Tree Removal II Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the image I've been waiting to post, taken from Bolinas Avenue in Fairfax. As I raised my camera the workman told me to step back, anticipating what would soon happen. A shower of sawdust exploded into the air as he powered up his chainsaw and began cutting through the main trunk of the huge tree he was taking down. Fortunately, none of the dust reached me where I stood and I was able to make this capture. You don't need to worry about sawdust at all, as you enjoy the image from the comfort of that chair, sitting before that computer screen.

I'll be taking a couple of days off to play and recharge my batteries. Hopefully, I'll return with some images of merit I can share with all of you. Have fun everyone!

Liora, Galeota, Rinie_Hoff, SophieL, pamastro, cmartos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Liora (1857) 2004-08-28 3:02

This looks almost violent... The faceless hand cutting into the live tree, an atmosphere which is enhanced by the B&W. Then again, I always was a bleeding soul.
The capture is very good - especially that sawdust that made me feel the movement and vibrations of the saw.
Make the best of your time off and take care.

Galeota (10334) 2004-08-28 3:26

If this is the one you've been waiting to post, this is also surely the one I've been waiting for from you. As Liora says, it might be interpreted with a rather violent symbolism. But I'm sure there's no "final cut" in it. The trunks seem like twins thorn apart, and those human hands seem without pity in the eternal victory of man over Nature. The sawdust, as well as the slightly blurred left corner are in perfect opposition to the right still part of the frame.

This is a great photograph Curtis, and I recognize here all the strength and talent you have already shown us in some of your previous photographs.

take care, and hope to read from you soon around here :o)

spence (1679) 2004-08-28 4:36

A nice gritty shot, Curtis - perfect in b&w. Really good timing to catch the sawdust spray. I hope your r&r is exactly that - restful and relaxing, and fun as well. See you soon back on TE.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2004-08-28 10:33

Hi Curtis, you,ve been wating to post, I've been waiting get a view, I agree with Gal. This is a very strong image, Curtis, because of the crop and the anger of the chainsaw, your use of B&W, the grain, and giving us the person without a head, the explosion of the sawdust, and the blur on it, which gives it the speed makes it a very good one, A symbolism of violence.
Thanks, and take care.

avigur_11 (21273) 2004-08-28 13:11

Excellent capture, Curtis. I like the use of b/w in this composition and the saw dust that bursts from the cut. Excellent narrow crop and a very good shot.

SophieL (6028) 2004-08-28 15:03

Interesting composition. Very harsh, violent with the grain and the two oblique lines of the tree that cut the picture.
That faceless cutter is a symbol, identity unknown like the masked exectutionner of old times : here to execute a sentence that he has not decided. What can he think as he proceed to that cutting? Does he mind at all, or is it just the repeat of an usual gesture, done mechanically?
I can almost touch the dust and hear the saw.

It's weird to have you leaving us with such a hard picture. Take care and have a good rest.

pamastro (7213) 2004-08-29 2:00

Nice capture. The grain of the shot really adds to it. It matches the action. And it's a well spotted shot and timed to capture the flying shreds of wood. This tight crop not showing the head of the person also adds to the strong nature of the shot. It's all well focused on the action rather than who is doing it or the surroundings. It all comes down to sharing the smell and sound and sight of the cutting. Nicely done.

cmartos (6086) 2004-08-29 4:36

What a picture, what a symbol. This is an excellent capture for itself, technically perfect, and with a very suited tight crop. For the rest, have a good rest and take care. I see no really violent symbolism here, rather a strong need of change. And this excellent image is suerly closer to reality than your last one.

wilkinsonsg (8646) 2004-08-29 5:34

Well cropped and works well in B&W :)

merpb (1970) 2004-08-30 7:29

A very punchy aggresive print perfectly captures the action and feel.
Nice tight crop adds to the dynanism.
Nice work Curtis

danbachmann (1684) 2004-09-01 14:41

Curtis, I know that sad feeling of when a big tree goes down. In a world where concrete, global warming and poluted air threaten us, how can this be happening? Photographically, this image is excellent. It is a photojournalism type image that grabs the viewer and pulls them into the story. I highly encourage you to offer your pictures to your local newspaper with your notes. Make a difference with your photography and preserve the goodness in your town. Or be silent and you'll have only smog and pavement to photograph. This image has bite and you should be proud of that.

Photo Information

Copyright: Curtis Grindahl (cgrindahl) (6109)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-24
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS, SanDisk Ultra II, Hoya Super HMC 72mm UV
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-08-28 2:49