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Author Topic: New look at my favorite tree  (Read 4154 times)

Matt Tilghman

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New look at my favorite tree
« on: June 23, 2013, 02:31:07 pm »

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


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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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2013, 02:34:31 pm »

Lovely and well processed.

Chris Calohan

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2013, 02:36:48 pm »

It definitely reads better on the black background, but is nice in any respect.
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wolfnowl

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2013, 03:12:18 pm »

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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Paulo Bizarro

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2013, 04:15:10 am »

Wonderful light and frame. Must be difficult to get the whole tree in one shot?

francois

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2013, 06:17:59 am »

Beautiful light and that tree!

Bravo
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Francois

Tony Jay

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #6 on: June 24, 2013, 06:29:25 am »

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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Chairman Bill

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2013, 09:15:25 am »

Contre jour lighting through a tree - what's not to like. Nice composition (I don't miss the top of the tree), nicely processed.

sdwilsonsct

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2013, 09:21:11 am »

One of your best so far.

Isaac

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2013, 05:37:56 pm »

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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DwayneOakes

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2013, 08:55:56 pm »

great light ! no nits from me
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Eric Myrvaagnes

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2013, 09:12:34 pm »

great light ! no nits from me
+1.

And no ticks either.
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Rajan Parrikar

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2013, 09:40:01 pm »

Splendid composition, well rendered.

Matt Tilghman

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2013, 12:39:52 am »

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.
:)

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Paulo Bizarro

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #14 on: June 25, 2013, 04:29:54 am »

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).

Jeremy Roussak

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2013, 04:47:01 am »

Thank you all for the kind words!
:)



That is truly beautiful.

Jeremy
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francois

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Re: New look at my favorite tree
« Reply #16 on: June 25, 2013, 07:09:58 am »

…Almost "biblical" in its character (for lack of better word).

A very good word, no need to look elsewhere!  ;)
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Francois
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