Time Companions

Hey Lon,
Interesting comparison with plusses and minuses in both.....I like the tree shape/contrast slightly better in the little sister version but the color of the leaves and rock details is much nicer in this version. I do like the profound thought also behind the image just as much.!

Hah! You keep taking pictures this fine, you will be more than a leaf!

Looks good, Lon. Another fine tree image from the tree master.

Nice work Lon.
There is something about this that invites a closer look!
An altogether delightful study. I think the restrained palette
helps with this. My only nit is the top of the evergreen tree poking in from the bottom
its not major but still distracts a little.
Superb

Beautiful image, Lon. I love the thoughts that went into the title. Makes one think!

A leaf, Lon? No way. I prefer thinking of you as an adolescent oak tree. Now don't you feel younger already.

Digital or 4x5, it's a wonderful comp and good light.

It's neat to connect allow our photography to connect us to something larger.

Once again a perfectly framed tree. Not so easy to do, but when accomplished creates a sense of strength and serenity. This one is a bit more straighforward in mood than the last, but I like it just as well.

Very nice ,Lon. This makes me feel like I need to see it in a large print. I also liked the baby sister one. Not sure I have a favorite, but this is really nice. I also liked the story with it. Good work.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, Wi

The detail is grand here Lon. I just love these kind of images. Beautiful work for sure, but your previous post is one of my favorites of yours. Not saying this is not good because it is really good and I love it. Just like the mood of the other a little better.

I love being inside trees like this..... if ya know what I mean...... and all your images like this take me there.

Also thinking about your comment of the oak tree, oak leaf, and the granite wall. Absolutely true.

Another nice one Lon. I would say this is your forte'. Well done. Maybe this is to much to ask, but how do you get such great separation between your tree shots and the background? What do you look for when you're out there?

This is beautiful, Lon. I thought it was you as soon as I saw it. Well done.

Thanks for the comments so far folks. I truly appreciate it.

Dean:

What do you look for when you're out there?

Yeah, probably too much for here... I've actually been tossing around a blog subject or even another article for NPN, but we'll see about that. The don't call me the Procrastinator for nothin' ya know.
But there are a few things I look for or at least I have in the back of my mind all the time - because I certainly don't seek out just trees, although it may seem like it.

1. Uniformity of background. Which doesn't mean a blank sky or a uniform color or something. The previous image had a chaotic background, but in a sense, it was uniform chaos. In other words the background was all about the same thing; whether it's light, color, patterns or form.
2. See like your lens. It's a bit different with large format because the only zooms that exist are your feet. I have 5 lenses and you end up learning or visualizing what each lens can cover.
3. I look to fill the frame with much of what I shoot. That differs from your typical wide angle landscape type vision.
4. Many times I avoid including the ground. Once you include the ground (or sky for that matter) you've changed a "tree" image in to a "landscape" image with trees in it.
5. Look for patterns, form, structure and balance. Easy to write that down.
6. Biggest cliche of all: Keep it simple, which includes the background.

I dunno, I've never really tried to categorize this and I'm sure there's more, but those are a few things that come to mind.

Thanks for asking and thanks for the comments.

Lon

The dark branches stand out nicely against the gray rock. Another great image, Lon. I also like the detail and sharpness here.

As typical as it gets and as good as it gets Lon! There are a lot of elements that work well like the structure of the tree, and how the dark branches contrast with the background. Furthermore, the texture of the granite wall is a subject worth of being photographed alone. It therefor enhances the shot a lot. Finally the orange leaves work great with the blueish bg. Thanks also for sharing your considerations for composing these images.

wonderfully graphic image - I like it alot, Lon

You're the reason why I stop whenever I see trees in front of rock faces. I move my head around to find great compositions, but so far I never was happy enough to take a shot. Images like this one keep my interest alive and make me continue my search. Thanks for this great shot and inspiration, Lon.

I loved this then and still love it now! Although, I suspect that the 4x5 will win out

Absolutely superb, Lon. The blue'ish backdrop of granite gives it such a surreal look. This truly deserves to be printed large and displayed prominently.

Guy

If that's the case I fell off the tree a long time ago. I remember the other tree image, other than being the same type of tree I can't see the similarity maybe I need to go back and look. The gallery section of the page is neat I got to see all of your recent tree posts that I unfortunately missed. Your passionate about trees your imagery conveys that. While I see the branch symmetry is similar this individual IMO appears larger and a bit older than it's sister, again it's just an opinion. To me the granite face in the background does imply ancient age, but this oak will outlast me ( the leaf ) so in the scheme of time I stand outside of it's permanence. Apparently you listen well and understand the language of trees, I hear them too.


Paul

Lon,

Misunderstood your image references I can see the little sister reference when I link from your post. My comment references you last tree post. Anyway the comment does relate to your tree themed series.

Your personal take and as always a fantastic look to these trees, Lon. Truly unmistakable in review of an entire page of thumbnails, these are easily picked out as images needed to be seen at a much larger scale. With overall technology advancements it would seem not too many years in the future we will be reviewing these wonders on Full Screen HD.

Think of that in the human context..... I'm but a leaf.

An outstanding analogy of the life cycle we experience here on planet earth.

Lon this is wonderful.
I love the colors and the textures.

It goes without saying, that tree has great structure! I like the highlites on the near silhouettes to show that off extremely well. It's the blues in the background, and the orangy golden leaves still hanging on that really make this for me. As mentioned before, this is instantly recognizeable as an "Overacker". I'm also glad you have a good sense of the reality of life and the bigger picture. You know, referring to yourself as a piece of compost and all!!!!

Chris

Hi Lon, I love this shot, it's as if color were raining from the tree.
A Beauty

What I really enjoy Lon about your photography is the fact that it's so compact and intimate. It's the exact opposite of what I'm looking for at the moment. Really great shot.

I viewing this at work on a lousy monitor, but it looks really nice. I like the gold/brown leaves - gives it lots of interest. Also like how you can see through this to the walls beyond.

Beautiful framing with nice touches of color, I find a lot of interest in the background too Lon.

I don't know how I missed the previous image the first time around but they are both amazing pieces of work. Pure art, as others have said. If I absolutely had to chose I would say #2, but only by an hair. I think the bg does it.

I will never ever stop loving granite rock wall backdrops.

Interesting to compare the two. Prefer the color of and the pop of leaves. Another great portrait of a tree.

It seems as if you have some sort of kindred relationship with your trees Lon. I do love the pop of color here and your framing is really good.
When were drawn to things we love they just look soo good.
Thanks for sharing

Another stunner, Lon. That was some special time we had in the park.

- Dan.

Lon just came back from Yosemite and am doing some catching up on views. great look of this tree, I especially love the format for the way the branches move out to the sides of the image and fill in the composition. Great work as always here.