The　leaf　inclination　angle　distribution　function　is　a　key　determinant　that　influences　radiation　penetration　through　forest　canopies.　In　this　study,　the　needle　and　shoot　inclination　angle　distributions　of　five　contrasting　Larix　principis-rupprechtii　plots　were　obtained　via　the　frequently　used　leveled　digital　camera　photography　method.　We　also　developed　a　quasi-automatic　method　to　derive　the　needle　inclination　angles　based　on　photographs　obtained　using　the　leveled　digital　camera　photography　method　and　further　verified　using　manual　measurements.　Then,　the　variations　of　shoot　and　needle　inclination　angle　distributions　due　to　height　levels,　plots,　and　observation　years　were　investigated.　The　results　showed　that　the　developed　quasi-automatic　method　is　effective　in　deriving　needle　inclination　angles.　The　shoot　and　needle　inclination　angle　distributions　at　the　whole-canopy　scale　tended　to　be　planophile　and　exhibited　minor　variations　with　plots　and　observation　years.　The　small　variations　in　the　needle　inclination　angle　distributions　with　height　level　in　the　five　plots　might　be　caused　by　contrasting　light　conditions　at　different　height　levels.　The　whole-canopy　and　height　level　needle　projection　functions　also　tended　to　be　planophile,　and　minor　needle　projection　function　variations　with　plots　and　observation　years　were　observed.　We　attempted　to　derive　the　shoot　projection　functions　of　the　five　plots　by　using　a　simple　and　applicable　method　and　further　evaluated　the　performance　of　the　new　method.