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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Thirty Three: Using light and color to define and contrast textures > Coppery Cottonwoods, Zion National Park, Utah, 2006
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07-FEB-2006

Coppery Cottonwoods, Zion National Park, Utah, 2006

The Cottonwood trees that cover the Valley of Zion Canyon show the light of the morning sun reflecting off the nearby sandstone cliffs. That coloration is intensified by the texture in which it appears. The delicate textures of the bark of the trees themselves receive the coppery color well. Even more receptive are the feathery branches of the trees. They offer a puffy, ephemeral textural context, massive in size but temporary and fragile in nature.

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Phil Douglis25-Jun-2006 03:35
You are right, Lorraine. There is a strong parallel in nature between the limbs of trees and the nervous and circulatory systems in humans. These branches are indeed reaching out to feel the colors and textures of the world around them. They were just glowing in that light -- I could feel their energy!
Guest 24-Jun-2006 22:51
The delicate branches reminds me of the nervous system and how the nerves interprets stimuli, in this case the branches interperating its surroundings.
Phil Douglis10-Mar-2006 21:11
Yes, these are the same trees. From sinister to innocence -- it's all in the direction of the light, my vantage point, and my exposure choice. These trees are magical, and certainly deserve their name.
Cecilia Lim10-Mar-2006 10:14
It's amazing how different lighting conditions transforms the expression and mood of the subject - I believe these are the same type of trees that I commented about in "Hikers at Rest" (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/56186755 ), which exuded a sinister feel - but here with the soft coppery light reflecting off these silvery trees, they look absolutely enchanting and delicate. The ephemeral quality you talk about also gives them an air of purity and innocence about them. Although I have never seen trees like these before in my life, I know they offer me absolutely no threat. Instead, they beckon me to touch, smell and taste them like they were fine cotton candy on a stick, with promises of sugar and spice and everything nice!
Phil Douglis18-Feb-2006 20:59
I love your phrases "forest of light filaments" and "enchanted forest" because that is exactly what Zion looks like in February. These trees are called Cottonwoods because their wood looks puffy and white when the leaves are gone and the sun hits the branches from the side. They are catching reflected light bouncing off the red walls of Zion canyon -- giving a copperish tinge to them. And all of it is happening because of the texture in these trees.
Azlin Ahmad18-Feb-2006 09:43
It's like a forest of light filaments! Gives this a magical quality, sort of like an enchanted forest that one reads about in fairy tales. Nice one!
Phil Douglis18-Feb-2006 02:33
Thank you, John, for appreciating the value of texture in this image. Zion in February is a mass of glowing textures, a photographer's dream.
John Reed 17-Feb-2006 23:08
Another great texture photo!
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