Soul of the Ancients

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 22, 2012590 views28 comments

The twisted roots of this long-dead Bristlecone Pine grew around a white angular rock the size of a bowling ball. This rock is slowly breaking free of its wooden embrace as the elements whittle away the ancient timber. The color, the texture, and the form were exactly what I had set out to capture.

I knew the significance of this shot the very moment I saw it. This small monument of wood and stone represents the enduring nature of these trees, their will to survive, and their elegant dignity even after demise. It is the very soul of the White Mountains.

Please use the "Purchase Print" link to view my video journal from the day I shot this. It helps tell the story behind this shot.

Fuji Velvia 50 8x10 | Ebony RW810 | Nikkor 300mm | 2 sec @ f/64

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on September 23, 2012 at 8:29 AM

I love this abstract shot a lot. Beautiful colors and light with nice details and textures. Well done.

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Wolfe on September 23, 2012 at 8:56 AM

I think this is wonderful. It is soooo intriguing. The colors are fantastic:)

Registered on April 7, 2012, 42 Posts, 103 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Blakers on September 23, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Very fine Ben, lovely use of the large format capability and a delightful subject. Ancient and ancient!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 8 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on September 23, 2012 at 9:52 AM

Very nice work here Ben! Really interesting subject photographed in light that worked great. I love the color and wonderful detail. The heart shape in the wood surrounding the rock was an excellent find and you captured it so well.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on September 23, 2012 at 10:31 AM

Interesting and beautiful. Textures, shapes and light are all wonderfully rendered. Thanks for sharing

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on September 23, 2012 at 11:19 AM

terrific comp, light and textures... very powerful shot, Ben!

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on September 23, 2012 at 11:22 AM

superb, ben. composed well, with great interplay between the wood and the rock. spot on, i'd say.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on September 23, 2012 at 11:52 AM

For me one of your best shots, Ben. I also liked to see how you hunted this gem down in your video. Great stuff.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by John&Patty Benway on September 23, 2012 at 12:11 PM

Fantastic find Ben, gotta say, love this. Beautiful color, light, detail and presentation.
John

Registered on May 12, 2006, 626 Posts, 8700 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Hilton on September 23, 2012 at 12:26 PM

Ben,
Well seen, captured and processed.
Outstanding image.

Registered on September 19, 2011, 68 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 23, 2012 at 12:34 PM

Very, very nice Ben

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on September 23, 2012 at 2:00 PM

This is amazing Ben. The image really tells a story. I wonder how many years it has taken for the rock to break through the fallen Bristlecone. Very well done!

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on September 23, 2012 at 4:16 PM

Really enjoyed the video Ben and love the shot. Wonderfully framed.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on September 23, 2012 at 7:17 PM

Oh my!

Ben, this is gorgeous in its simplicity, color' and extraordinary detail.

Well done!

--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on September 23, 2012 at 8:05 PM

Very nice capture, Ben. Even at the thumbnail size the detail is excellent throughout. The combination of some nice lighting, LF camera, and 300mm Nikkor has provided an all around wonderful capture of this unique scene. Always nice to see a fresh perspective on an often shot area such as the White Mountains.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Erik Aagaard on September 23, 2012 at 9:28 PM

I think this is an example of what large format can do that 35mm digital simply can't - such incredible texture, tonality, and richness. Before reading the description, I looked at this image and thought, "I bet he used a 4x5." (I was wrong - 8x10 - whew!!) Beautiful composition, beautiful light, and a beautiful story.

Registered on May 16, 2006, 10 Posts, 16 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on September 24, 2012 at 1:53 AM

Very, very nice! I'd say this is one of your best images you've posted here. My interest now kept for a very long time, just keep staring at this one!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 24, 2012 at 2:45 AM

This is really strong. Well done, Ben.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Peyton Hale on September 24, 2012 at 10:49 AM

This is an awesome find Ben - great contrast on many different levels. Well done dude!

Registered on December 9, 2011, 8 Posts, 43 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on September 24, 2012 at 12:33 PM

Love the clarity and cridspness of this shot. Even the smal brown veins in the quartz? tie it nicely with the wood. I don't think it has been mentioned - not sure if horizontal line toward the top of the image is natural - I might crop it off. A great fine and capture. This would be a fantastic large print.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on September 24, 2012 at 12:49 PM

Thanks for the kind words everyone. This was one of those rare circumstances where I saw the subject, and knew immediately that it would translate well to a photo. Often times I'll see something that sparks my attention, but it's difficult to translate the subject to a photo.

This was certainly a fun shot to take, though it was a bit of a struggle shooting in the wind. My camera can shake with the slightest of wind, so I stood next to my camera for quite some time waiting for a lull.

Harry: that faint horizontal line along the top is the film sleeve. I don't trust myself scanning my own film, so I just throw it on my flatbed scanner while it's still in the sleeve. When I decide to make a print of this one, I'll send it off for a drum scan and let the pros work their magic.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 24, 2012 at 4:27 PM

Oh, I'm really enjoying this! A beautiful capture, very nicely composed. Excellent work Ben.

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on September 24, 2012 at 6:20 PM

Real sweet, Ben. Great juxtaposition of elements and shapes.

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 24, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Wonderfully rich color and excellent texture and detail Ben. Looking at the thumbnail I see an eagle / hawk head. Love the abstract qualities as well.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Schwarz on September 25, 2012 at 10:32 AM

Nicely seen and a beautiful composition.

Registered on November 29, 2006, 236 Posts, 1210 Comments

Comment posted by Chikku Baiju on September 25, 2012 at 3:15 PM

This is very cool Ben! Love the sense of story this image tells. Beautiful.

Registered on January 9, 2010, 31 Posts, 246 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on September 25, 2012 at 4:08 PM

That is one cool shot Ben! I bet on an 8x10 the detail is awesome. This one has a real story which generates a lot of interest. With that it has nice warm colors and textures and the white of the rock provides excellent contrast. Very good find. Congrats!

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 2, 2015 at 10:01 AM

Stunning in every sense

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments