Oak tree in the fog Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is my friend the oak tree. It is wonderful to sit underneath it and have a chat with someone you meet, or just sit in silence and enjoy, or read...
He is a beautiful centenary and surrounded by the ruins of the Abbey.

I know the composition is not very orthodox, but I just wanted to try how it would look to give the tree the center place in a very classical frame. Just trying out...

Simple conversion by desaturation, some contrast, kept lower part a bit dark to accentuate the foggy mood.
You will see more of it along the seasons...

Click here for a video of the surroundings.

And here for plenty of information on this place.

Sorry very busy these days, so today I will not write a more extensive note:-)

bombilla, rigoletto, mossphoto, Witam, Silvio1953, johnfreeman, Floydian, AiresSantos, MarianneS, isabela_sor, Matthew-Watt, plimrn, quillo, pattyis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

bombilla (3402) 2008-01-09 10:40

Hi, Michèle. The juxtaposition of the great tree before the cloister is a beautiful one. Two ways of getting closer to the divine, I suppose. One is to lock yourself up and pray. The other is to commune with "your friend," the oak tree. And then, of course, the Abbey, a mortal construction, lies in ruins, while the tree grows before it, full of life. I like the idea and the way it comes across in here. And the photo is beautiful. The conversion is nice. Best, -Hugh

Norte (531) 2008-01-09 10:46

Good evening Michele!
Thats a mighty and impressive oak, at least to us living in an area where trees dont grow so high! The fog is a very nice background for the branches and the shot is sharp and crisp.
TFS
Regards, Jon

pk4dk (368) 2008-01-09 10:48

Great contrast. Sharp and excellent POV. Outline of church is soft and compliments the dark crisp oak.

rigoletto (27060) 2008-01-09 10:53

Hi Michele,
Unorthodox compo in a Gothic taste...
A cinematographic presentation of this bare tree in fog.
Full of dreams and nightmares, i could nearly count the ghosts around. Very impressive. Just go on pushing the button. I love them all...
Cheers,
Deniz

ps: Thanks for Cummings. I loved it :)

Seb82 (2465) 2008-01-09 10:56

salut michele
Voisin de galerie aujourd'hui! et ta photo me plait bien , avec cette ambiance mysterieuse , à l'instar de la mienne , mê me si le style est different... j'aime bien ton choix sepia!
Bonne lumiére egalement!
Bravo
SeB

mossphoto (604) 2008-01-09 11:00

Michele-

Nice conversion of a nice photograph.

Your discussion denotes a peaceful spot.

However, your have created a bit of tension here in a couple of ways. The close cropping creates the tension, as does the fog and B&W in the image. This is not a criticism.

Nice shot, please continue to post.

Thanks for the note!

~V~

ifanik (20686) 2008-01-09 11:01

Hi Michele
Very beautiful photo very nice atmosphere
Ilike very much the b/w
Best regards
Nick

mirarer (4449) 2008-01-09 11:02

Hola Michele,
Me gusta como se perfilan en la niebla cada una de las ramas de este espléndido roble y esa atmósfera misteriosa que le añade las ruinas de la abadía.
Amicalement,
Mirari

Witam (75) 2008-01-09 12:12

Even though it's misty, it's in b/w it doesn't have a scary feel, but it presents a hopeful feeling (probably because of its composition). Very nicely done.

xavis (3176) 2008-01-09 14:25

Hola,
great this oak tree, and well done, with this mist and the conversion to B&W you gives a very special atmosphere.

Bravo,
Hasta la vista,

Javier

PS: I take your picture for my theme: "Lonely tree",... thanks,...if you are agree ;-)

Clementi (45793) 2008-01-09 15:36

Ciao Gru ,
bellissima immagine , grande albero grande foto , mi piace molto la luce alle spalle dell'albero ne evidenzia i rami molto bene .
ottimo l'uso del b&n .
complimenti
Giorgio

Wahclellaspirit (3017) 2008-01-09 19:49

Bonjour MichEle,
I think the Oak Tree should be placed in the center of the image as it is the strongest element in the scene. The cemetary is an interesting backdrop to sit under this great old tree.
An excellent capture with the fog...
I see you like your new camera!
Steve

johnfreeman (2222) 2008-01-10 8:06

Hi Michèle,
Yes, trees can be great friends, can’t they? I have several that I visit occasionally…
I like your composition very much. The close crop on the tree really brings out its structure and it’s very crisp, particularly at the edges. The superimposition over the ruins of the Abbey is very effective, particularly the way the mist helps separate the two layers – the tree well defined, the abbey ethereal. Placing one thing in front of another might create visual confusion, but here it works perfectly.
You did a very good job with the conversion, thanks for providing the info.
I look forward to seeing more pictures of your oak tree.
Take care,
John

Silvio1953 (43362) 2008-01-10 9:53

Ciao Michele, bellissima imponente, con la splendida cattedrale a far da sfondo avvolta nella nebbia, splendido inconro tra un monumento della natura ed uno dell'uomo, compsizione affascinante con grande atmosfera, brava, ciao Silvio

culp (224) 2008-01-10 13:29

Nice job.
After ready the notes I almost felt as though the tree might wrap its arm around and hold you for a moment and give you that peaceful feel.
The fog is a great add to the photo. Almost mysterious looking. Very well done.
You have a very unique eye.
Look forward to seeing more
Pamra

parpali (2578) 2008-01-10 13:32

hello michele;
Very beautiful photo very nice atmosphere..

zeynep

ninaL (19644) 2008-01-10 14:20

J'aime beaucoup cette image, Michèle.
Très onirique, très belle, du genre qui élève nos sentiments.
Un très beau traitement, aussi.
Amitiés, Grazyna.

lousat (16420) 2008-01-10 16:01

Salut Merline et mercide partger cette impressionante phot riche d'amosphere et mystere,vraiment un grand travail,bonne journee',Luciano

sagar (2307) 2008-01-10 23:43

Hi Michele,
This is an example of how a simple subject can be made to look wonderful if one has the eye of a photographer!!!!Wonderful shot this. A very dreamy ambiance.
The oak tree with the deemly seen tower in the mist is a real beauty to behold.
Regards,
Sagarneel.

Floydian (30970) 2008-01-11 0:35

Hello Michele,
A majestic tree, fills the whole screen and looks old and impressive. Enahnced by your b%w treatment it even stands prouder in the city. Your setting and toning is very nice. You have a very good and sharp lens. I never had that one, but it looks impressive. There's only one problem, you can never go back to a cheaper piece of glass, you clearly see the difference it makes...so it will cost you in the future when you want to buy more glass ;-)
Regards, Henk

wolf38 (13153) 2008-01-11 2:18

Hello Merline. A typical day in December. The lighting effect in your black-and-white photo is somewhat completely special. The sky is pale. The articles disappear in the distance. One sees nearly only the outlines. In the picture the tree dominates. The church appears only transparency. The photo is an interesting and worth seeing light study. Best regards, Wolfgang.

mesutilgim (37555) 2008-01-11 10:40

Hi dear Michele,
This capture is really a masterpiece ! Both pov and compo is great.
Nice control of greys and light. Very good graphical effect; with the nice oak tree in the foreground and the foggy background.
Very well done !
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

AiresSantos (43250) 2008-01-12 0:31

Wonderful winter composition with this big tree, dear Michele !
Nice effect of the fog, very well framed and done
Have a nice weekend
Aires

marietom (32280) 2008-01-12 0:49

Salut Michèle,

Belle atmosphère, dans ton image d'arbre en contre jour. Dommage qu'il y ait quelques bâtiments que l'on devine à l'arrière, (j'aurais préféré sans).
Joli choix de noir et blanc.
Bon we
Marie

CatherineD (4860) 2008-01-13 4:11

Bonjour Michele,
Quel arbre magnifique! Et quel bon choix du noir et blanc. Je pense que c'est une bonne composition: on voit bien sûr d'abord l'arbre, mais ensuite la porte à droite, puis les ruines à gauche et enfin le clocher.
On voit presque arriver un moine avec sa grande cagoule dans l'allée... Je m'égare bien sûr. Mais c'est pour te dire que l'atmosphère est vraiment excellente.
Amicalement,
Catherine

MarianneS (14652) 2008-01-13 14:37

Bonsoir Michèle,
Il est majestueux ton bel ami le chêne.
J'aime beaucoup la façon dont tu l'as cadré, en lui donnant tout l'espace disponible.
Le ton blanc de l'arrière-plan participe de la dimension que tu lui donnes grâce au contraste.
Amitiés,
Marianne

cam (8880) 2008-01-15 19:19

Bonne année Michèle.
Une photo surprenenta, de cet arbre vénérable, dans son environnement quotidien. De la présenter ainsi devatn la cathédrale qui disparait dans la brume, le démarque très bien.Ceci le rend plus vivant et permet de bien dégagé son architecture naturel devant celle de pierre.

Original
Charles

isabela_sor (42727) 2008-01-17 0:49

Impressive tree and I like how it is all over ,ffull frame with so many branches
Verry well composed shot
Hugs

BoisBarb (9439) 2008-01-19 8:47

Atmosphère sombre et austère pour cette belle photo
BoisBarb

Matthew-Watt (4473) 2008-01-23 18:01

Hello Michele,

I wonder how many times this graceful tree has been photographed? This would be a beautiful photo to take several times each year as the seasonal changes bring about different leaf colours. I like the dark, even sinister feel to the lower portions of the photo and the looming tower to the left of the photo. The mist was a good element to have to control that almost spooky feel. It might have been good to get the very top of the branches in, but you have captured the majority of the tree which is good enough. A great shot, fully deserving of its attention!

Matt

quillo (7430) 2008-02-02 17:30

Hola Michele:

This is one of the best photos in B/W that I have seen lately, I me had gone unnoticed, but when I have opened it I have surprised him big silhouette of the tree with this misty fund that gives him to the composition this winter aspect that I like so much. It is a good work, congratulations.

Te deseo un feliz fin de semana.

Un abrazo.

-

waggs (609) 2008-02-03 7:01

Great shot!! I love everything the composition the choice of b&w, it's lovely. thank you for sharing!!

donluicu (23997) 2008-02-04 1:06

salut Michele
cet arbre est remarquable, et le n&b et le fog renforcent le coté ramifications, le cote lugubre..
ca rend bien

ciao

pattyis (1313) 2008-02-06 6:11

Hi Michèle

I like so much thi big tree with all the dark light.
B/N enphasize the location.
I like your note full of your emotions.

Have a nice day
Patrizia