Lodgepole Dressing

Gallery: LandscapePosted October 1, 20177,886 views14 comments

Here is yet another take on the same Lodgepole Preston I photography at the St. Mary's trailhead up on Sonora Pass. Inside, outside, walking around this tattered and torn old beauty are multitudes of photo possibilities. That is, if you're interested in this kinda stuff, like I am. ;-)

I'm not sure of the exact scale, but it's a wider view than normal for a tree bark/trunk image. I'd say this is maybe a good 3 ft in height? Perhaps less.

As always, your comments critiques and suggestions are always welcome. Thanks for looking and leaving a comment!

Lon

oh yeah, this is a 6-image focus stack. This view was above my head, so shooting upwards, and considering the curved surface of the trunk, I captured the 6 frames to combine for sharpness throughout.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on October 1, 2017 at 11:28 PM

Another fine study in color, shape, and texture, Lon. That "in your face" knot that is the focal point has me thinking of a crazed chipmunk staring at me or some of Brian Froud's creatures.

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

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 2, 2017 at 9:19 AM

Lon, this is as good as it gets with regard to the DOF on these beasts. Almost totally impossible with single takes, unless the curvature is not extreme or the POF is just on the middle surface. The number in the stack provides another feature looking at the smaller image here and that is really noticing the curvature and still having most all in very near perfect focus. Overall image color, sat, contrast are dead on.......very nice IMO...... laugh

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

Comment posted by Mattia Oliviero on October 2, 2017 at 9:35 AM

Great job with the focus stacking technique, Lon. It is not easy due to the difficulties you highlighted. I do find the detail very interesting even though I am not totally sure about the result. I do not know if it is due to the light or the composition but still I see some potential not fully exploited. Maybe a macro image with bigger details would have been a better solution. Later I will take a look again and hopefully give you more precise feedbacks.

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

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 2, 2017 at 12:35 PM

Thanks for the comments so far!

@Mattia, thank you as well. I totally agree with you about the composition. While it may be ok as presented, I agree and think the subject deserves a much tighter and intimate crop. this is probably the widest view of a tree trunk I've captured. I may crop, but the real fix is a better comp in the field to begin with! Thanks!

Lon

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

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on October 2, 2017 at 1:02 PM

Real nice detail portrait. I have two thoughts. First, I would boost the vibrance a big chunk. It looks a little flat to my eye. Second, I would try a crop off the top to just above the little knot to the left and above the big knot. I think the presentation is trying to showcase too much and makes for a wandering eye. I don't think this is circular file material. I like it, as you seem to suggest in your second post here.

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

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on October 2, 2017 at 10:55 PM

Nice colors and texture. Not too sure about the centered placement of the knot and I do agree with Harley, but overall I like this.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on October 3, 2017 at 7:28 PM

You are able to take mundane things and make interesting images out of them. I like the texture, color and the large knot at the top gives a spot for the eye to focus on.

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

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on October 3, 2017 at 7:49 PM

It took me a while to figure out how I feel about this image but now I'm ready. On the surface it's a very realistic image with very natural colors. What's different about it from most bark images is it lacks drama of swirlies and sharp angles. It has a calm, balanced sense to it. Something you could meditate to. But as you study it more you notice all those smooth bumps and nodules and you start to think how it would be to run your hands across that smooth surface and feel them. So in a way it's a sensuous image in the pure sense of the word. I wouldn't crop anything at this point. It's a question of what you were going for when you made this image. Cropping would be a search for a different meaning to it. And that's fine if you're tired of your original intent.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on October 4, 2017 at 12:22 AM

I really like this Lon. I made my living and most of my retirement from my passion of lodgepole. Pretty much a life long association you might say. I built rustic furniture, refined the process so that it was Fine Lodgepole Furniture, and developed a company that specialized in rustic pool tables. This is a really refined view that I have felt with my hands thousands of times. Very, very nice. Thank you.

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

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 4, 2017 at 5:22 PM

Love this!! This is wonderful work, Lon. The colors, textures and detail through are just fantastic. Nice work with the focus stacking on this one. cool

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

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

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on October 5, 2017 at 2:09 PM

Sweet shot, Lon. The textures are so nice, probably because of the focus stacking, and the silver and brown coloration look so smooth. One of the better shots of tree trunks.

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

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on October 5, 2017 at 4:14 PM

Love the interplay of light, curves and texture. Very nice!

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on October 7, 2017 at 7:25 AM

Lon: The larger version MUST be viewed. Wonderful textures and color palette and edge to edge sharpness. Well seen and superbly composed and captured. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on October 7, 2017 at 4:27 PM

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions! I agree this could be bumped in color and also that there are actually any number of crops that show more of the detail. I've played with several and there are certainly alternates worth exploring.

Igor and Gary - thanks for bringing up this other dimension and your descriptions of actually feeling the bark. I'm glad you mention, because I find myself doing that on many occasions - especially for a tree like this where the barks is smooth and full of little undulations and curves. On the flip side, I can confirm doing this on the charred image produces exactly what you think it might!

Thanks again! I wasn't sure how this one would go over.

Lon

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