February's Theme: Your Favorite Tree

My first thought was to do a wildflower theme for this months theme. Living way down here in the sonoran Desert of Arizona will bring those kind of thoughts in February. But since you northern members might still see your share of snow this season it would only be fair to hold off on the wildflowers for a while. Let's do trees. Show us your Favorite tree.

My favorite tree to photograph, especially during sunrise. I have many photos of this tree, but this is my most recent one from January. This is near Chatfield State Park in Colorado. Yes, this is a three-shot HDR, because there is no other way to get the dynamic range in one exposure. (I even shared my RAW file with a critic and he couldn't make it work, either.)
I had to go re-read the picture limitations, since it has been so long since I've posted here. 720 pixels is certainly small and I still don't understand when the "optional" 1200 pixel size can be used. Anyway, it certainly doesn't help image quality, but at least I did it.

I've shot a lot of trees, but my most memorable was an isolated Juniper located just below the observation platform at Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab, Utah. I got there at dawn, and happened upon this scene with the tree brilliantly illuminated against the backdrop of deep shadows cast by the rising sun. I quickly set up my tripod and made the shot, only to have the changing light disappear about 30 seconds later. Pure serendipity!

By Dream Lake, RMNP

Pocket Pine
I try photographing this pinon pine on the Paria Plateau every time I visit. Life is now ending for this tree, perhaps as Peter remarked, "it has been shot to death."

This is my go-to tree whenever there is some sort of interesting atmospheric condition. It's about 100 yards from my back door and I can get there and set up on a moment's notice.

This was familiar area, having worked mobile radio relays just over the ridge in support of an annual spring foot relay race through the Mojave Desert (coming up again end of March). When fellow photographer Peter Coskun made plans for Death Valley in 2014, I decided to join him to finally explore this nearby desolate place. We camped overnight and before dawn began our shoot of Ibex Dunes. Toward the end of the hike, I noticed this lonely tree in the shadow of a large dune hill surrounded by its own collection of miniature dunes. I just loved the impact of one tree in a land of sand.

My favorite would probably have to be the General Grant Tree , but since I have no picture of it, I'll have to go with this juniper on the edge of Green River Overlook.

I worked at a boarding school in the mountains in Southern California from 2000-2008. Lovely location, but being "at work" 24/7 was a constant struggle. This was my favorite location to escape campus briefly; it was just far enough that most students didn't hike out here. I often thought that this tree would look good in silhouette against a sunset.

One time I was finishing dinner and looked out to see what seemed like it could be an amazing sunset; I grabbed my gear and hopped on my mountain bike and pretty much sprinted out here, then waited to see if anything would happen. It did. Still one of my favorite shots from the area.

Shot on medium format film: Mamiya 645 and Fuji Provia 100F, if that matters.

Winter Sentinels - Dutch Elms protecting the Oval at Colorado St University

I couldn't figure out how to capture the majesty of the redwoods in Muir Woods, so I switched to detail instead.