Baobab Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Baobab (German: Maulbeerbaum) at the border between Namibia and Botswana

Common Name: Baobab
Genus: Adansonia
Species: digitata

The legend of the baobab is that "The baobab was among the first trees to appear on the land. Next came the slender, graceful palm tree. When the baobab saw the palm tree, it cried out that it wanted to be taller. Then the beautiful flame tree appeared with its red flower and the baobab was envious for flower blossoms. When the baobab saw the magnificent fig tree, it prayed for fruit as well. The gods became angry with the tree and pulled it up by its roots, then replanted it upside down to keep it quiet."

Jakab, leo61, maloutim, emjleclercq, paura, besnard, Bluejeans, ChrisJ, JanD, belido, alvaraalto, Cricri, Deepforest, Wandering_Dan, UlfE, Sistercosmo, Budapestman, gracious, josepmarin, Graal, danos, Emile, al-Farrob, JCG, saylan-cb, pierrefonds, bracasha75 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

besnard (30526) 2008-12-09 2:51

Bonjour Achim
Une très belle image avec cet arbre typique de la région et qui est bien positionné dans le paysage.
Merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

snunney (34684) 2008-12-09 2:54

Hello Achim,
I like the muted tones in this interesting composition where this wonderful tree is given pride of place. The scene has great depth over the plains behind.

ymrk (8637) 2008-12-09 3:18

Hello Achim;
Good lonely trees compo.Nice idea with wonderful landscape.
Contrast,lights and brightness balance is superb!
Good work!
Have a nice Tuesday,

YAĞMUR

Bluejeans (32053) 2008-12-09 3:19

Ola Achim ,
Que linda árvore esta Baobad , a paisagem de funda e magnifica os tons de verde com os animais a pastar , bom enquadramento da foto , belo ponto de visão ,parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

AiresSantos (41920) 2008-12-09 3:20

Hi Achim
Fine view of the Baobab in the border between Namibia and Botswana.
Excellent POV and details. I like how you framed it and the tree on left side. Nice details
Have a nice day
Aires

ChrisJ (70099) 2008-12-09 3:29

Hi Achim

Superb graphism of the dark, solitary baobab against the lighter sky, with good sharpness & colour. Tfs!

JanD (14707) 2008-12-09 4:03

Howdy JFK!
Wonderful lonely tree. Amazing landscape. Good perspective and very good composition. Nice frame.
Regards!

belido (16341) 2008-12-09 4:07

Hi Achim,

very beautiful and strange tree. I think we can only that in Africa...fantastic natural scenary and great job on the compo. Well done!
Regards,
Carlos

mesutilgim (36657) 2008-12-09 4:25

Hallo Achim,
WUnderbare Szene, gutes Standpunkt und tolle Informationen. Habe selber wieder was dazu gelernt.
Danke schoen und
mfg
MESUT ILGIM

alvaraalto (5231) 2008-12-09 6:11

Hi Achim,

Good documentation with this attractive picture.
Indeed it looks like roots instead of branches.
Well chosen composition with the tree on the left side in front of the extensive plain.

Groet Rob

paura (38278) 2008-12-09 9:59

Achim,
Excellent composition to show the interesting tree. Amazing shapes.

Regards

Paulo

npecanhuk (13679) 2008-12-09 10:02

Hello Achim!
That tree is unique in its shape and size! It's impressive and beautiful! The composition helped to enhance its beauty and the whole picture looks very nice and pleasant!
TFS - Congratulations!
Warmest regards,
Neyvan

Cricri (43030) 2008-12-09 12:29

Hi Achim
Une forme étonnante de cet arbre avec une vue toute en douceur du paysage, belle légende...
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

marietom (31802) 2008-12-09 12:33

hello Achim,

Wonderful, thos baobab (I like this tree)
Nice composition.
bonne soirée
Marie

Deepforest (8813) 2008-12-09 12:45

Hi Achim,
I remember very well this baobab (and its neighbours) at the border between Namibia and Botswana as well as that amazing landscape of Chobe river valley. Good framing and nice natural colours. Great atmosphere.
Best regards,
Andrzej

Wandering_Dan (3211) 2008-12-09 12:50

Hi, Achim -

Kind of a gray day for September in Botswana. Nice shot of the tree fg with the meandering water behind it; it gives a good sense of the landscape there.

Best,
Dan

UlfE (8955) 2008-12-09 12:54

Hi Achim,

Excellent shot with the impressive baobab against the sky and the African plain below. I really like the hazy atmosphere and the natural colours of the photo. Very well seen and a really great photo job. TFS and have a nice evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

Sistercosmo (2571) 2008-12-09 13:57

Hallo Achim,
terrific photo and an amazing note!! Yes, it looks like the gods were angry and this tree is indeed planted upside down! The grey sky seems to emphasize the tragedy, but still, the photo is rich in color and sharpness. Great shot!
Thanks, I just learned a lot!
Viele Grüße
Linda

pablominto (40488) 2008-12-09 23:38

Hello Achim,

The famous tree is of course the eye-catcher here!
It i amazing to study the details in the tree, and I wondering how this shape is efficient in the survival of this particular species...
A well composed presentation, good balance and a fine feeling of depth!

Greetings,
Pablo -

danyy (68572) 2008-12-10 0:12

Bonjour Achim,
c'est un arbre impressionnant, avec une certaine majesté et ta photo le place ici en dominateur de la savane.
Best regards.
Daniel.

mauro61 (15270) 2008-12-10 1:32

ciao Achim,
l'immagine dell'albero decentrato per aprire lo sguardo sulla savana è molto ben composta e gradevole.
I colori tenui legano l'immagine all'ambiente africano molto bene, bravo
buona giornata
maurizio

Budapestman (41618) 2008-12-10 3:00

Hi Achim,
Amazing landscape with superb composition. The tree in the foreground is beautiful detail, the atmosphere is romantic. Superb shot. Have a nice day!
George

giorgimer (21034) 2008-12-10 5:21

Hi Achim,

I like the impressive shape of this tree. Maybe we lost some details in the darker parts.

TFS

Gio

gracious (20017) 2008-12-10 9:30

Hello Worldtraveller,
Very interesting story about Baobab and the nice image of the tree with a good distance view of Botswana!
I liked the shape of the tree as if planted upside down according to the legend!
many thanks
Tony

josepmarin (33785) 2008-12-10 11:33

Hallo Achim,
This impressive baobab is the great protagonist of your composition, with the deep and beautiful African landscape in background, under a slight mist that creates a very special atmosphere.
Good work.
Friendly regards,
Josep

Graal (57717) 2008-12-10 22:47

Hi Achim,
amazing old tree of baobab, fine composition and nice landscape in BG. Good African reportage. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

danos (32250) 2008-12-11 9:43

Hello Achim,
what a nice a strange tree for my eyes from Botswana!The baobab tree is really impressive as its legend is.Informative your note as the landscape view of the scene.Well done.

Regards,Danos

Emile (19901) 2008-12-12 15:16

Hola Achim.
Interesting tree, I think is only found in Africa, Madagascar, and Australia. Your composition is good with the tree off center creating a good perspective with the plains. The inclusion of the river and the animals are a good add to your shot. Nice soft colors and very good POV. Thank you for your note.
TFS.
Best regards.

al-Farrob (683) 2008-12-12 15:17

Excellent document as well as good composition.
Thanks for sharing

JCG (25173) 2008-12-16 7:24

Hi Achim,

This giant overhangs the African plain with pride. A very beautiful composition, carried out with much balance. These buffaloes which we see downwards have of the place to move !!! Pretty and interesting photograph, thank you Achim.

With all my friendships and a very good end-of-day,

Jean-Charles

Angshu (33585) 2008-12-16 19:45

Hello Achim
These trees are amazing! Like the framing with the massive girth of the baobab on the left looking down at the valley to the right, with the tiny cattle on the other side of the stream. Good work!
Best Regards
Angshu

emjleclercq (14243) 2008-12-18 0:29

Very nice tree, and excellent depth. The little animals in the background are very usefull here as far as the depth is concerned.

All the best,

Emmanuel

maloutim (3939) 2008-12-21 23:02

Hi Achim!
My husband has just come back from Madagascar with photos of baobabs and that legend which goes with it! In Madagascar, the branches look even more like roots; I'll send you one in WS!
I like the close-up focus on the great tree in the foreground against the pastel colours of the savanna in the background. The grazing cattle give it a look of peacefulness, and the presence of the stream is pleasing! At least, it's a place that didn't suffer from drought at the time of the photo. Does it sometime suffer from it?
Anyway, it's a nice, interesting picture despite the grey sky!
Merry Christmas and a happy 2009 with lots more? countries to visit!
Best wishes!
MarieLouise.

[workshop] [compare]

leo61 (43282) 2008-12-21 23:16

Hallo Achim!
Diese tollen Bäume kannte ich bisher nur von Madagascar Bildern.
Hier hast Du ihn schön in Szene gesetzt und mir gefällt der dunstige Hintergrund.
Schöne Weihnachten und tolle Reisen in 2009!
Gruß,Leo

saylan-cb (12726) 2008-12-25 14:48

Hi Achim,
Very interesting tree!Very nice capture and good composition.
Well done.
Happy christmas.
Regards

pierrefonds (26137) 2008-12-30 18:10

Hi Achim,

The point of view leads our eyes toward the other side of the field ehich is giving depth to the photo. The baobab is well placed in the composition. The intensity of the light is enhancing the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

Jakab (3458) 2009-01-01 14:53

Hallo Achim,
eine gute Aufnahme von einer der merkwürdigsten Baumarten der Welt, die flache Landschaft bietet einen angenehmen Hintergrund. Die hübsche (und treffende) Legende ist ein Bonus.
Viele Grüße
Laszlo

bracasha75 (22009) 2009-01-12 14:38

Halo ACHIM
Dieser Baobab ist nicht all taglich und ich finde das baum sehr interesant,da must mann kein sonnen auf oder untergang bei bringen,das baum aleine ist hoch interesant
Gutes foto
Bratislav!!!!!!!!!!

darek1978 (11165) 2009-04-27 8:29

Hello Achim,
An interesting picture... The tree (baobab) seems to be tired of figthing against the nature.. especially winds I think. Excellent composition. Well done!
Regards,
DArek

jmdias (19097) 2009-07-01 7:40

achim

this tree has a relative here in Brazil, I have 2 images of a tree of the same family in my gallery, anyway this one is impressive cause its huge trunk. beautiful framing, the shapes of the tree made a nice contrast with the greenish area around

hugs

jorge

Photo Information

Copyright: Achim Fried (John_F_Kennedy) (31229)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-09-27
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon IXUS 960IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Map: view
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: 2008/09 South of Africa
Theme(s): Achim's favourites of Africa, Achim's virtual travel to 108 countries, part 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-12-09 2:41