Fallen but not Forgotten

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 3, 2015245 views17 comments

Grass, trees, rock, leaves, water, ice, grass, trees, rock, leaves, water, ice, repeat after me, grass trees, rock, leaves, water and ice... A departure from my standard fare - trees and grass in the same image! angel

Meandering El Capitan Meadow one morning and I just couldn't help but wonder what stories this fallen giant might have. Even though our time here is so very short, I'm amazed how through my own photographs I have witnessed trees that were once standing tall, are now fallen starting the cycle of life all over.

Would love your impressions, critique and suggestions. Always Welcome.

Thanks!

Nikon D800E
Nikon 28-300mm @100mm
f/20 2-image focus stack
Tony Kuyper's masks and actions.
Slight crop off top

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 3, 2015 at 5:54 PM

Very nice old tree. I like the diagonals of the trunk and the branches. The color looks good, except for some magenta I'm seeing in the tall stalks in front of the trunk. I like the differing textures of wood and grasses. Works fo em, lOn.

--P

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on December 3, 2015 at 6:04 PM

I think the weathered wood at an angle breaks up the vertical grasses nicely and adds interest to the image. I see the magenta but some California grass is that color I am told. I don't find it objectionable and I recalibrated today. Everything is well focused and sharp.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 3, 2015 at 6:49 PM

I like all of the subtle textures and colors in this Lon. In particular, the diagonals of the trunk and it's branches are offset nicely by the section of different colored grass along the bottom. This does a good job of speaking to the cycle of life of a tree.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 3, 2015 at 7:08 PM

The eye of an artist is what I first thought of when I viewed this image. This giant old tree has plenty of stories to tell I'm sure, and this picture makes one think about that. I don't see anything here that I would change. Your composition, the light, the color and the story this tells all come together here. Really nice work!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 3, 2015 at 7:56 PM

I am really not onboard with this one. My attention seems to wander around in the composition and the colors I find very, very blue. I seem to be in the minority, however.

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

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 3, 2015 at 8:14 PM

I appreciate this image a lot. Very artistic and very nice color. I see things like this and I just see an old fallen tree. You see it and create a work of art.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 3, 2015 at 8:36 PM

Kudos on your ability to make artisitic images out of the ordinary, Lon. This is a perfect example. The only thing that bothers me about this image is the charred limb front center. For me, this detracts from the character and beauty of the fallen tree among the grasses. Not sure why, however, and no one else has mentioned it, so....

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on December 3, 2015 at 9:36 PM

As a furniture builder, I'm a sucker for trees, but there is a special place in my heart for these old fellows. I used to salvage many old trees into things that will live beyond our time. Sort of a second life if you will. The nuanced greys of the log have a wonderful sheen and the grasses help to set the whole thing up nicely.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on December 3, 2015 at 10:40 PM

I like this very much. The composition is subtle, yet powerful at the same time. Only one suggestion ... there is a tiny piece of something (I assume it's a piece of a detached branch) intruding into the frame at the very bottom edge of the image just to the right of the center point, that I'd suggest cloning out.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on December 3, 2015 at 11:42 PM

I like the composition, with the repeating diagonal branches, and the dteail in the grass is really excellent. The color looks quite cold, but that may be intentional? It is not unreal or unpleasant, just "cold", which suits the scene.

Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Stanton on December 4, 2015 at 12:29 AM

Another interesting image, Lon. Seems to be a quiet grace about this fallen one, the soft colors have a strong effect. Fall seems to be the perfect time for this shot.

Registered on March 1, 2015, 54 Posts, 453 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on December 4, 2015 at 7:22 AM

Well composed and I love the details and the textures in this scene.There's a lot to explore and sure this trunk has a lot of stories to tell. And so does xour image. I love it as presented.

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 4, 2015 at 9:01 AM

I really like the composition and the storyline of the tree fading into the grass with such grace. The subtle color shifts enhance this perception of elegance.

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

Comment posted by Roel Wijtmans on December 4, 2015 at 11:54 AM

This is a sweet capture of a very telling story of course, but it also makes my imagination run wild as I also see some sort of huge centipede making its way through the grass! I think I would prefer it to be a bit warmer though, would be more fitting to me.

Registered on September 30, 2012, 116 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on December 4, 2015 at 4:21 PM

Hi Lon

This beautiful title makes me think... and when i see this fallen tree so wonderfully composed. lying still.... i think of it as a human being.. resting in peace. then i think of it in its youth, giving out beauty and shade . giving us pure air to breath in. providing us with wood for so many uses.... . yes rest in peace, fallen tree, but not forgotten.

Albert Darmo ---- tree lover who loves and lives in 55 acres of meadow and forest
Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on December 6, 2015 at 8:06 PM

Lon, I saw this one the other day but didn't have time to comment. I nearly fell off my chair when I first viewed it because this is MY KIND OF IMAGE!! I have studied it & studied it over several views now and like it more every time I see it. This is the epitome of finding beauty in common, everyday scenes and presenting that beauty in such an expressive way. You have outdone yourself - SO GLAD you're back on NPN!

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

Comment posted by Peter Richter on December 9, 2015 at 3:04 PM

Lon, this is all about textures and structure for me. I do enjoy the interplay of the mighty fallen trunk with the delicate grasses. The subdued colors convey the atmosphere in a convincing way to me.

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments