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Old Sycamore + rp
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Old Sycamore + rp

by Preston Birdwell

Gallery: LandscapePosted February 24, 2017253 views14 comments
Thank you for your comments on my recent posts.

I was wandering around town yesterday and found this intriguing bark pattern on an old Sycamore tree. The color RAW did not have much in the way of color, so I converted it to Black and White.

Nikon D-7100
18-140mm @ 140mm
ISO 100, 1/10 @ f-16
TK's V4 Masks
02/23/17

Please see the large version. Thanks!

Your thoughts are always appreciated. cool
--P

Comments

14 comments
Comment posted by Navin Sarma on February 24, 2017 at 10:53 AM
Preston - I really like the composition and the combination of tones and textures here. An eerie take on this which I appreciate. Although the subject is abstract, it seems like there the crack going down the middle can be construed as a marker of direction (perpendicular to the ground). Going off of that (possible illusion), I could see a slight rotation to make it seem straight. I would personally also look for some brighter brights to add a greater sense of depth to this image -- but I go for a contrasty look that may differ from your style. 
Registered on July 17, 2011, 233 Posts, 1373 Comments
Comment posted by Ronald Murphy on February 24, 2017 at 1:28 PM
The only problem I have with this is I want to see it much, much bigger.

OK, and maybe brightening the brights a bit.
Registered on March 13, 2012, 279 Posts, 975 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on February 24, 2017 at 4:47 PM
Hi All,

For some reason, the Web versions lost some luminosity in the lights, so here is an adjusted version.

Thanks for your comments!
--P
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Sandor on February 24, 2017 at 6:51 PM
Preston: this is an intriguing abstract which can be interpreted in any number of ways. The blacks are very nicely contrasted in tone and texture against the brighter portions. Richard

















 
Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on February 24, 2017 at 11:07 PM
You are the master of burnt bark, Preston.  Love this.  The repost is perfect with the overall luminosity and brightness adjusted nicely.
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on February 24, 2017 at 11:47 PM
I like the "not quite symmetry" - and the texture is marvelous. The repost is better, but the original does not look too bad to me.....
Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments
Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on February 25, 2017 at 9:18 AM
I like the layered look of the trunk - looks like portions have fallen away to reveal the lower layers.  The repost does give more of a sense of relief, almost like a topo map to me.  Nice find.
Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 25, 2017 at 9:59 AM
Sycamore bark is so much fun to shoot and it changes so much depending on the size of the tree or the height on a given tree.  You've got a good sense of flow in this view, from that nice little circle near the top through the shrinking triangle of heavy bark, to the thinner, subtly textured areas in the lower half.  The extra brightness in the repost improves the 3D sense well.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on February 25, 2017 at 11:24 AM
Preston, really like the repost here. The pattern is especially nice for this type of image. I've only got one place with sycamores and none have this depth of bark relief to them. I like the cascading look of a waterfall in the bark overlay on the tree trunk area. Makes for an interesting look to a very simple item found in nature, good eye.
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on February 25, 2017 at 12:57 PM
Preston,

Well seen, a terrific bark abstract.  I like the comments, from Richard, I agree with the "can be interpreted in many ways," and from Alberto about the "not quite symmetry."  From the interpretation point of view, this may be a far stretch, but I see a crud cross, which my have religious undertones.

The repost looks good in terms of luminosity, although I suppose you could raise the mid tones even more? But not really necessary.

the more I look, the more that gets explored and the more I like it.

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on February 25, 2017 at 4:40 PM
Preston,This old sycamore made for a very interesting abstract image. Cool shapes and wonderful textures. The repost does the trick for me. Nice b&w conversion work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Ryan Shain on February 25, 2017 at 7:31 PM
Hi Preston,

The repost defiantly looks better, and I find this image wonderful There is a nice depth created with bark that has fallen away, and the centered  bark  structure really stands out. I really enjoy the shape of the bark, the lines and the  textures. A sweet job in the conversion too.

Some very fine work
Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 26, 2017 at 7:24 AM
Hi Preston,

I like the repost as presented.  Contrast looks good and you did well with this bark-scape.........................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Mattia Oliviero on February 27, 2017 at 7:31 AM
Like a lot this image, Preston. Better the repost IMO. 

Mattia
Registered on August 24, 2016, 43 Posts, 254 Comments