When I was much younger than I am now, before my parents allowed me to handle the family camera, I used to love to go out into nature with a magnifying glass. I’d be walking down a path, find something that piqued my curiosity, and immediately reach for the magnifying glass in my hip pocket, and take an engaging detour from my planned destination. [This trait has never left me.]
And so on a trip down to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve along the central California coast a couple of years ago, I came upon this Monterey Pine that had part of the bark missing from a large branch that was begging me to stop and take a closer look. [This time with a camera instead of a magnifying glass…]
While I enjoy minimalist photography, I also enjoy the other end of the spectrum. Where the entire image is packed with nature’s engaging complexity.
Cheers,
Franz Gisin
Feedback Requests
I shared this image with a friend and they initially thought it was a drone image taken somewhere in south Utah/north Arizona. Did any of you also not instantly recognize is as part of a tree?
Pertinent Technical Details
It’s a focus stacked image. I believe it was around 4 or 5 images. After the focus stack, I deleted the raw images. And unfortunately, the EXIF data did not transfer over to the focus stacked image. But I do recall having the camera mounted on a tripod and using a slow shutter speed because of the low light level underneath the tree.
[I must confess here that after some 50-odd years of doing photography, I rarely need to look at the EXIF data before moving on to my next photo adventure.]
Franz, Yes my first reaction was that this is a tree, but I can see how someone might consider this an aerial in the desert southwest. I love the swirling grain in the center and the wonderful frame of the less complex grain in the upper third. I wish the lower third continued the same fascinating texture.
I thought tree or wood from the outset. Perhaps your friend has not spent enough time with the trees
The intricacies of this branch is fascinating. The maze-like detail holds the attention and one can wander for hours in it. There are also so many “eyes” looking back at you as well. You have a good habit of finding interesting things, don’t lose it.
Franz: I’m always on the lookout for subjects like this so I knew immediately it was wood. I also have a drone so I can tell an aerial pretty easily so perhaps I had a leg up. In any case this is a marvelous shot and very well seen and composed IMO. Most excellent. >=))>
Hi Franz, What a wonderful image you have shared with us! While I immediately saw it as wood, what my eye saw was patterns similar to the carvings and totems carved/painted by the native american craftspeople of the pacific northwest (a frog facing left and a salmon facing right). Really wonderful catch. Well seen and processed.
Franz, this is a great, detailed look at the innards of this tree. It sure makes you wonder why the growth twisted and turned the way is has. Your emphasis on that convoluted region near the center works well, with the larger swirls above and the tight grain below providing contrast.
