JYPAMH 88

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted December 1, 2012976 views3 comments

Wandering wildernesses is one of the reasons that we do this photography stuff - or at least it is for me. It is sometimes difficult to escape the "hand of man". People seem to have an irresistible urge to leave their mark wherever they go. In 1988, I assume, someone carved some letters - perhaps in declaration of adoration for someone else - on the trunk of this massive beech tree somewhere deep in the woodlands in the Lesser Caucasus of the Republic of Georgia (where I was in April/Map this year). However, the backlit spring leaves and atmosphere of the woodland made for some special light.

Thanks for looking; the L A R G E R version should be viewed for added detail!

Hasselblad 500C/M, 150mm lens, tripod, Ilford Delta 100 b&w film.

Comments

3 comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on December 1, 2012 at 1:24 PM

The larger version really does show off the great detail in the tree and forest. I agree Stuart, it is perplexing what goes on in some peoples minds that they would deface something for their own vanity. It's interesting though how that perception can shift over time. There is a National Monument in New Mexico called El Morro which has some Anasazi ruins dating back to around the 1200's but also features a large rock monolith with a spring-fed pool at its base that has petroglyphs and pictographs carved into the rock starting over a thousand years ago, then when the Spanish first explored the area in the 1500's they left their names and dates on the wall, followed by US Army explorers, and settlers after them. The same kind of graffiti etched into this tree is now considered a national landmark because of how it depicts the history of the various peoples that passed through the area.

That being said, in this day and age people should have more respect and not do this...

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Battreall on December 3, 2012 at 12:30 AM

We recently had someone spray paint the OM symbol on trees through the woods, obviously they had know idea what the symbol means (Its a Hindu symbol). I don't understand people, though usually its youth and I must say did some stupid things when I was a teenager.

Registered on August 29, 2007, 24 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Smith on December 31, 2012 at 7:53 PM

I agree, but I do believe that the initials and such adds to the story of such an image. Why people do it is beyond me. I assume it has to do with they want to be remembered. But, this is a great image and does a great job of showing the details of the forest in which this was found.

Registered on November 21, 2012, 16 Posts, 107 Comments