3D flame tree! Photo

Photographer’s Note

Treasury Gardens in Melbourne has many fine specimens of trees, including many native to Australia. This is the Illawara flame tree (Brachychiton). It grows naturally in rainforest along the east coast of Australia, but has been planted as an ornamental tree throughout Australian cities. You can see why. In early summmer all its leaves are replaced by brilliant red flowers. The effect on a sunny day is dazzling.

If you shake your head from side to side while looking at the photo (as if saying "No!"), you may notice that the red tree seems to take on a 3D effect, standing in front of the background. (Not everyone will perceive this effect). This is a well known optical efect that happens when bright red is placed next to deep blue or green.

Scanned from a slide. Polarising filter used to bring out the blue of the sky and the red and green of the vegetation. I couldn't get a good photo with blue sky behind without having cars in the picture, but they are not too distracting.

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Critiques | Translate

mzmehr (917) 2006-07-01 5:45 [Comment]

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Matthew-Watt (4475) 2006-07-05 0:12

Hi Vincent,
I like your image but I think that it was a little dark and lacking in colour/contrast, so I did a little workshop. Overall, I think that your image consists of a nice subject and a nice rich sky. Shame about the cars. But well done.

[workshop] [compare] +

jdwyer264 (1082) 2006-12-06 13:05

I would normally say that the cars distract from whatever was the main focus, but here that just isn't true, the colour of this tree does nothing but intrigue. The consistency throughout is incredible.
Well captured.
See what you think of my recent tree post, sadly has less colour, but it was hardly likely to have more colour I guess.
TFS