Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: Matt Tilghman on June 23, 2013, 02:31:07 pm
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As an inaugural trip for my new 6D, I decided to head to Russian Ridge. It's one of my favorite places, so it felt right for the inaugural trip... My favorite scene within Russian Ridge is a cluster of 5 or 6 California Buckeyes that always captures my interest. I worked extra hard to try to find a new perspective in honor of my new camera :)
The Giving Tree (http://www.matttilghman.com/Giving-Tree.html?California)
(http://www.matttilghman.com/images/California-Chaparral.jpg) (http://www.matttilghman.com/Giving-Tree.html?California)
And of course, my obligatory sappy caption:
Russian Ridge is much like other patches of chaparral in Northern California in that when summer rolls around, the gentle hillsides dry and turn bright gold. The sight of it feels like something out of an afterlife – pure paradise. The reality, however, is not so kind. The grass is nearly knee high, and not soft at all. The spikelets have spent the last 10,000 years evolving into perfect jean-penetrating, ankle-scaping machines. And sometimes, they also hide lustful ticks hoping for a free ride.
But under this precious California Buckeye tree, the friendly grass of spring had lingered longer. Once I got under, the way soft blades caressed my raw ankles was a welcomed change. The shade this tree offered from the piercing summer sun was another welcomed respite, and the flora seemed to agree. Look closely and you may even find a few wildflowers persisting way past their due.
Thanks for reading!
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Lovely and well processed.
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It definitely reads better on the black background, but is nice in any respect.
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A lovely spot. I find myself feeling cheated at not seeing the top of the tree and I'd give up some of the foreground in exchange, but there ya go... :)
Mike.
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Wonderful light and frame. Must be difficult to get the whole tree in one shot?
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Beautiful light and that tree!
Bravo
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Matt that is a really nice shot.
You have captured some of what makes the place so special for you!
Tony Jay
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Contre jour lighting through a tree - what's not to like. Nice composition (I don't miss the top of the tree), nicely processed.
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One of your best so far.
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But under this precious California Buckeye tree, the friendly grass of spring had lingered longer.
Precipitation from fog on the twigs keeps the ground green through most of the year, although I think your favorite tree might be situated on a seep. Similar patches of green form under the deciduous Blue Oaks.
When the sun's lower in November and the Buckeye leaves are long gone, the lichen in the upper branches of your favorite tree catches backlight from the setting sun and glows.
The spikelets have spent the last 10,000 years evolving into perfect jean-penetrating, ankle-scaping machines. And sometimes, they also hide lustful ticks hoping for a free ride.
Dude ignores the "Stay on designated trails." instruction and gets prickled by avena fatua !
I happened to be at Monte Bello one day when a Stanford professor was doing a practice capture session for an upcoming field class. Simply dropping a 1m square white cloth onto the trail-side grass was enough to pick up 3 obviously visible ticks (and then there were the not very visible ticks). The prof cheerfully pointed out which of them were likely to transmit Lyme disease.
Must be difficult to get the whole tree in one shot?
Not difficult from the trail, which is above the trees and a little distance away.
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great light ! no nits from me
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great light ! no nits from me
+1.
And no ticks either.
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Splendid composition, well rendered.
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Thank you all for the kind words!
When the sun's lower in November and the Buckeye leaves are long gone, the lichen in the upper branches of your favorite tree catches backlight from the setting sun and glows.
:)
(http://matttilghman.com/images/Central-California-Storm-L.jpg)
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This is second one has the kind of light that reminds me of Salgado's work. Almost "biblical" in its character (for lack of better word).
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Thank you all for the kind words!
:)
(http://matttilghman.com/images/Central-California-Storm-L.jpg)
That is truly beautiful.
Jeremy
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…Almost "biblical" in its character (for lack of better word).
A very good word, no need to look elsewhere! ;)