Fairy Bonsai

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 12, 20111,910 views54 comments

I just returned from a very wet trip to the west coast of Vancouver Island. I came across this delightful scene while driving past Fairy Lake near Port Renfrew. I don't think a bonsai master could have done a better job at presentation. Hardest part was finding a clear view of the tree and stump without a bunch of shrubbery in the way.

Comments

54 comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on May 12, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Well that's a very cool catch. I'm going back and forth on the bg reflection has it seems a bit distracting. Not sure what lens you were using but maybe more bokeh would work...or perhaps sunrise/sunset colors behind. Either way the photo itself is enchanting. Nice

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on May 12, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Superb capture! I think it is stunning and, were it mine, it would be destined for a very prominent place on my wall.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on May 12, 2011 at 5:03 PM

This is quite cool! Is the line coming from the left side of the rock a log in the water? I am also curious where the shoreline is, above the tree? The viewing angle you have of the tree, I would have expected to see the shoreline. It is hard to tell how big this tree is. This is very unique, it leaves one pondering!!

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by Todd Liotine on May 12, 2011 at 5:13 PM

Stunning image, simple beauty yet really holds my eye

Registered on July 1, 2008, 131 Posts, 671 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 12, 2011 at 5:20 PM

Man, what a find that is. A stunning and elegant capture!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Patel on May 12, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Stunning composition and excellent execution.

Registered on August 28, 2008, 87 Posts, 566 Comments

Comment posted by Sarah Marino on May 12, 2011 at 6:18 PM

Adam - this is a really incredible image. The reflection adds so much interest - just enough to complement the overall simplicity of the scene.

Registered on November 10, 2008, 23 Posts, 393 Comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 12, 2011 at 6:20 PM

Wow, I have never seen anything like that. Just amazing Adam!

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on May 12, 2011 at 6:42 PM

Magnificent portrait of this tree Adam. The muted, abstract reflection works well as a backdrop.

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

Comment posted by Mark Metternich on May 12, 2011 at 8:18 PM

Adam, that is amazing!

Registered on June 19, 2009, 276 Posts, 6240 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ryan on May 12, 2011 at 8:33 PM

Really nice. The stillness of the water and reflection really adds to the image. Good catch.

Registered on June 29, 2008, 85 Posts, 636 Comments

Comment posted by David Schwaegler on May 12, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Great eye to see the potential and skill to pull it off. I like everything about it.

Registered on December 4, 2003, 232 Posts, 1652 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on May 12, 2011 at 9:14 PM

Sweet shot Adam. I really like this!

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

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on May 12, 2011 at 10:40 PM

What an eye you have, Adam. Very unique and beautifully rendered.

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

Comment posted by Bruce King on May 12, 2011 at 11:04 PM

Very cool Adam. Hard to get a sense of scale but unless that's a giant sequoia stump this natural bonsai is pretty miniscule.
Outstanding catch.

Registered on January 14, 2010, 276 Posts, 2212 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on May 12, 2011 at 11:35 PM

Absolutely a winner in my book Adam! Well done.

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

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on May 12, 2011 at 11:46 PM

I heard a lot about Vancouver
This work is totally beautiful
Love the Background

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on May 12, 2011 at 11:49 PM

Very very cool...

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Cram on May 13, 2011 at 12:15 AM

Pretty amazing! That nurse log's last great act of defiance, perfect.

Registered on June 4, 2006, 204 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 13, 2011 at 12:35 AM

Wow, this looks great. A fantastic find.

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

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on May 13, 2011 at 1:16 AM

You have got a winner in my opinion. I love everything about this and relating it to Bonsai is perfect as this is so very Japanese in tone, texture and ambience.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on May 13, 2011 at 3:42 AM

superb - very well seen and well caught!

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

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on May 13, 2011 at 4:36 AM

Teriffic shot what a great find and a wonderful use of the reflection beyond.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 13, 2011 at 5:51 AM

Fantastic shot. Really beautiful and meditative.

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

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on May 13, 2011 at 7:13 AM

Outstanding Adam!
Hard to tell what exactly I'm looking at, can you explain ?

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Cory Freeman on May 13, 2011 at 8:29 AM

This is a really cool find! My first reaction when viewing this is that I like it a lot. but I'm unsure if the bg causes too much tension for the image and the tranquil theme. I guess the blur of the reflection makes my mind think the water is moving fast which contradicts the absolute stillness of the plant and water, hence the tension and to my mind the upsetting harmony of the overall presentation. That's my take and just sharing thoughts. still a very intriguing stimulating imaging.

Registered on December 16, 2003, 107 Posts, 1341 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on May 13, 2011 at 9:02 AM

This is an evocative image, Adam. It is a subtle, but very powerful scene. Great eye to spot this.

Registered on February 7, 2004, 414 Posts, 7115 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Kayne on May 13, 2011 at 9:41 AM

Hey Adam. Excellence!!! I would bump up the saturation ever so slightly. J.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 573 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Pramod Viswanath on May 13, 2011 at 9:44 AM

Class image Adam. Reflection adds a lot to the frame.

Registered on December 4, 2008, 60 Posts, 697 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on May 13, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Adam - Very Zen like. I appreciate your simplification of a scene - no need for crazy sunrises or sunset light in your images - the composition and subtle lighting is all that you need. (Some crazy light is always good). Love your style.

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by R.Bill Moser on May 13, 2011 at 11:51 AM

Excellent. I love it.

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

Comment posted by Adam Gibbs on May 13, 2011 at 12:03 PM

Thanks all for your comments, I thought it might be a neat subject to post.

As far as the background and light go well, you know the old saying? You take what you can get. It would have been nice to visit this spot with some different light but like I said the weather was the pits. I'm hoping to go back to this spot again soon so perhaps I'll get some special conditions.

Matt, what you are looking at is a small sapling growing out of an old log (probably logged at some point) the log sticks out in the middle of the lake, kind of like exalibur. Here is another image that will perhaps explain better.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 168 Posts, 870 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on May 13, 2011 at 1:35 PM

Exquisite, Adam. Simple, delicate, stunning.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on May 13, 2011 at 2:04 PM

A very pleasing image indeed Adam, the saturation looks spot on. Has a very peaceful feel.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on May 13, 2011 at 3:28 PM

Wow factor is high here. One for the wall for sure.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on May 13, 2011 at 3:30 PM

Fantastic! I love the calming affect this has on me. Simple, but so complex at the same time.

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

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on May 13, 2011 at 6:41 PM

Very evocative image! A beauty, that's for sure.

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Roberts on May 13, 2011 at 6:58 PM

Absolutely stunning. The use of DOF and the treatment of the water is excellent. No nits from me because I'm greener than the image with envy. I spend a good bit of time on Prince William Sound every summer where there are many isolated trees growing on rocks out in the water. I've tried many times to produce something like this and never achieve the intended result. But you nailed it. As soon as I saw this post I knew exactly what it was/how it was set up. Really brilliant.

Registered on March 9, 2011, 69 Posts, 501 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on May 13, 2011 at 7:07 PM

What a great find, Adam! Beautiful image.

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

Comment posted by David Edwards on May 14, 2011 at 12:24 AM

A beautiful image, Adam. I like the way the rock and tree seem to imply horizontal movement whilst the bg offers a strong vertical movement. The added contrast makes the rock and tree pop from the image. Lovely framing and soft lighting.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 142 Posts, 2623 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Trinkner on May 14, 2011 at 8:51 AM

Incredible, love everything about this!

Registered on June 30, 2008, 203 Posts, 2641 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Dobrzanski on May 14, 2011 at 9:26 AM

Wow! What a really nice photo Adam. Beautifully presented bonsai!

Registered on September 27, 2010, 17 Posts, 164 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on May 14, 2011 at 12:03 PM

This is stunning! Thanks for providing some context with the second photo.

Registered on December 14, 2006, 58 Posts, 1888 Comments

Comment posted by Cindy Garwood on May 14, 2011 at 2:39 PM

What a Great Caputure and I love the Simplicity of it.

Registered on April 7, 2011, 46 Posts, 141 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on May 15, 2011 at 2:56 AM

Very unique, Adam. Loved the way the small plant stands out prominently. What makes this image special (for me) is that illusion of a motion blur in the BG (owing to water reflection).

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on May 16, 2011 at 2:20 PM

wow..this really is something. The tree is great, but the water reflection of forest around is top notch as well

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by Grant Collier on May 16, 2011 at 7:26 PM

Love the simplicity of this one!

Registered on July 29, 2005, 73 Posts, 430 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 18, 2011 at 7:47 PM

Really excellent - like the reflection as is, the comp, and everything about this.
Congrats on the great WP!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 19, 2011 at 12:08 AM

Adam: What a great find and a beautiful capture. Congrats on the WP.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on May 19, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Fantastic. What a wonderful photograph! Blew me away.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on May 20, 2011 at 1:41 PM

This is beautiful Adam! IMO the DOF is just perfect, a too smooth BG would have degraded it, but so would more detail. I have really enjoyed looking at this and will flag it and come back to it.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on May 22, 2011 at 3:05 PM

awesome!! congrats on Weekly Pick!

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Jean Day on May 25, 2011 at 9:48 PM

Truly beautiful. I love the reflection of the log creating a heart shape and the subdued forest reflections add a quiet calm to the image.

Registered on April 10, 2011, 36 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by James Campbell on June 23, 2011 at 12:42 PM

This is just a beautiful and surreal scene.. i love the way that all sense of scale seems lost - I can't figure out how big the tree is! Awesome

Registered on January 12, 2009, 48 Posts, 377 Comments