Gravenstein Memories - Apple Tree Gone Wild
Dec 10, 2017 22:21:43 #
Laurence68
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, WA
Fuji X-E1
Russian vintage lens - Helios Model 44-2, 58mm f:2 lens
Gravenstein apple tree gone wild, old Bunch family homestead, Quinault Valley, Olympic National Park. When I was a pre-teenager, we picked the apples for pies. No more apples now, it's just living out its life. Which, of course, makes ME pretty old too.
Taken at 2:02 pm three days ago, looking due south, a window of time when the very low December sun briefly lit up the meadow for about 10 minutes, illuminating through a low spot behind the hillside flanking the Bunch Creek Canyon in the background. In fact, the sun winked out behind the western flank of Bunch Creek Canyon on the far hillside at 2:12.
The brief sunshine sublimated the frost on the ground, creating a layer of ground fog, and the frost-laden lichens on the tree were dripping so heavily, that you could hear the "rain" up close.
This was sort of a "proof print" quickly shot with the X-E1 and Helios 44-2 in the middle of setting up a 6x8 medium format beast of a film camera - Fuji GX680 with 125/5.6 lens.
Worked frantically - with the Earth rotating rapidly in relation to the low-azimuth sun close to the shortest daylight of the year.
I did get the big camera up in time to take three or four shots. Had about 5-7 minutes left, including pulling the Fuji Beast out of the back seat of the car, getting it on the tripod, and mounting the 125/5.6 lens, remote release, PLUS loading a roll of Provia. Not to mention positioning, focusing, guessing about exposure bracketing (used digital shot as a rough guide), attaching remote release, and then actually taking and bracketing several exposures.
The sun was moving too fast to try different angles - actually the Earth was spinning, the sun wasn't moving, but you know what I mean.
Hoping the bracketed transparencies from the medium format camera turn out okay. I'll post them for comparison when I get them back in about a week.
Russian vintage lens - Helios Model 44-2, 58mm f:2 lens
Gravenstein apple tree gone wild, old Bunch family homestead, Quinault Valley, Olympic National Park. When I was a pre-teenager, we picked the apples for pies. No more apples now, it's just living out its life. Which, of course, makes ME pretty old too.
Taken at 2:02 pm three days ago, looking due south, a window of time when the very low December sun briefly lit up the meadow for about 10 minutes, illuminating through a low spot behind the hillside flanking the Bunch Creek Canyon in the background. In fact, the sun winked out behind the western flank of Bunch Creek Canyon on the far hillside at 2:12.
The brief sunshine sublimated the frost on the ground, creating a layer of ground fog, and the frost-laden lichens on the tree were dripping so heavily, that you could hear the "rain" up close.
This was sort of a "proof print" quickly shot with the X-E1 and Helios 44-2 in the middle of setting up a 6x8 medium format beast of a film camera - Fuji GX680 with 125/5.6 lens.
Worked frantically - with the Earth rotating rapidly in relation to the low-azimuth sun close to the shortest daylight of the year.
I did get the big camera up in time to take three or four shots. Had about 5-7 minutes left, including pulling the Fuji Beast out of the back seat of the car, getting it on the tripod, and mounting the 125/5.6 lens, remote release, PLUS loading a roll of Provia. Not to mention positioning, focusing, guessing about exposure bracketing (used digital shot as a rough guide), attaching remote release, and then actually taking and bracketing several exposures.
The sun was moving too fast to try different angles - actually the Earth was spinning, the sun wasn't moving, but you know what I mean.
Hoping the bracketed transparencies from the medium format camera turn out okay. I'll post them for comparison when I get them back in about a week.
Dec 10, 2017 23:01:01 #
Dec 11, 2017 00:21:28 #
Kudo's Laurence68! Great documentation as well!
Dec 11, 2017 05:45:57 #
Worth all the effort. The colours and detail are lovely and demand a longer look. Very nice composition and altogether one of the best pics I’ve seen for a while!
Dec 11, 2017 08:08:59 #
Very nice composition- colors are good, too. Overall, reminicent of Piet Mondrian's transitional works. Very nice.
Dec 11, 2017 10:43:51 #
Dec 11, 2017 10:45:14 #
StevenG
Loc: Long Island, NY
Laurence68 wrote:
Fuji X-E1 br Russian vintage lens - Helios Model 4... (show quote)
Great shot! Really nice subject. Nicely lit. Love the brightness of the tree, the color of the foreground and the softness of the background. It has an ethereal look.
Steve
Dec 11, 2017 13:37:26 #
Laurence68 wrote:
Fuji X-E1 br Russian vintage lens - Helios Model 4... (show quote)
Larry,
Absolutely stunning!
Gotta ask...Did you plan on arriving there to catch that narrow window of exquisite lighting, or was it unexpected serendipity?
This is an image I know I will look at again and again!
Can’t thank you enough for posting it.
Dave
Dec 11, 2017 15:19:35 #
Dec 11, 2017 20:47:52 #
Love this, don't those brief moments of wonderful light drive you crazy! If we could just hit the "pause" button!
Dec 12, 2017 19:00:42 #
Laurence68 wrote:
Fuji X-E1 br Russian vintage lens - Helios Model 4... (show quote)
One of the very nicest photos I hhave seen on here, thanks for sharing.
Terry
Dec 13, 2017 12:22:46 #
That is absolutely beautiful. It is also surreal. You used knowledge, light and your own skill to coax magic out of this old tree. Well done, amazingly well done.
Dec 13, 2017 19:17:31 #
Laurence68
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, WA
Thank you for the VERY encouraging words, from all of you! I appreciate it a whole lot. Makes my day! Or, even my week...or month!
Dec 14, 2017 09:41:19 #
This is a beautiful portrait of a tree. I for one have never bought into the idea that a picture has to tell a story but in this case, as a viewer, I can see a story in this one. I love the concept of the old tree shining in the sunshine of possibly it's last days, the winter of it's life. Perhaps taking it's final bows. Well done sir!
Walt
Walt
Dec 14, 2017 14:40:25 #
Laurence68
Loc: Olympic Peninsula, WA
Whuff wrote:
This is a beautiful portrait of a tree. I for one have never bought into the idea that a picture has to tell a story but in this case, as a viewer, I can see a story in this one. I love the concept of the old tree shining in the sunshine of possibly it's last days, the winter of it's life. Perhaps taking it's final bows. Well done sir!
Walt
Walt
Thank you Walt! The tree is definitely on its way out. It has persevered longer than other fruit trees from the over 100 year old homestead.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.