Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park, California, 2004 photo

Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Six: Vantage Point makes the difference > Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park, California, 2004

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15-OCT-2004

Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park, California, 2004

In Yosemite’s Pioneer Cemetery, I found the 1867 grave of John Anderson, who has surely become by now part of the root system of this giant redwood tree. This connection prompted me to place my 24mm wideangle lens virtually on the redwood itself and using it to fill half the frame as a diagonal anchor, I shoot straight down on the gravestone. This vantage point forever links both Mr. Anderson to this tree – an incongruous pairing. (Another incongruity is the gravestone’s graphic description of Mr. Anderson’s demise. A horse killed him.)

Canon PowerShot G6
1/100s f/4.0 at 9.1mm hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	15-Oct-2004 00:05:31
Make	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot G6
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	9.1 mm
Exposure Time	1/100 sec
Aperture	f/4
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias
White Balance	(-1)
Metering Mode	multi spot (3)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		21-Aug-2006 21:40
Yes, Chris -- the diagonal line of the tree leads us to the grave, and the angle of my vantage point extends the tree towards the heavens and at the same time links the tree to the grave. And that is the whole point of the picture -- as Jen puts it, "linking death directly to the life which creates shocking, incongruous contrast." Without this vantage point, that can't happen.

Chris Sofopoulos		21-Aug-2006 08:09
This diagonal from the tree trunk and the angle you have chosen are exceptional and make the image unique.

Phil Douglis		10-Mar-2006 21:27
I like your words, Xin. We can thing about the difference between "living death" and the "dead living" for a long time. If my image can kindle such thoughts in you, it is doing what I set out to do.

Sheena Xin Liu		10-Mar-2006 15:03
This is a very powerful image, Phil. It halts my eyes for a long time. It is simply amazing you captured it through this special perspective, which empowers the image even better. I think it tells a story about a living death(that old tree) and the dead living(the spirit being remembered by that gravestone)

Phil Douglis		24-Jun-2005 19:49
Once again, it is the flip out viewfinder that helps me make this image. I can hold the camera over my head, point it down, and still view the image on my LCD screen. It saves me from having to climb redwoods!

Guest		12-Jun-2005 09:22
Hi Phil In order to get this vantage point, did you climb the tree? Just wondering because it does not seem possible to achieve this effect easily. Cheers sam

Phil Douglis		27-Mar-2005 19:30
Thanks, Benchang, for such high praise. Your observations are correct on all points. Yes, I intended to merge perspectives here by using my vantage point to fuse the flow of both tree and tombstone in the lower left hand corner of the picture, to symbolize the fusion of life and death. From death comes life and from life comes death, and it goes round and round, doesn't it? My friend Celia even notes that John Anderson himself, whose body is sapped of life, now nourishes and gives life to this tree. And all because of my vantage point. The tree is closer to my lens than the tombstone. I am focusing on the tombstone. So the tree is softer than the tombstone. I do not use the term "spot focus". I simply focus. However I did use my spot metering mode to expose this shot. Perhaps you meant to say that because I used my spot metering mode to simultaneously focus on, as well as expose for, the tombstone, the tree is blurred. That is correct. Phil

Benchang Tang		27-Mar-2005 13:13
This is a masterpiece! And I noticed that with your vantage point the tree, especially the bark crevices lines and the verticle line of the tombstone merge into one perspective end, and that is very symbolic. And I also notice that the right hand you hold the camera with is leaning against the tree, so the right side of the tree is a little out of focus which reinforces what is to the picture the focal point. Or you also spot focus the stone to blur the tree. I hope what I guessed is right.

Phil Douglis		27-Feb-2005 03:07
As my critic in residence, you outdid yourself on this one, Celia. An amazing interpretation, to be sure. I had done of this in mind when I took the picture, of course, but now that you point it out, I would have to agree with your reasoning. The whole point of making this picture was to get the imaginations of my viewers going. You go beyond the imagination, Celia, and add great insight. As we often have discussed, there is no one way to interpret an image. We mirror our own experiences, intellectual prejudices, and personal likes and dislikes when we read an image. The photograph itself is only a starting point. It's what goes on in the mind of the viewer that is the important thing. I am always thrilled when one of my images means a lot to somebody. This photograph obviously meant a lot to you. You put a lot of thought and work into these words, and I am deeply moved by them. I am glad to have been the trigger for those cogent thoughts. You earned your title "Critic in Residence" with this one, Celia. Thank you.

Cecilia Lim		28-Jan-2005 17:22
At first glance, this image appears to be an overtly simple one containing only two things - a gravestone and a tree. Yet you've made it come alive by using the wonderful lighting available and a highly unusual vantage point. The height and angle at which you shot your picture immediately adds a three dimensional feel to it, allowing the lines of the tree bark from the top right corner to lead the viewer into the picture and down to the gravestone on the left. Not only is this a great visual tool but it also creates a whole realm of expression about life and death. The position of the gravestone below suggests that when man dies, they go down, deep into the ground, but from death, comes also life which in this case takes the form of the incongrous giant redwood that shoots up high next to it. Your exciting composition of extreme perspective and tilted angles further help to create the feeling of this dynamic relationship between life and death. The very body of John C. Anderson that is sapped of all life is also infact now nourishing and giving life to this tree, further reminding us the role of pioneers (this is Pioneer Cemetry right?) that have come here years ago to settle and give life to the land. The nuances of life and death can be found all over your image too, such as in the contrast of light and dark, and even in the story of John C. Anderson's demise by a horse which I imagine was probably alive and kicking at his moment of death. This creature that is synonymous with strength, energy and free spirit -- the very essence of life itself, is the one that ironically causes his death. The perfect lighting that you have, which illuminates the gravestone whilst keeping everthing else in the shadow, helps you to draw focus onto your main subject too. Equally important, it also helps to add another layer of expression to this image. I think this now becomes a very strong commentary on how different humans are compared to the rest of the natural world. Like every other living thing on earth, man gets born and dies too, but what sets us apart is that we have an innate sense of pride and identity that wants us to be acknowledged and remembered as a unique individual even after we are long gone - No matter when we lived, how we lived our lives, our how we died. This incongruous gravestone gleaming in the sun is proof of this. Although the redwood has already lived longer than this man and will continue to do so for many years on, it is in the shadow and reminds us that it will too die and rot away one day, but the spirit and memory of this pioneer will forever live on in this rock-solid gravestone. I can see from the comments below that several different interpretations have come up about your image, but this is a wonderful compliment to you in your ability to turn two inanimate subject matters into a strikingly expressive and thought-provoking image. Your creative eye and ability to translate your perceptions into a beautifully expressed photograph never cease to amaze me. I love it it when you give us a feast for the eyes and at the same time give us opportunities to explore different layers of meaning in your photographs! I have truly enjoyed this superb photograph Phil!

Phil Douglis		13-Dec-2004 20:34
Thanks, Alister, to the wonderful addition to the meanings that are slowly gathering around this image. It is one of my most recent images, yet already shows signs of being among the more thought provoking photographs I've made. I am glad you make reference here to the spiritual level. Any image contrasting life to death must invoke a spiritual dimension, and your interpretation of John's spirit either rising to heaven via the tree, or looking down on his grave from above, make fitting companions to Jen Zhou's comment about how the light gathering around the tombstone tells us how the spirit of man still shines. When I made this picture, I intended to simply link tree and stone, light and dark, nature and man, and of course, life and death, within my frame, and then hope that the resulting image would trigger many different meanings from my viewers. I am delighted that it has. That's what expressive photographs are supposed to do.

alibenn		13-Dec-2004 15:59
This shot works on many levels. The composition is pleasing to the eye, which has to be a great start. The comments made so far are all represented, my interpretation is slightly different. On a spiritual level, the tree can represent his spirit rising to heaven and the resurrection, or from a different perspective, the shot could even be John's view, looking down on the resting place of his body, whereas his spirit has risen.

Phil Douglis		01-Nov-2004 16:48
I have always liked to photograph gravestones because they represent man's desire to be remembered, to even seem immortal. And as you say, whenever I work on this theme, I try to change the context in order to evoke new meaning. You have summed up "Remembering Jane" and "Campo Santo" eloquently in just a few words, Jen. And now you do the same for this image. I do link death to life here in a very incongruous way here and make other comparisons as well. As you point out, one still grows while the other will never. One is large, the other small. I also compare time as well. The man died at 55. The tree still lives at 1,000. But you, Jen, have come up with a comparison I never considered, but perhaps it is the most story telling comparison of all. I never gave much thought to the contrast in light, but as you show me here, the spirit of this man still shines, while the old redwood just grows in the shade. Thank you, Jen, for what you have taught me here. And I trust this image as taught you much in return, as well.

Jennifer Zhou		01-Nov-2004 08:51
Should be "spirit of man", wrong spelling~sorry!

Jennifer Zhou		01-Nov-2004 08:49
You like to photograph gravestone, Phil. And everytime you do, you amazed me! I like the intimate feelings you brought us with that "Remembering Jane"-----http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/33921370 , and how you work with shaddow to express cycle of life in your "Campo Santo" shot-----http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/28249605 . But here you link death directly to the life which creates shocking incongruous contrast. During the last one and half century, the tree and the stone accompany each other, but one is growing everyday and the other will never. While your vantage point emphases how the huge tree overwhelmed the small lifeless gravestone, the way you play with lights tells us how the sprite of man is still shinning.. This is such a beautiful, sad, warm, rich picture! You done it so well Phil. Jen

Phil Douglis		31-Oct-2004 05:14
I am sure Mr. Anderson will have no concerns about your light take, Maureen. He would probably smile at the irony himself. This image has already provoked another amusing moment. When it was projected during our workshop in Yosemite, one of my wittier colleagues suggested that the title for it should be "Planted."

Guest		31-Oct-2004 04:12
I don't mean to take lightly poor Mr. Anderson's demise, but I also thought it ironic that he was killed by a horse at the age of 55 - a number that reminds us of the current speed limit on many of our highways.

Phil Douglis		29-Oct-2004 20:54
You can't beat Yosemite for light, Ray, even in a grove of Redwoods.

Guest		29-Oct-2004 16:00
Nicely composed withh great sidelighting emphasizing texture.

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