White Oak (Infrared)

Gallery: LandscapePosted May 11, 20081,783 views28 comments

This oak tree at the Planting Fields in Oyster Bay NY is enormous and I've tried many times -unsuccessfully - to photograph it. This morning I got the camera down on the ground with the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye and made this image using a D100 converted to infrared. The limb coming off the left side of the trunk is about 18" in diameter to give you some idea of the size of this massive oak. 1/160 at f11 ISO 400 full frame.

Comments

28 comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on May 11, 2008 at 6:48 PM

That is totally stunning, Steve! One of the best IR shots I've ever seen. You couldn't have possibly picked a better angle and medium to work with this subject. Your experience photographing it prior certainly paid off here. You've captured its character in extrordinary fashion!

I believe I may have to get one of my old 5D's IR converted.

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

Comment posted by fernando brito on May 11, 2008 at 6:52 PM

Hi
Wonderfull and original scene, great capture!!!!

Fernando Brito

Registered on December 21, 2003, 124 Posts, 486 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on May 11, 2008 at 6:55 PM

Very neat! This has great mood to it, and is a great comp IMO.

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

Comment posted by Michael Anderson on May 11, 2008 at 7:36 PM

WOW Steve!!! AMAZING image. Incredibly evocative, beautifully composed with the wide angle perspective, and the processing is brilliant. One of the finest images of the year IMO!!!

-Mike

Registered on January 31, 2006, 228 Posts, 3072 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Lowe on May 11, 2008 at 7:40 PM

This rocks, Steve! I love the mood and your POV is perfect for capturing the massive size of this beautiful oak.

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

Comment posted by Leann Greene on May 11, 2008 at 7:42 PM

One of the most dynamic and unique and well executed photos I've seen. You've shown us what perseverence can result in.

Registered on January 25, 2006, 223 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Cliff Dodge on May 11, 2008 at 7:54 PM

Beautiful job! Nicely composed.

Registered on March 25, 2006, 125 Posts, 507 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on May 11, 2008 at 8:01 PM

Remarkable image Steve. I don't recall having seen a finer image of a tree or one I liked more.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Paige L. Christie on May 11, 2008 at 8:05 PM

Wow~! This is like an looking at an ancient dancer come to life! Great lines! Stunning tonal quality.

Registered on December 27, 2006, 42 Posts, 46 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Wegemann on May 11, 2008 at 8:13 PM

Absolutely stunning! This qualifies as one of my favorite images ever on NPN.

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

Comment posted by Rick Gomez on May 11, 2008 at 8:33 PM

Very cool shot! The thumbnail didn't justify the image at all! I'm glad I looked!

Registered on March 3, 2007, 206 Posts, 1853 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on May 11, 2008 at 10:06 PM

Very impressive image. One of the best tree images I've seen period. Love the perspective here.

Chris

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

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on May 11, 2008 at 10:42 PM

Even without the infrared this would be a stunner because it is so graphically strong, but the infrared puts this over the top. Excellent Steve!

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

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on May 12, 2008 at 2:30 AM

I love the gothic spiralling feel to this. Fantastic image.

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

Comment posted by Martin Bartsch on May 12, 2008 at 3:46 AM

Out of this world, such beautiful rhythm. Incredible capture Steve.

Registered on December 1, 2003, 80 Posts, 354 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on May 12, 2008 at 5:20 AM

Superb and very original piece of art work! The composition couldn't have been better. Excellent image!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on May 12, 2008 at 8:21 AM

What a creative and excellently composed photo. The massiveness and power of this tree is well conveyed. It is what I love about threes - their strength and power. I also like how the upper branches create some sort of vortex-like form.

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

Comment posted by David Cobb on May 12, 2008 at 9:37 AM

A great dynamic image Steve, wonderful use of the fisheye.

David M. Cobb

Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments

Comment posted by Ryan Shain on May 12, 2008 at 11:02 AM

Wow!!!

Steve,
This is an awesome IR capture. Your subject matter is just outstanding!!! The oak's structure is very awesoem,a nd the IR really brings the shapes out beautifully. Not to mention, that the power of this old oak is conveyed wondefully to the viewer.

AWESOM IMAGE

Registered on February 20, 2007, 226 Posts, 4571 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Zimic on May 12, 2008 at 11:26 AM

Thanks for all the comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the image as much as I did shooting it. Tis a grand old tree and worthy of the effort. Here's another view from the opposite side showing the immensity of the branches. How this tree and its limbs have withstood all the wind storms while others have toppled is a mystery to me.

Registered on November 23, 2003, 176 Posts, 727 Comments

Comment posted by David Fernandez on May 12, 2008 at 12:25 PM

I think that it's one of the best IR shots I've ever seen

Registered on May 4, 2008, 69 Posts, 668 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on May 12, 2008 at 6:54 PM

Spectacular image!!! Extremely cool perspective and with the IR, looks very surreal.

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

Comment posted by Eric Good on May 12, 2008 at 8:05 PM

What a beautifully envisioned and executed image. A fantastic piece of work in every respect.

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Dawson on May 13, 2008 at 1:55 AM

What a great angle and view.. Superb in infrared

Registered on February 4, 2006, 364 Posts, 8872 Comments

Comment posted by Jeremy Kessler on May 13, 2008 at 3:25 AM

Awesome. Great use of the fish eye lens.

Registered on September 13, 2007, 36 Posts, 1283 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on May 13, 2008 at 2:33 PM

Steve,

Incredibly powerful and beautiful image. All the adjectives I can think of wouldn't do this just. Simply impressive.

Lon

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

Comment posted by Laurent Baig on May 14, 2008 at 6:20 PM

Amazing image, Steve. This is really spectacular.

Registered on January 12, 2005, 206 Posts, 6784 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on May 19, 2008 at 6:17 PM

Oh my gosh! Astonishing to see this great tree! What a wonder you made of it too by you pov and by choosing IR! What a winner! Congratulations–

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments