Edge of Time

Gallery: LandscapePosted August 30, 2011419 views12 comments

Taken this past weekend in the incredible White Mountains in Eastern, CA. This Bristlecone forest includes the oldest known trees in existence, some approaching 5000 years old! As sunset quickly approached, I aborted my original plan of shooting a different more iconic tree and simply climbed to the top of a thin ridge which eventually lead to this tree on the very top. In a perfect world, I would have been able to include more of the branches on the RHS, but there was a large distracting rock there along with branches from another nearby tree. Also, my dog was laying directly to my right and he wasn't very happy about the scramble up the steep, rocky ridge to get here, so I really didn't feel like disturbing him

Any comments and critique always encouraged and appreciated, esp. in regard to the RHS being cut off...

Tech Data:
Canon 5dmkii
16-35mm @17mm f/16
Single Exposure at ISO 320 (a bit windy up there) processed in PS CS4 using TK's masks

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on August 30, 2011 at 6:40 AM

I figured that there had to be something on the ride to force you into this composition. Aside from that great shot and lovely light and details on the tree.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 30, 2011 at 10:35 AM

Works for me. I like the colors in the tree and clouds and your composition.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on August 30, 2011 at 11:52 AM

Really nice shot Jared. the right side being cut off does distract a bit, but it's not a deal killer. I love the cloud color.

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

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on August 30, 2011 at 12:14 PM

This is excellent, Jared. It does perhaps feel a bit cut-off on the RHS, but otherwise it's a very strong image and I think only picky photographers (like me I suppose) will give the RHS a second thought.

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

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on August 30, 2011 at 12:50 PM

Beautiful light and colour Jared, cracking detail too.

Gary.

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

Comment posted by dean hebert on August 30, 2011 at 2:09 PM

I like the light and details, the cut off RHS not so much. It can be tough when nature doesn't co-operate.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Dean Sauskojus on August 30, 2011 at 4:10 PM

It would have been nice to have a little more on the RHS but you got enough of the main subject to involve the viewer. Not a deal breaker by any means. Beautiful warm colors on the twisted branches of the tree. One thing I would consider is toning down the cloud in the upper right so that it's not competing with those upper branches as much. Nice work Jared.

Registered on September 29, 2009, 137 Posts, 2659 Comments

Comment posted by Raymond Klassen on August 30, 2011 at 8:13 PM

Wonderful lighting and color, and good comp. I would prefer the whole tree, but this is definitely still a very strong shot. Nicely done.

Registered on November 30, 2008, 114 Posts, 790 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on August 30, 2011 at 9:56 PM

Simply amazing trees. The way it grows right out of the rock is pretty impressive, though, given that it's probably millennia old, it's original base rock may have simply eroded out from under it. Nice light.

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

Comment posted by Raymond Marlow on August 30, 2011 at 10:21 PM

great lighting on the tree, I see your point about the RHS but I think I would have given way to the dog also, nice image all around

Registered on October 15, 2008, 158 Posts, 531 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on August 30, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Beautiful light on this stunning subject, and I totally subscribe to the notion that you let those sleeping dogs lie especially after a rocky scramble. Great moment.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on August 30, 2011 at 11:57 PM

Jared,

This is an excellent take away from the Bristlecones. Although I'd like a little more spacing to the left to show more context of the location, I do like the inclusion of the tree in the LLC as well as the mountains beyond; it really helps give this a sense of place and to an extent the extreme location these trees live and grow. The composition is excellent overall and I do not mind the branches cut off on the right. You've got a nice complimentary sky and again, a great image from Bristlecone and the White Mountains.

Lon

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