Interesting tree

[Crazydad]

I drive by this tree almost everyday and finally got a chance to get close. It is next to a creek in the middle of a divided highway, so even though the road is about 150 feet away, I had to park in a neighborhood and follow the creek for about 1/2 mile.
One of my first attempts at some B&W work, please let me know what you think and what suggestions you have.

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Thanks for looking.

 

[invisible]

This is indeed an interesting tree (look at that corkscrew branch, for crying out loud!) and the B&W suits it mightily.

You mentioned you drive by almost every day. May I suggest trying to shoot the tree with an overcast sky for a different effect?

 

[Crazydad]

Thanks for the input!

You are right about the overcast day. We just haven't had any in quite a while. It's been sunny and hot all summer. Maybe this weekend since Ike is supposed to come pretty close.

 

[LaFoto]

Feels like the sun, shadows, and the very dark sky fit these photos perfectly. I like skies to turn out this dark and wonder whether an overcast sky (and no sun, hence no shadows, meaning: much fewer contrasts) could bring about the same thrilling effect.

 

[RubyRed]

I'm also curious about the mood that a different sky would have on this.

Try to capture the same tree with a thunderstorm rolling in the background. The tree feels "ominous" (especially the 2nd), seems the mood would be even stronger with matching cloud forms.

Even so, I love the character and sense of time/age that the tree has.

 

[Crazydad]

Feels like the sun, shadows, and the very dark sky fit these photos perfectly. I like skies to turn out this dark and wonder whether an overcast sky (and no sun, hence no shadows, meaning: much fewer contrasts) could bring about the same thrilling effect.

Thank you for the input LaFoto. I haven't thought about the contrast effect an overcast sky might have. Gives me an excuse to go back when it is overcast and see..

I'm also curious about the mood that a different sky would have on this.

Try to capture the same tree with a thunderstorm rolling in the background. The tree feels "ominous" (especially the 2nd), seems the mood would be even stronger with matching cloud forms.

Even so, I love the character and sense of time/age that the tree has.

Thanks RubyRed. You are right, a storm would definitely add to the mood. The main problem is the location. It is in a small ravine in the middle of a divided highway with a bunch of live trees on either side. So to isolate the tree, I had to get close and shoot almost straight up. But I am still going to try the next time we get storms (other than hurricane Ike!).