Devadatta

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 21, 2010163 views8 comments

I'm back! I haven't posted in WAY TOO LONG! I've been busy with other projects and grad school applications.

I had the pleasure of going on one of Jay + Varina Patel's workshops in November to Southern Utah. It was my first time shooting this area and I can't wait to go back. (I highly recommend their workshops to anyone interested. They are both great teachers and people.)

So, Devadatta! I've been studying the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which explains the enlightenment of Devadatta, an "evil" person who betrayed the Buddha, tried to destroy the Buddhist order, and to assassinate Shakyimuni Buddha many times. The main point of this chapter is that we are all Buddhas and can attain enlightenment and happiness in this lifetime, even if we have done evil acts. The Buddha even called Devadatta "a good friend" because he helped to illuminate this principal and to represent the oneness of good and evil.

I'll be posting the color version too, although I prefer this B+W version. I should mention that this shot was inspired by Marc Adamus's B+W bristlecone pine shot that most you have probably seen ("The Tree God").

All C+C welcome! (The level of work on this forum is so consistently stunning. Kudos to everyone who's been posting!)

Nikon D300
Nikon 12-24mm
f/11 (at hyperfocal distance)
Blend of two images (1/15 and 1/4)
B+W conversion done in LR3

Aaron

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Aaron Burdick on December 21, 2010 at 8:58 PM

Here's the color version. Which do you prefer?

Registered on May 1, 2009, 31 Posts, 197 Comments

Comment posted by Emmanuel Coupe on December 21, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Both are nice, I like the movement in this photograph. But I have a slight preference for the b&w but I would bring out some white from the clouds, not too much. The dark branches would be that much more haunting.<br>
On the b&w I like how the branch on the ground becomes a strong visual element as it contrasts the black tree by being somewhat white, on the color photo it gets eaten up by the color of the ground and gives me less visual impact.

Registered on March 17, 2007, 83 Posts, 341 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Haxby on December 21, 2010 at 9:09 PM

I prefer the B&W. I think that the color image just doesn't give the same mood and the B & W makes the long snaky (is that a word?) root stand out more.

Registered on July 6, 2006, 126 Posts, 647 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 21, 2010 at 10:23 PM

While the first image illustrates the title quite nicely (thanks for explaining that BTW), it's the color version, I think, that best exemplifies "enlightenment" if you catch my drift. Very nice blend.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 22, 2010 at 10:16 AM

I like the starkness of the branches against the sky.Well done.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 22, 2010 at 11:06 AM

I like both versions a lot, but feel the B&W is more dramatic in presentation. Well done.

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 22, 2010 at 9:00 PM

Aaron,

Glad to see you are able to post an image - welcome back!

I pretty much agree with Tony's comments exactly. For me the starkness of the b&w works well to showcase the tree, but the sky lacks any real drama that I think is missing. Perhaps too much contrast and drama in the sky would compete with the tree/silhouette, but still I think the sky needs some work. Also, it looks pretty soft to me overall, but that's usually a "getting to the web" thing.

While I think the b&w version has the best potential, I like the color version as presented. The tree is still showcased well and I like the sky much better here and how the colors in the sky compliment the colors of the earth.

This is also one of those images if "only the trees could talk." Thanks also for the explanation!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Patel on December 24, 2010 at 7:49 AM

There are 2 things about B/W image that is more appealing to me then the color version. First is mentioned in the previous comments about the drama in the sky. The analogous color scheme in the foreground in the colored version lack drama of the B/W image. The second thing I like about the B/W image is the tonal contrast in the foreground make the foreground a bit more appealing.

Thanks.
-Jay

Registered on August 28, 2008, 87 Posts, 566 Comments