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Can You See Me, Now?
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Can You See Me, Now?

by Preston Birdwell

Gallery: LandscapePosted July 20, 2011262 views16 comments
This is an Alder tree near Happy Isles in Yosemite. I have seen this tree many times, and the light was just right for an attempt.

What I find interesting is how the tree appears to have camouflaged itself with lichen and moss, and the bark is so close in color to the granite.

I am most interested in your thoughts on this image.

Tachihara 4x5
Astia 100F
Schneider Symmar-S 210mm
May 2011

--P

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on July 20, 2011 at 5:21 PM
Very unique shot in a special setting. I think I would prefer it even more without the bottom or without the boulder in the right hand corner. It's awesome how the tree blends right in with the background. Well done Preston. Great find.
Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments
Comment posted by Harley Goldman on July 20, 2011 at 6:09 PM
This is an excellent take on this spot. Dean's comment is interesting, as the other times I have seen images of this locale, they have been without the foreground. I like the depth the foreground gives the scene. I find it neither worse or better, just a nice difference to enjoy. Well done, Mr. Birdwell. I like it.
Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Teller on July 20, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Very unique image. I like the effect of the tree blending in with the rock. As for cropping, I think there are other possibilities here and worth experimenting with.
Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Bristol on July 20, 2011 at 6:55 PM
Preston, this is very interesting. It really is amazing how this tree has blended in so well with the rock with the lichen and moss. I really enjoy looking at this! I believe it is fine as it is, but I especially like the feel even better with about 1/2 of the big boulder cropped off coming up from the bottom. I just did it with a scroll crop rolling it down as far as I could. Thought it looked good that way, but you might prefer it just as it is. Excellent shot!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Amazing. Who would think a tree would need camo. I agree with the bottom crop suggestions but I'm liking this fine as is. Really special and unique
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Overacker on July 20, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Preston,

This image came out really well. And along the lines of Harley's thinking, for those not familiar with this setup, this IS a unique capture here and I really like the sense of place that your composition provides. Sure, there are many togs who have captured this just including he trunks, lichen and granite (including yours truly) but you've done something different here - and you've captured it quite well.

The color, contrast and sat all look good and quite natural.

I guess I won't share mine now... :rolleyes:

Lon
Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments
Comment posted by Eva McDermott on July 20, 2011 at 8:07 PM
Beautiful image Preston and I like it as is since it bottom puts the whole scene in context. Without the bottom rocks this would be an amazing abstract but that only came to mind after reading the other comments but I'll stick to my first impression.
Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lowe on July 20, 2011 at 10:58 PM
This is totally interesting, Preston. That tree has camouflaged itself perfectly with the BG moss covered granite. I think this would work either way; with or without the suggested crop. Great eye to spot this.

Ed
Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on July 20, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Cool! I like this kind of stuff. I think the foreground gives a sense of place over the total abstract. But I can see an abstract working well too! There's a couple spots I know of that have situations like this. One of them is near the viewing area of Lower Yosemite Falls.

Chris
Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments
Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on July 20, 2011 at 11:41 PM
Preston,

I think the additional elements in the frame add to it greatly and gives the photo a sense of place. While I think the abstract nature of just the tree trunks alone is interesting, it never really moved me. This one grabs me.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on July 21, 2011 at 12:04 AM
I like it either way Preston, but a crop is really cool!
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Vance Gese on July 21, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Really like your unique perspective in this composition, providing both depth and a nice graphic/abstract feel. Superb image, Preston, a superb image.
Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments
Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on July 21, 2011 at 10:19 AM
I almost passed this one up as the thumbnail did not appear to be terribly interesting. So glad I did not.

I would agree with the crop as the relation between rock and tree seem to be your central focus. The lower section does explain things a bit, but sometimes it's better to leave the mystery. A crop would really focus things.

By the way, AWESOME that you found something like this. Deserves way more comments.
Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 21, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Now even the trees are developing camo...what's the world coming to? This is really a neat capture that I think works very well as posted. I like the moss covered rock on the right and the bits of green at the base of the tree. For me they add a lot of contrast to what would be a very monochromatic image where it might be hard to separate the tree from the rocks behind it.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Anil Rao on July 21, 2011 at 11:49 AM
What a gorgeous photograph. A real visual treat.
Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments
Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on July 23, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Thanks for your comments, everyone! They are always appreciated.

I did look at different crops, and in the end decided to stay with the full frame image.

--P
Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments