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Weekly Photo Contest: The Wonder of a Tree - June 11 — June 18
- Thread starter AllergyDoc
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I took this Nov-22-2009, foggy 9:15am drive to church, had my DSLR with me, dropped off the family, ditched church, went imaging and this lake presented itself with a few good images.
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I’ll be closing the contest tomorrow morning at 12:00 p.m., Utah or Mountain Daylight Time. We’re GMT -6:00, I think, so GMT 18:00. Judging later in the day.
It’s times like these where the burden of judging is fully understood.
Contest is closed. Come back for the results.
Obviously, any contest swings on the tastes of the judge or judges, and, any image you like and decided to keep is a good image, at least to you. If you like it, who cares if others don’t?
When I first got into photography, in the early 2000s, I bought a couple of books by Roger and Francis Hicks (which I haven’t been able to locate for a few years). On one page they showed a poorly exposed and somewhat blurry photo of one of their mothers. The photo wasn’t technically good, but it was one of the last pictures they had of their mother.
When I saw @Strider64 ‘s entry, I was reminded of that lesson. It’s not blurry or poorly exposed, but it’s a snapshot. He wasn’t trying show “the wonder of a tree,” he was capturing a memory. I understand. I have several photos of my folk’s backyard, which is ⅔ garden. They’re both gone now, but when I look at a picture of their garden (to be fair, it was Dad’s garden—Mom didn’t have anything to do with it other than to prepare the produce), I think of them.
It’s probably not fair to say this now but I’m not a big fan of silhouette tree photos. They’re usually too stark for my tastes. @akash.nu ‘s entry is interesting, to me, because the actual tree doesn’t fill the frame and it sits at the bottom of a bowl-shaped rise, which provides contrast. I think I need to see a picture of the tree is daylight to appreciate why it’s so famous.
@Laird Knox ‘s entry subtly showcases a tree lightly backlit by a sunrise, or perhaps the lights of Vegas! Nice.
@someoldguy ‘s entry is a scene I want to step into, provided I will be spending the night in a hotel and not a tent. I’m no John Muir, but I appreciate nature’s beauty.
@lharvest ‘s entry is simply beautiful, elegant even. It escapes being a silhouette by having the setting sun behind it. Well done.
@r.harris1 ‘s entry shows classical technique demonstrating the rule of thirds: the copse is on the right third and the land (almost) takes up the bottom third of the frame. The lighting and colors ore subdued.
@needfx ‘s entry perhaps demonstrates the promise of the coming summer, at least for that tree. I’d like to know what kind of tree is it so I would know to expect fruit or shade.
@stillcrazyman ‘s entry is a great image of a, well, crazy tree. If I saw this image next to its color version, I would probably pick this one. The color would likely distract from the angles and shapes. Very nice photo.
@oblomow ‘s entry demonstrates a great way to capture a fabulous tree when it’s too big to get into the frame: a narrow focus on the tree’s most interesting feature.
@anotherscotsman ‘s entry could well have fit into last’s week’s theme, as he mentions. I can see commercial uses for it: those “hang in there” posters (now memes) and, as his title suggests, “against all odds.” I’m wondering, what’s the story for the hill?
@Apple fanboy ‘s entry is a silhouette, with a bit more light. Likely this is the best way to showcase this leafless tree.
@redshifted ‘s entry actually looks like a vine growing up around a power pole. Nice catch with the vulture on top.
@Janichsan ‘s entry: I’m thinking goal posts. I like how the tree in the middle isn’t straight, as if it’s had a tough life. I also like the wispy clouds.
@Steven-iphone ‘s entry is a lovely scene I’d like to see in person. Perhaps it needs a little more saturation.
@Alexander.Of.Oz ‘s entry begs the question: How long has that wreck been there? A tree has grown up through the trunk. This is an image I would have captured, too.
@Apple_Glen_UK ‘s entry: Beautiful children playing under a grand tree! One for the memory book.
@inkmich ‘s entry reminds me of Central California in February, with the fog. Dreary, but a familiar scene.
@mollyc ‘s entry: I love the selective light falling on the subject. A subtle way of highlighting it without shining a spotlight on it.
@tizeye ‘s entry is a place I would like to visit, and spend some time at, with Mrs. AllergyDoc. Very peaceful.
@dwfaust ‘s entry is a magnificent giant oak in Ethiopia. Having someone stand in front of the tree really highlights its size, although it likely would have been evident without the man. Magnificent tree!
@mtbdudex ‘s entry: You ditched church to take go on a photo shoot? Where are your priorities, man? This image, with the reflection off the lake, was well worth the penance you’ll have to pay
Nicely done.
@dmb8021 ‘s entry shows a variation on the silhouette theme we’ve scene so far: color. To my old eyes the purples liven up what might have been another stark image. I could see this printed large and hanging on the wall.
@machmgg ‘s entry is full of trees, surrounded by more trees. The leaves are changing but are not quite fall.
Here are my choices:
Third place: @Strider64 For its depth of meaning.
Second place: @lharvest I have to admit I am a fan of well-taken sunset pictures. This image places a what appears to be a pair of trees set against a beautiful sunset.
First place and the golden statue: @stillcrazyman I thought this image showcased the wonder of that tree the best. It had enough of the tree in the frame to give an accurate impression of its size and elegance.
When I first got into photography, in the early 2000s, I bought a couple of books by Roger and Francis Hicks (which I haven’t been able to locate for a few years). On one page they showed a poorly exposed and somewhat blurry photo of one of their mothers. The photo wasn’t technically good, but it was one of the last pictures they had of their mother.
When I saw @Strider64 ‘s entry, I was reminded of that lesson. It’s not blurry or poorly exposed, but it’s a snapshot. He wasn’t trying show “the wonder of a tree,” he was capturing a memory. I understand. I have several photos of my folk’s backyard, which is ⅔ garden. They’re both gone now, but when I look at a picture of their garden (to be fair, it was Dad’s garden—Mom didn’t have anything to do with it other than to prepare the produce), I think of them.
It’s probably not fair to say this now but I’m not a big fan of silhouette tree photos. They’re usually too stark for my tastes. @akash.nu ‘s entry is interesting, to me, because the actual tree doesn’t fill the frame and it sits at the bottom of a bowl-shaped rise, which provides contrast. I think I need to see a picture of the tree is daylight to appreciate why it’s so famous.
@Laird Knox ‘s entry subtly showcases a tree lightly backlit by a sunrise, or perhaps the lights of Vegas! Nice.
@someoldguy ‘s entry is a scene I want to step into, provided I will be spending the night in a hotel and not a tent. I’m no John Muir, but I appreciate nature’s beauty.
@lharvest ‘s entry is simply beautiful, elegant even. It escapes being a silhouette by having the setting sun behind it. Well done.
@r.harris1 ‘s entry shows classical technique demonstrating the rule of thirds: the copse is on the right third and the land (almost) takes up the bottom third of the frame. The lighting and colors ore subdued.
@needfx ‘s entry perhaps demonstrates the promise of the coming summer, at least for that tree. I’d like to know what kind of tree is it so I would know to expect fruit or shade.
@stillcrazyman ‘s entry is a great image of a, well, crazy tree. If I saw this image next to its color version, I would probably pick this one. The color would likely distract from the angles and shapes. Very nice photo.
@oblomow ‘s entry demonstrates a great way to capture a fabulous tree when it’s too big to get into the frame: a narrow focus on the tree’s most interesting feature.
@anotherscotsman ‘s entry could well have fit into last’s week’s theme, as he mentions. I can see commercial uses for it: those “hang in there” posters (now memes) and, as his title suggests, “against all odds.” I’m wondering, what’s the story for the hill?
@Apple fanboy ‘s entry is a silhouette, with a bit more light. Likely this is the best way to showcase this leafless tree.
@redshifted ‘s entry actually looks like a vine growing up around a power pole. Nice catch with the vulture on top.
@Janichsan ‘s entry: I’m thinking goal posts. I like how the tree in the middle isn’t straight, as if it’s had a tough life. I also like the wispy clouds.
@Steven-iphone ‘s entry is a lovely scene I’d like to see in person. Perhaps it needs a little more saturation.
@Alexander.Of.Oz ‘s entry begs the question: How long has that wreck been there? A tree has grown up through the trunk. This is an image I would have captured, too.
@Apple_Glen_UK ‘s entry: Beautiful children playing under a grand tree! One for the memory book.
@inkmich ‘s entry reminds me of Central California in February, with the fog. Dreary, but a familiar scene.
@mollyc ‘s entry: I love the selective light falling on the subject. A subtle way of highlighting it without shining a spotlight on it.
@tizeye ‘s entry is a place I would like to visit, and spend some time at, with Mrs. AllergyDoc. Very peaceful.
@dwfaust ‘s entry is a magnificent giant oak in Ethiopia. Having someone stand in front of the tree really highlights its size, although it likely would have been evident without the man. Magnificent tree!
@mtbdudex ‘s entry: You ditched church to take go on a photo shoot? Where are your priorities, man? This image, with the reflection off the lake, was well worth the penance you’ll have to pay
Nicely done.@dmb8021 ‘s entry shows a variation on the silhouette theme we’ve scene so far: color. To my old eyes the purples liven up what might have been another stark image. I could see this printed large and hanging on the wall.
@machmgg ‘s entry is full of trees, surrounded by more trees. The leaves are changing but are not quite fall.
Here are my choices:
Third place: @Strider64 For its depth of meaning.
Second place: @lharvest I have to admit I am a fan of well-taken sunset pictures. This image places a what appears to be a pair of trees set against a beautiful sunset.
First place and the golden statue: @stillcrazyman I thought this image showcased the wonder of that tree the best. It had enough of the tree in the frame to give an accurate impression of its size and elegance.
What me ?
Congrats to everyone. All greats to my eye.
Now I’ll have to come up with something for the next one.
Thank you @AllergyDoc
Congrats to everyone. All greats to my eye.
Now I’ll have to come up with something for the next one.
Thank you @AllergyDoc
I don’t know how you picked a winner. I couldn’t see the wood for the trees!Obviously, any contest swings on the tastes of the judge or judges, and, any image you like and decided to keep is a good image, at least to you. If you like it, who cares if others don’t?
When I first got into photography, in the early 2000s, I bought a couple of books by Roger and Francis Hicks (which I haven’t been able to locate for a few years). On one page they showed a poorly exposed and somewhat blurry photo of one of their mothers. The photo wasn’t technically good, but it was one of the last pictures they had of their mother.
When I saw @Strider64 ‘s entry, I was reminded of that lesson. It’s not blurry or poorly exposed, but it’s a snapshot. He wasn’t trying show “the wonder of a tree,” he was capturing a memory. I understand. I have several photos of my folk’s backyard, which is ⅔ garden. They’re both gone now, but when I look at a picture of their garden (to be fair, it was Dad’s garden—Mom didn’t have anything to do with it other than to prepare the produce), I think of them.
It’s probably not fair to say this now but I’m not a big fan of silhouette tree photos. They’re usually too stark for my tastes. @akash.nu ‘s entry is interesting, to me, because the actual tree doesn’t fill the frame and it sits at the bottom of a bowl-shaped rise, which provides contrast. I think I need to see a picture of the tree is daylight to appreciate why it’s so famous.
@Laird Knox ‘s entry subtly showcases a tree lightly backlit by a sunrise, or perhaps the lights of Vegas! Nice.
@someoldguy ‘s entry is a scene I want to step into, provided I will be spending the night in a hotel and not a tent. I’m no John Muir, but I appreciate nature’s beauty.
@lharvest ‘s entry is simply beautiful, elegant even. It escapes being a silhouette by having the setting sun behind it. Well done.
@r.harris1 ‘s entry shows classical technique demonstrating the rule of thirds: the copse is on the right third and the land (almost) takes up the bottom third of the frame. The lighting and colors ore subdued.
@needfx ‘s entry perhaps demonstrates the promise of the coming summer, at least for that tree. I’d like to know what kind of tree is it so I would know to expect fruit or shade.
@stillcrazyman ‘s entry is a great image of a, well, crazy tree. If I saw this image next to its color version, I would probably pick this one. The color would likely distract from the angles and shapes. Very nice photo.
@oblomow ‘s entry demonstrates a great way to capture a fabulous tree when it’s too big to get into the frame: a narrow focus on the tree’s most interesting feature.
@anotherscotsman ‘s entry could well have fit into last’s week’s theme, as he mentions. I can see commercial uses for it: those “hang in there” posters (now memes) and, as his title suggests, “against all odds.” I’m wondering, what’s the story for the hill?
@Apple fanboy ‘s entry is a silhouette, with a bit more light. Likely this is the best way to showcase this leafless tree.
@redshifted ‘s entry actually looks like a vine growing up around a power pole. Nice catch with the vulture on top.
@Janichsan ‘s entry: I’m thinking goal posts. I like how the tree in the middle isn’t straight, as if it’s had a tough life. I also like the wispy clouds.
@Steven-iphone ‘s entry is a lovely scene I’d like to see in person. Perhaps it needs a little more saturation.
@Alexander.Of.Oz ‘s entry begs the question: How long has that wreck been there? A tree has grown up through the trunk. This is an image I would have captured, too.
@Apple_Glen_UK ‘s entry: Beautiful children playing under a grand tree! One for the memory book.
@inkmich ‘s entry reminds me of Central California in February, with the fog. Dreary, but a familiar scene.
@mollyc ‘s entry: I love the selective light falling on the subject. A subtle way of highlighting it without shining a spotlight on it.
@tizeye ‘s entry is a place I would like to visit, and spend some time at, with Mrs. AllergyDoc. Very peaceful.
@dwfaust ‘s entry is a magnificent giant oak in Ethiopia. Having someone stand in front of the tree really highlights its size, although it likely would have been evident without the man. Magnificent tree!
@mtbdudex ‘s entry: You ditched church to take go on a photo shoot? Where are your priorities, man? This image, with the reflection off the lake, was well worth the penance you’ll have to pay
@dmb8021 ‘s entry shows a variation on the silhouette theme we’ve scene so far: color. To my old eyes the purples liven up what might have been another stark image. I could see this printed large and hanging on the wall.
@machmgg ‘s entry is full of trees, surrounded by more trees. The leaves are changing but are not quite fall.
Here are my choices:
Third place: @Strider64 For its depth of meaning.
Second place: @lharvest I have to admit I am a fan of well-taken sunset pictures. This image places a what appears to be a pair of trees set against a beautiful sunset.
First place and the golden statue: @stillcrazyman I thought this image showcased the wonder of that tree the best. It had enough of the tree in the frame to give an accurate impression of its size and elegance.
Great feedback for everyone. Good judging.
A lot of fantastic entries this week. Glad I didn’t have to pick the winner!
[automerge]1592523599[/automerge]
Congratulations.
Thanks for the commentary , and congrats to those who placed !
Decent hotel and a good meal! Just what I did! Although there's a tented camp , with a real floor and cots , not too far from this place .
Taken at Tenaya Lake , in Yosemite , in late August/early September on a perfect day a few years back. Just wandering around and found this site .
Decent hotel and a good meal! Just what I did! Although there's a tented camp , with a real floor and cots , not too far from this place .
Great observations @AllergyDoc on a thoroughly enjoyable range of images presented by everyone. Congratulations to your selections for podium places.
@Laird Knox that's a stunner! A really nicely balanced use of light to convey the dimension & detail in a glorious fashion. What are you working on now, 36 x 24" sheets with a glass back the size of our rear sliding door? I know that you love your large format work, which you do so very well.
@Laird Knox that's a stunner! A really nicely balanced use of light to convey the dimension & detail in a glorious fashion. What are you working on now, 36 x 24" sheets with a glass back the size of our rear sliding door? I know that you love your large format work, which you do so very well.
Very nicely done and congratulations Podium Folk! Great entries and thank you for the thoughtful and considered feedback for us all @AllergyDoc!
It is actually about an hour after sunset. I used some fill light on the Joshua tree so that it wasn't just a silhouette. I didn't like the image when I took it. It wasn't until I converted it to B&W and toned it that I was happy with it.
Thanks for critiquing this week's contest.
Well thank you! As I noted above I did not like the original image. It's always a surprise when you find something hidden in the rough.@Laird Knox that's a stunner! A really nicely balanced use of light to convey the dimension & detail in a glorious fashion. What are you working on now, 36 x 24" sheets with a glass back the size of our rear sliding door? I know that you love your large format work, which you do so very well.
Unfortunately I haven't done any large format work since the gallery closed. I have purchased some bits and pieces to convert a walk-through closet into a darkroom of sorts. First I have to sort out some wiring issues. It had a three way switch with a four foot shop fluorescent light in the closet and also controlled the light for the garage entry. I'm replacing everything with smart switches and lamps. The entry will use a motion sensor to control the light and the closet/darkroom will have an LED strip that I can use for normal lighting or as a safe light.
Speaking of scale, I still plan on making a Burning Man art car that is modeled off of my 19th century 8x10. The film holders will be in the range of 2' x 3' to 4' x 6' whenever that happens. The first incarnation will only be a pinhole design using a paper negative. Since it will have a removable lens board there is the hope of one day creating a true lens for it. The first hurdle is finding and affording a pickup truck I can strip down to the frame to start making it.
great contest @AllergyDoc and congratulations to the worthy winners in the face of such a field of great entries. i think your comments really highlight the real value of photography - capturing memories and emotions. The hill is actually one of the many extensive spoil tips from what was one of the world’s largest slate quarries in North Wales.
Speaking of scale, I still plan on making a Burning Man art car that is modeled off of my 19th century 8x10. The film holders will be in the range of 2' x 3' to 4' x 6' whenever that happens. The first incarnation will only be a pinhole design using a paper negative. Since it will have a removable lens board there is the hope of one day creating a true lens for it. The first hurdle is finding and affording a pickup truck I can strip down to the frame to start making it.
Wowsers! Sounds brilliant!I had a hair-brained idea of playing with a camera-obscura device on the back of a flatbed truck, fitted out as a high-end dining room resplendent in silver cutlery, fine porcelain, crystal glassware, all stuck down though for an interstate much, much smaller version of the Burning Man event! Step up & inside to see the outside inside but flipped, you know what I mean!
Very thoughtful judging (and an exceptionally challenging topic) - and a lot of work - from @AllergyDoc.
Some superb entries in what was not an easy topic; for, when shooting trees, if one shows shadows, or silhouettes - which show shape clearly, the usual effect can be too stark, while spectacular summer foliage is difficult to capture (in colour) in a way that does it justice without becoming overwhelmed by the fecundity of nature, and distinguishing between shades of glorious verdant green.
And the OP had already made it clear that autumnal images - the ones where colour and contour usually combine visually to best effect - with trees, - weren't what he had in mind.
Congrats to the worthy winners.
However, I agree with @Alexander.Of.Oz that @Laird Knox's shot is simply stunning; awesome, in fact. Fantastic.
Of the daylight colour shots, I really liked the shots submitted by both @mollyc and @r.harris1, where colour, composition and the use of light and shade informed the respective images.
Others that appealed to me were @dmb8021's arresting image (wonderful combination of light, stark and wonderful use of colour, composition, - that would make an amazing poster for a play, I remember that the superb company Footsbarn used to have posters similar to that image), and @mtbdudex's lovely dreamy shot, as well as those submitted by @Apple fanboy, and @inkmich.
Some superb entries in what was not an easy topic; for, when shooting trees, if one shows shadows, or silhouettes - which show shape clearly, the usual effect can be too stark, while spectacular summer foliage is difficult to capture (in colour) in a way that does it justice without becoming overwhelmed by the fecundity of nature, and distinguishing between shades of glorious verdant green.
And the OP had already made it clear that autumnal images - the ones where colour and contour usually combine visually to best effect - with trees, - weren't what he had in mind.
Congrats to the worthy winners.
However, I agree with @Alexander.Of.Oz that @Laird Knox's shot is simply stunning; awesome, in fact. Fantastic.
Of the daylight colour shots, I really liked the shots submitted by both @mollyc and @r.harris1, where colour, composition and the use of light and shade informed the respective images.
Others that appealed to me were @dmb8021's arresting image (wonderful combination of light, stark and wonderful use of colour, composition, - that would make an amazing poster for a play, I remember that the superb company Footsbarn used to have posters similar to that image), and @mtbdudex's lovely dreamy shot, as well as those submitted by @Apple fanboy, and @inkmich.
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Thank you for your kind words @Scepticalscribe ! One of the things that draws me to prairie landscapes is in fact the interplay between light and shade. Prairies are very intense - baking sun, flash-flood-laden storms, blizzards, Chinook winds and everything in between. Attempting to catch those phases in an image is a lot of fun.
New contest is up.....
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Weekly Photo Contest: A Blast From The Past - June 19,2020 - June 26, 2020
A Blast From The Past I have a few photos from when my parents were young. I have these two, which they took on a trip to Stonehenge in the winter of 1967. That was shortly after I was born. I've always admired the simplicity of the photos - they were simple prints. I scanned them and made...
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Sounds like a great idea. I would go for a box truck so you don't have to build the "room" - unless you were going to build something unique on the outside. What regional event was that for? Our local regional moved from June to the end of September but I still haven't committed. We'll see how things go. Before COVID I had put in an art grant with them for some flaming copper sunflowers. The grant was just for fuel. I have everything else and had started on welding the sub frame but got lazy.
I had a hair-brained idea of playing with a camera-obscura device on the back of a flatbed truck, fitted out as a high-end dining room resplendent in silver cutlery, fine porcelain, crystal glassware, all stuck down though for an interstate much, much smaller version of the Burning Man event! Step up & inside to see the outside inside but flipped, you know what I mean!
My Rochester Optical King camera is a field camera that folds down into a box. So the idea is that the version I build would have all the same movements. That way when it was folded up for transport it would be like a flatbed. It all started when I was trying to figure out what sort of art car I could fit in my 12' cargo trailer. Eventually I had an epiphany and said why can't my art car pull my trailer. Then things got big.
I think it would be amazing to back it up to some piece of art and take a multi-hour exposure. A future iteration also might include an old school flash pan that used a propane poofer for effect. Not so much for the exposure but for the fun of it. I also see it as something that would be used a lot more than just for the burn. It would be fun to drive it around to different events. The cab would also be torn down to make some sort of steampunk / H G Wells The Time Machine cockpit.
Will it ever happen? Maybe not. I do, however, like planning it out. My current project is to create a mini-Man for a possible local burn over Labor Day weekend. I found some drawings with dimensions and have been recreating them at quarter scale. Last night I fired up the laser cutter and cut some templates for the arm and leg rings. Tonight I hope to start some of the fabrication.
Well that's enough off topic for now.
Apologies for the off-topic posting, folks, last comment from me, I promise.
Your ideas sound exciting, Jeff, enjoy the process. I was intending to have a crack at creating this for the Burning Seed Gathering in rural New South Wales. This years event has been cancelled though, so maybe next year.Sounds like a great idea. I would go for a box truck so you don't have to build the "room" - unless you were going to build something unique on the outside. What regional event was that for?
<snippety-snip-snip>
Well that's enough off topic for now.