A tree in the canyon, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2003 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery One: Travel Abstractions -- Unlimited Thought > A tree in the canyon, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2003

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18-MAR-2003

A tree in the canyon, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2003

Black and white photography is a medium of abstraction in itself. Although I took this photo in color, by deliberately underexposing it through backlighting, I created a virtually black and white picture which gives this tree a sense of confinement within the narrow walls of the canyon.

Canon PowerShot G2
1/640s f/8.0 at 7.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		27-Feb-2006 03:08
Thanks, John. I made the diagonal by tilting the camera -- something I rarely do. But in this case, it worked.

Guest		26-Feb-2006 21:41
I like the diagonal and parallel lines of the cliffs and the tree. John M

Phil Douglis		28-Aug-2005 18:21
You have taken this abstracted, moody tree, and brought it to life as a metaphor for art and artists, and I thank you for that idea, Kostas. You have a wonderful imagination, which can take you far as photographic artist. I look forward to helping you.

Kostas		28-Aug-2005 17:45
This tree symbolize all the good and decent artists of the world. Writers, poets, actors, gravers, painters, musicians who despite all the lifestyle that media are projecting and trying to convince us and purchase, they are still there, stoically and silently fighting against all odds, making fine piece of art as a guide for our life.

Phil Douglis		14-Dec-2004 23:32
Thanks, Mikel, for this comment, pointing out that nature has a way of working its wonders, and this may be one of them. Once again, it is abstraction that triggers such thoughts.

Guest		14-Dec-2004 23:10
At first it gave me the same claustrofobic feeleng as you say, but it also gives a spirit of hope and fight, the tree has escaped of an hostile, withought light, situation and has grown up overwellming the canion against any pronostics.

Phil Douglis		01-Dec-2004 22:56
Once again, you find a way to capture the essence of this picture in very few words. "Life finds its ways," indeed, Clara!

Guest		01-Dec-2004 18:05
life finds its ways! absolutely great framing/composition. yes, better monotone.

Phil Douglis		19-Nov-2004 20:26
I like your phrase "almost black and white" because that is what it is, AMP. Never be afraid to break the "rules" -- and don't worry about people "not understanding" what you are trying to express. People read pictures differently, and everyone brings their own interpretation to them.

AMP		19-Nov-2004 18:17
Good frame.Courageous assumption, include" almost" black and white tone. I think... I want to break my system type equilibrium.That kind of" adopt the light, composition, tone".But I fear my experiment result, letting person does not understand.Perhaps not enough mightiness in sign.I want to enhance to train this.

Phil Douglis		30-Oct-2004 23:41
My vantage point deliberately pulls the viewer into the image, Nut. By abstracting it as I did, I prod your imagination as well. Glad it works for you.

nut		30-Oct-2004 17:01
I like this one. I feel like I was there with my tent and laid down on my sleeping bag in the bottom of a big hole and this big tree say "Hi" to me. They create the frame of each other, it depend on where you are, where is your reference.

Phil Douglis		04-Jun-2004 16:16
Hi, Jim -- thanks for the comment. As you point out, the use of a tilted frame (the canyon walls) within the frame of the picture itself, is the key to eye flow in this shot. Thanks for the complement on the "toning" -- it is a color image, underexposed by the camera to make much of the picture go to black, yet still retain a hint of coloration. I simply metered on the sky, and the camera did the rest.

Jim Chiesa		04-Jun-2004 15:20
This is a very interesting image, Mr Douglis. The natural framing guides the eye right where you wanted it to go, let alone the toning that gives a more dramatic tone. I like this one.

Jacques Vic		10-Dec-2003 20:28
superbe ,cette photo est presque monochrome, mais il y a ce très lèger bleu , qui donne une force extra à l'arbre , c'est l'esprit chinois des peintures Song , mais cela pourrait être aussi un tableau de Magritte.Bravo monsieur Phil Douglis

Guest		21-Nov-2003 10:59
A pretty B&W photo.

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