Lon's Tree!

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 23, 2011417 views29 comments

I consider NPN to be an invaluable resource of inspiration, encouragement, and support. I'm sure every memeber here shares the same sentiments. Wherever I am as a photographer is directly influenced by my participation here. While I'll be the first to admit that I have a ways to go, I think it's fairly safe to say that I have come a ways too. I just want to express the appreciation I have for this site, and the folks I've gotten to know here over the years. If not for NPN, I probably would never of had the desire to venture to the places I have since being so inspired to do so by so many of you. I have had the opportunity to meet some of you and become friends. I also consider everyone to be a friend, that I'd love to be able to meet along the way.

I take this occasion to thank an individual that has supported, encouraged, and mentored me along my way. You should recognize this tree as Lon's Tree! While loosing to the temptation to shoot this tree, I tried to do something with it that makes it somewhat my own. It's tuff cause he's got his signature on a lot of Yoemite's trees. I hesitate to dedicate this to Lon, in hopes that it's a worthy dedication. But I feel that it's time to give credit where credit is due!

Lon,
Thanks for all the helpful insights, the courteous criticisms, and the friendship. You surely inspire me, and all of us here with your beautiful images. I hope you don't mind me shooting your tree! Thanks NPN!

Probably should look at the larger one.

Chris

Comments

29 comments

Comment posted by Edward Nunez on January 23, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Chris... This is incredible powerful and beatiful! I love everything about it... I have seen you grow as photographer, I went my ways without coming to NPN for a bit, and when I came back I have noticed a new refinement in your photographs, and infusing a lot of your own in them. Congrats!

Registered on April 19, 2007, 65 Posts, 711 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Myers on January 23, 2011 at 10:44 PM

The muted tones and the great detail in this are beautiful. This has almost a stereopticon feel to it. Very nice tribute to both the man and the place.

Registered on September 1, 2008, 85 Posts, 757 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on January 23, 2011 at 10:50 PM

Beautiful winter scene Chris. I like the dusting of snow and the cliffs in the background. I completely agree with your thoughts on NPN. I joined just a little over a year ago and I'm amazed by how much I've learned and improved as a photographer.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on January 23, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Wonderful photo Chris. The hint of color make this very special and of course the composition is a classic.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on January 23, 2011 at 11:28 PM

Beautiful, and different, interpretation of this 'famous' tree (famous to us NPNer's at least). The conifer adds a fantastic counter balance to the curvature of the oak tree.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on January 23, 2011 at 11:43 PM

Lon is the zen master of trees, but you too have shared your opinions, thoughts and encouragements of my images so I count you among my "peers" (friends) as well. What comes through in your images and Lon's is your shared passion for nature; and photography is how we share it. The path through which we engage other photographers and the viewing "public" in our passion. The accolades are appreciated but the helpful suggestions are probably more valuable in that they help me become a better image maker. For me composing, setting the camera and taking the shot is just the beginning and most of what I've learned is mostly on the processing end. The "tree" is a part of this wonderful image kinda like a friend and mentor standing by your side, it doesn't dominate but adds it's essence to the whole. So as a homage to everything Lon means to you IMHO it is well done. Your not imitating but creating your own take and so making the image your own.

Paul

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laureys on January 24, 2011 at 2:47 AM

Beautiful Chris, I like the fog in the background, which looks really good in the larger version. excellent!!!

Registered on January 5, 2008, 590 Posts, 1261 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 24, 2011 at 4:40 AM

very elegant composition - well done.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Tal on January 24, 2011 at 9:17 AM

That's funny. My first thought when seeing the thumbnail was "this is Lon's tree!"

Kudos for giving him credit!
I love it under these conditions and the square crop works very well. A wonderful interpretation of this scene.

Guy

Registered on November 1, 2003, 566 Posts, 15507 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Marcellini on January 24, 2011 at 9:50 AM

Ha, thought it was Lon's from the thumbnail. I like the comp and definitely the atmosphere. Wouldn't want to be in it though!

Registered on November 27, 2007, 250 Posts, 2468 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on January 24, 2011 at 10:31 AM

I think it's fairly safe to say that I have come a ways too.

......

Chris, your self analysis or personal review of your own work is dead-on IMO. Seeing your work from the start to now has no doubt improved in a variety of areas. This is a somewhat ongoing process and path that many here at NPN have traveled.
I also wholeheartedly agree about your comments with regard to the support you might have received along the way, including those especially from Lon. He is without question the expert on where and how to shoot the valley area in YNP as you and many of us have witnessed here at NPN. I do also think all the moderators over time have grown in their overall ways of support and reviews as well. This would include all the categories and many of the previous moderators too.

This shot you've chosen to post here at this time is as good as it gets in all around quality of outdoor photography. Keep up the excellent work.

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on January 24, 2011 at 11:18 AM

Beautiful shot and lovely composition, and a very nice (and well deserved) tribute the Lon!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 24, 2011 at 11:43 AM

I think I recall this tree from Lon's images! Wondeful work here Chris, you made it your own with this rendition! The fog or falling snow in the bg simplifies things nicely, but there's enough structure and details in the fg to hold on to. Elegant as usual!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Richter on January 24, 2011 at 11:46 AM

A worthy homage!

Peter

Registered on November 10, 2010, 218 Posts, 2723 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on January 24, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Another beautiful shot from your outing. Nice comp and I really like the greens showing through the snow.
Your growth is measurable, as is most of ours. This forum, if one stays around and listens, will make you grow as a photographer. The evidence is here on these pages every day!

And yes, Lon "shall never see a poem lovely as a tree." Or for us, we shall never see a poem as lovely as one of Lon's trees.

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 24, 2011 at 12:21 PM

I think a lot of us have photographed his tree. Nicely done, Chris. NPN has been a great resource for me as well. I echo your comments.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on January 24, 2011 at 12:52 PM

Very beautiful photograph

Registered on January 29, 2010, 285 Posts, 4281 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 24, 2011 at 1:22 PM

Wow Chris, Thank You so much for the kind words. I know I have learned and been inspired so much by so many people here. The "pay it forward" value is what this community is all about.

Make no mistake Chris, this is your image. Yes, I have images of this tree and I still have another one to go to complete the series. BUT, this isn't my tree. It's nobody's tree, it's everybody's tree. This was your moment and your image to capture. The image is a beautiful one.

Thanks again Chris. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and watch you grow as a photographer. And please know that you are inspiring countless others with your work.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on January 24, 2011 at 3:18 PM

This looks great Chris, the comp is spot on with the larger tree framing the tree on the left perfectly.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on January 24, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Well done, Chris! I too have improved as a photographer since joining NPN.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Zack Clothier on January 24, 2011 at 5:40 PM

Great shot Chris, the dusting of snow and the leaning oak tree add so much to this scene.

Registered on January 28, 2010, 343 Posts, 2257 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 24, 2011 at 6:16 PM

Beautiful image and a fine and well-deserved salute to Lon. Your photographer has come along amazingly since I first met you in Yosemite. You consistently post extremely strong, strong images, including this one.

You probably should pay Lon a use fee for making an image of his tree, but knowing Lon, he would not take it (yeah, right).

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 24, 2011 at 9:11 PM

This is Christmas card perfect, Chris. Lon's tree. That's nice. Does that make it an icon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on January 24, 2011 at 10:02 PM

Wow, this is very nice, Chris. Great composition.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 24, 2011 at 10:19 PM

Magnificent image Chris. A wonderfully beautiful tribute to Lon as well as yourself! I love the contrast and minimal color.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Sieren on January 25, 2011 at 1:35 AM

Who would of ever thought such a minimal amount of trees and subtle colors could work so well together. Lon may be the Zen Master of trees but he also the mast of smart ass humor too!

Registered on January 2, 2008, 360 Posts, 5321 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on January 25, 2011 at 2:05 AM

I really like the graphic feel and subtle coloration here. The steadfast, erect conifer contrasted with the bowing " Lon's Tree" shrouded in mist and lightly dusted with snow is mesmerizing. As a new member of NPN, I also share your appreciation for this site, its members constructive critiques, sense of community, civility, humor, and.......really good photos!

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on January 25, 2011 at 3:27 AM

It's been amazing to see the evolution of your work over the years Chris. This is the pinnacle so far...

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 25, 2011 at 1:12 PM

Hi Chris, I want to add this here for the public: Your progress has been amazing in the last years, and even better, nowadays you consistently publish top notch work here which is among the best in the ESS gallery in my opinion. Your personal development as photographer here on NPN is a great inspiration. Keep it up my friend!

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments