Posted by Marc Adamus on March 23, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Dramaticly different from my last Bristlecone post, here I focused on a single, ancient tree and used the fast moving clouds to my advantage at twilight with a 30-second exposure. This particular tree is at least 10-feet in diameter and has likely surpassed 5000 years of age (it died well over 1000 years ago). No one image will ever capture these trees well. You have to see them for yourself!
Posted by beth summer on March 23, 2007 at 11:56 AM
AWESOME The sweeping clouds make this. I love the way the tree is reaching out to the skies and the B&W treatment is perfect here to ensure a "dramatic" mood.
Posted by Mark Hudon on March 23, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Yikes! I'm looking at the Tree God! Given that the print has more detail than this web version, I'd have to say that this is a pretty impressive photo.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 23, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Yeah, let me introduce you folks to the Tree God (good title, Mark). This tree was so old, so large, so indescribably magnificent that I swear it had it's own aura. This was captured in the Patriarch grove, and it is one of the top-10 or so largest Bristlecones I've ever seen. My thoughts on the dark B&W treatment and streaked clouds was to try and capture the almost otherworldly feel of the area, and of the tree itself.
Posted by Erik Lundh on March 23, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Pretrty spectacular there Marc. How did you get the branches of the tree to shoot out rays of clouds?
Posted by Andy Drumer on March 23, 2007 at 12:55 PM
This is just stupid it's so cool. I know you don't do the wierd fantasy stuff, marc, but in a dark red duotone, this might just kill someone. The dark blob of trees on the right is a tad distracting, but that's it really.
Posted by Ned Fenimore on March 23, 2007 at 1:10 PM
Incredible! "Defiant" comes to mind.. defiant to all the elements that have been thrown at it for milleniums...
Hitchcock should have also made a movie "The Trees", and then a sequel + sequel called "The Birds & Trees". This tree would have the leading role in both. Sweet image Marc.
Posted by Marc Adamus on March 23, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Glad you folks like this one. I thought it really brought out the charachter of that ancient tree. I'll be honest - this was like about 1 minute in PS, and I almost overlooked the image completetly (duh). I've since reworked the image from and it will eventually make its way to the main forum. It looks stronger still in the rework.
Wow, straight out of "Lord of the Ring." This is the grandaddy of the Tree People. You really captured the mood. Call it "Lord of the Trees." I can't offer any critique because I think it's perfect.
I wanna be like "Marc" The drama in this image is grand! Nice choice in the B&W treatment
Posted by Zack Schnepf on March 23, 2007 at 4:35 PM
Awesome Marc, so much drama in this.
Posted by Philip Kuglin on March 23, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Marc, this image pretty much captures my memories of the Bristlecones when I visited them when I was a kid. Much drama here and they deserve it since they are so special.
The big problem with them is they are quickly being destroyed by visitors cutting off pieces to take home as a souvenir. My dad who has visited this area for the last 60 years told me lately that almost 33% of the trees have been harmed. The destruction has accelerated so much at 80% of the damage has be done in the last 10 years. Unless something is quickly done the oldest living creatures will be gone.
Posted by Rick Lundh on March 23, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Tree God...Deciduous Overlord...hell, you could name this Wood and it would still totally rock! Stunning...
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on March 24, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Fabulous, Marc! This one is an order of magnitude more "wow" than Frozen Sunlight that I commented about.
Posted by Josh Anderson on March 24, 2007 at 7:52 PM
This is great Marc. I love the perspective of looking up and that sky is freaking sweet.
Posted by John Lehmkuhl on March 25, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Stunning shot, Marc. Really captures the awe and respect (being below the tree feels like you are bowing to the tree yourself) that these elders of this planet deserve.
Deliciously moody, I love it.
The tree is apparently known as "Methuselah". It looks like it has the face of a 5000 year old person too, so its fitting.
Discussion
18 repliesThe big problem with them is they are quickly being destroyed by visitors cutting off pieces to take home as a souvenir. My dad who has visited this area for the last 60 years told me lately that almost 33% of the trees have been harmed. The destruction has accelerated so much at 80% of the damage has be done in the last 10 years. Unless something is quickly done the oldest living creatures will be gone.
The tree is apparently known as "Methuselah". It looks like it has the face of a 5000 year old person too, so its fitting.