Bahamas - ambitious tree Photo

Photographer’s Note

my first encounter with Ficus benghalensis or the banyan tree. I've seen on this site a detailed explanation how this tree starts its life as a seedling growing on another tree, where a fig-eating bird has deposited the seed, how the roots descend over the trunk of the host, seeking out the soil below, how the host eventually dies and rots away, and how the tree develops aerial roots from branches, which allows a single tree to spread over a large area.

I wasn't really surprised to read that Robinson Crusoe, in the 1719 novel by Daniel Defoe makes his home in a Banyan tree. Or, come to that, to imagine that this would be the tree the Pequeninos from Orson Scott Card's series about Ender would plant in their friends. Haven't heard about Ender or Card? Go find them.

ViktorVaughn, lestans, skellywag, zmey, Starscream, plimrn has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

lestans (15452) 2007-04-15 9:34

Ciao Kristine!!

thank you for sharing this marvelous Banyan tree! I love them so much... I have a group theme about banyans and I put you picture in it.
Ciao!!

Livia

skellywag (887) 2007-04-15 11:11

Hi, this is an interesting tree but quite ugly. A very good shot though with the light playing through the roots of the tree. Regards, Jean

Kevin64 (138) 2007-04-15 15:57

I am drawn to the juxtaposing horizontals and verticals. You've done such a nice job framing the shot. Lovely.

Was this taken mid-day? I wonder if waiting till later would have softened the shadows so more focus feel to the actual lines of the trees.

UnTrained (0) 2007-04-16 4:38

Hi Kristine,
this one is worth viewing and capturing. Well done. It is really confusing my eye. TFS
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

shevchenko (9890) 2007-04-19 2:48

An amazing image of GIANT tree monopolite the land, good composition, good constrast.

Starscream (890) 2007-07-06 10:36

Hi Kristine,
Nice shot with good details and informative note.
You have managed light very effectively.
Thanks for sharing,
Christianna

crhieatt (5143) 2007-07-25 12:12

Kristine,
I can't say that I was at all familiar with these trees - they do look pretty interesting, and you've presented them well here in this amazing tangle of horizontal and vertical growth.
Regards
Colin

ViktorVaughn (1517) 2007-11-30 12:23

Well, now I can understand this tree. I have seen it in my travels, and remember it specifically in Cuba where there was a huge one with the roots hanging from everywhere. I like you choice of view here as it really shows just how it can take over. Very interesting!

zmey (7248) 2007-12-20 7:14

great capture of the tree "character" here. informative "trek-earthy" picture with great details. just a little something for scale is missing. you know what i mean ;) good note.

TFS

best,
k.

batalay (20876) 2008-11-17 6:27

Hello Kristine,

From the thumbnail, I thought this was going to be a banyan, but then I saw the Latin name which threw me. Remarkable view! Perhaps you've seen the ancient and colossal banyan on Maui. I imagine it is a hardwood, and one that would make sense to build your tree house. This is a busy busy view, that I like very much.

Warm regards, and have a good week.

Bulent

plimrn (19602) 2009-01-14 13:41

Hi Kristine,
Nice light and shadow play which gives better detail than I usually see. Usually the canopy is quite dense. I wonder if a hurricane has 'trimmed' the top foliage to let so much light.

While I've seen many banyan trees, including the one on Maui, I've never seen the 'victim?' seemingly still caught in the web. Or perhaps that long horizontal run is just another root?

Anyway, I find this quite a unique banyan perspective; the note is quite interesting as well. Yes, Ender is quite good. I got it as an audiobook - great for long drives or plane rides.

HLJ, Pat