This image entitled "Early Morning Glow" was taken at sunrise near Webster, Florida.
Jim and I were invited to join a couple of friends, Ron Caimano and Wayne Bennett from the Orlando Camera Club, to go out and take some shots of tree canopies. Ron and Wayne have been to this same location several times before and thought that we might enjoy the trip. They were not wrong.
The tree canopies were live oaks covered with spanish moss and they were wonderful to photograph. Our first stop was to capture the sunrise in a field and one lonely tree caught my attention. I loved its shape and the way the branches spread out at the bottom.
Once I returned home, I quickly uploaded my photos and went straight to the tree. I started out with my basic post-processing and then I added two textures to bring out the sky and then added a little glow to highlight the fog along the ground.
I have been fascinated with trees my whole life. I used to climb in my grandparents' tree when I was young and read my books. I loved being high above everything else and looking down. Trees were a challenge to climb and a safe, cozy place to be.
My favourite trees are Jack Pines. I fell in love with them when I was first introduced to the Canadian painters known as the Group of Seven. This is also where I saw Tom Thomson's painting entitled "The Jack Pine". Tom's painting of trees made a lasting impression on me. There is something about the shape of the branches that fascinates me. Each tree has its own character, personality and story. When I photograph trees, I try to find trees that tell a story.
I hope one day to have photographed enough trees to make a book or have enough images to do a showing about trees. I guess we will see.
I do know that I am not alone in this quest. Beth Moon, a photographer based in San Francisco, spent the last 14 years in search of some of the rarest, largest and oldest trees on earth and has published a book with 60 duotone prints in a new book titled "Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time". Her images are very beautiful.
What are your favourites trees and why?
Judy Hardiman