Laoconte

Even with the name of the image, I would not have gotten the reference (art history is not my strong point). However, I really like the image! It is a bold subject, with great mood. I really like your processing that highlights the tree so well. No suggestions, real sweet. 

Occasionally I name images to "suggest" to the viewer what I wish emphasized. For example, in my foxtail pine wood grain image, I wished to create a mindset to pay attention to the different shades of color (in addition to the grains) so I quite cleverly named it 
Shades of Brown. :)  But for the most part, I either have what I consider to be an appropriate name pop into my head when working on an image or I just name it in descriptive form. When viewing images, I think a name can lead me along a little bit and suggest a train of thought, but not a whole lot. 

I love this tree and BG.  The larger image shows the tree to "pop" more, which I was going to suggest.

This tree has a lot of character and your composition has shown that masterfully.  I like the lighting on the tree as well as it not only brings out all of the texture but also adds some brightness to the scene which I perceive as peaceful. It is a good reminder to keep my eyes open even after the leaves have dropped. 

I like the steel blue branches which nicely complement the sky.  I see your analogy with the entangled forms of the statue but I would not have made the connection myself.  The larger version is a must see.  The lovely light is more pronounced.

Igor, your image is a real storyteller, yet it is telling its own story I think. The muted colors are consistent with the overall feel to it for me and at the same time leave my attention to the bizarre structure as the main element. Very interesting work in my opinion.

Peter

A wonderful fine art image in my eyes. I love the color and tones in this, excellent composition and beautiful processing.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Igor,

Agree with others that the light, colors and processing here are wonderful. Interesting, I think the colors are muted - but in this case, the colors are still wonderful - hard to explain.  And indeed the tree has character. Another interesting element is the dead branch and otherwise messy foreground - yet, just like the "muted" colors, I find the foreground to enhance the image rather than take away.  Everything about this is well placed.

As far as the reference goes, I'm with Harley - and no student of art or even Greek mythology.  I would have made the reference unless you had mentioned it.

To your question, I suppose I'm not like some, and maybe like others.  I usually place no deep thoughts on my images beyond perhaps telling a nature story. So I don't expect viewers to take any meaning from them.  Of course they can and view in whatever thought or manner they wish.

Perhaps I should explain that there was never meant to suggest that there was an intent for the viewer to see a connection between tree and statue. There was an intent to draw a similar emotional response between tree and statue. I frankly don't even know the story of the man in the statue. 

The message I see here is the struggle of life in a harsh environment.  I saw this statue a couple of years ago in Vatican City, but still couldn't remember it and had to Google the title.  Maybe I made that connection here because while viewing the statue I was wondering how I was going to survive the struggle of being around so many people looking at statues.  Great image.

My immediate reaction to this image was "tortured" so for me at least, the title's reference to the suffering of Laocoon was not necessary, although it is entirely appropriate.  (In fact I confess that it has been so many decades since I studied Roman and Greek mythology, and art only tangentially, that I misinterpreted the title, and wondered what the great entomologist John LeConte had to do with the image.  Is Igor an entomologist, too?  What insect kiled that tree?  It was not until I scrolled down and saw the statue from the Vatican that I got it.)

Anyway, this reminds me so much of the tortured pines that I like to photograph on windswept ridges, the connection was instant, even though the environment is so different.  Interesting as well as beautiful.  Can you tell us more about the species and the habitat?

Wayne, I was a marine biologist in my former life, so I don't my bugs. That tree is still very much alive. This is baja's version of an elephant tree. It, too, stores water in it's trunk waiting for the dry period. It's common to have dead branches and the others go on. I think it may be termites that get them? I say that because most homes have termite problems in that area. This area gets virtually no water unless a hurricane drifts that far north. IMO these trees look better without their leaves.

Wow,  I might be a little late. I don' t know what the title means, so nothing was conveyed by it... however I see similarity between the epic tortured pose and this wonderful image...they both convey life's struggle to endure. The tree in its seemingly hostile environment and the man and children in their battle with the serpent.     

Thanks for the info, Igor.  Glad to see the tree is still surviving!

Thank you for your comments. I think we are getting closer to what this image was intended to convey with each comment. The following quote I came across today addresses the subject by a noted photographer.

When the photographer shows us what he considers to be an Equivalent, he is showing us an expression of a feeling, but this feeling is not the feeling he had for the object that he photographed. What really happened is that he recognized an object or a series of forms that, when photographed, would yield an image with specific suggestive powers that can direct the viewer into a specific and known feeling, state, or place within himself.

Minor White

I really like this, Igor.  I immediately wonder "what kind of tortured life has this tree had?".  That hard life (assuming that it was indded hard) gave it great character.  Nicely seen and presented.