Posts Tagged tree roots
Persistence
Posted by Doug Otto in Photography on April 1, 2010
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Sometimes a scene jumps out at you, sometimes you have to go looking for it. The best photographs come from things that evoke an emotional response. This tree, with it’s sprawling roots clinging to life, has been a subject of mine for over a year now. It lives near the trail below Bridal veil fall in Yosemite. There is a character to it that I’m not even able to describe but every time I walk past I have to stop and look. I’ve shot this tree from nearly every angle imaginable, and in every season.
The subconscious mind plays a tremendous role in our photography if we allow it. People take pictures because they’re drawn to a scene. The problem is finding exactly what about the scene is pulling you in. How many times do you visualize a scene and take a shot only to be disappointed by the final result? In all likelihood, what originally grabbed your attention is in your picture; it just needs to be refined. Too often budding photographers give up on a location too soon.
I’ve known, for the last year, that there was a picture in this stream-side scene. I’m not certain this is it, but it’ll hold me over until the next trip when I can continue the search. I can’t wait.
Cheers
A yellow leaf
Posted by Doug Otto in Photography on October 26, 2009
The creative process is a funny thing. One of the things that I struggle with is the uncoupling of my engineer brain from my photography. Don’t get me wrong, having a strong grasp of the technical details is important but it can cloud your vision.
I ventured down a small hillside to this setting because something about it grabbed me. My initial focus was the small cascade in the top left corner so I set my tripod right next to the tree with two legs on the fallen tree in front of me and started shooting. From that vantage I worked several compositions but it felt very uninspired. I shrugged and stepped away from the tree, meaning to climb the hill and be on my way. Gary was somewhere behind me and I wanted to catch up with the other members of the group that were already near the top of the trail.
As I turned around my eye caught a flash of yellow. I scanned the area for what ever it was that had caught my eye then I saw it. The tree, with it’s sprawling roots clinging to the side of the stream with the single yellow leaf in contrast. This was obviously what had drawn me to this spot but I nearly let my brain keep me from seeing it. The details are important but it’s as equally important to forget about them occasionally and just let yourself “see.”
Cheers
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