe
Water sparkles
Nautical thing
Early morning flower silhouettes, with Deep Forest film recipe

Deep Forest at the Beach

Although designed for the forest, I wanted to give Deep Forest an outing with some dramatic skies at the beach.

Crashing surf
Dramatic skies
A stormy sea and dramatic sky, using Deep Forest film recipe

More Deep Tones Film Recipes for Forests

If deep and moody is your thing, consider these film recipes as an option. None are all round everyday choices, but instead they give a unique mood for forest details and bringing a strong atmosphere. They also make interesting choices in the rain, when you may want a different look.

  • Atarangi Mono – A deep tones mono recipe with retro tone
  • Coffee Chrome – Creamy cafe tones with a mellow brown tone
  • Hipsta Ray Mk II – faded brown tones and retro feel
  • Squid Ink – Extra dark and moody blues, set a deep tone
  • Superia Max – faded Fujicolor tone, gets deep at -1/3
  • Wildwood Deep – Bleach Bypass with a dark green tone
  • Yakisugi – deep tones Classic Chrome to bring the mood
  • Dune – a mellow and very deep recipe by Captn Look
  • Vintage Color – green and brown mellowness, Fuji X Weekly
Not just for forests, here’s Poppy with Deep Forest film recipe

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