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Phil Douglis | all galleries >> Galleries >> Gallery Twenty Eight: Using symbols and metaphors to express meaning > Timber, Portland, Oregon, 2006
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08-JUN-2006

Timber, Portland, Oregon, 2006

The splintered top of a weathered post along the Columbia River just outside of Portland records the years of its former life as a tree. I found it to be as good a symbol as any for the timber industry that gives Oregon so much of its character. With my lens set for macro focusing, I was able to move in within a few inches of the old post to stress this symbolic detail.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ30
1/160s f/5.6 at 7.4mm iso80 full exif

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Phil Douglis15-Feb-2008 05:31
This image is full of irony, Cyndy -- I saw the remnant of this tree as a symbol of an entire industry. Yet on further examination, it becomes something else as well -- as you note, it seems to explodes into life with the energy of a starburst, even though it is actually a lifeless post.
Guest 15-Feb-2008 02:22
I really like that "starburst" effect created by the deep cracks and fissures. Ironically, the star seems to be exploding with life, whereas the weathered fence post is a by-product of something once very alive--a tree.
Phil Douglis16-Sep-2006 03:29
Very beautiful words, Gil. It is the kind of image that does things to the imagination, such as seeing wooden snowflakes and compasses. And yes, every tree cut for lumber has been taken away before its time. Yet it lives on as part of the structures were we work and live.
Gil Hidalgo16-Sep-2006 01:28
Forget circle crops and their meanings. I find more meanings in this "Tinber Crop". I see life taken away before it's time. I see a woden snow flake, a twinkle in the woods and a compass in the forest.
By the way, the creature who created this image, is indeed, out of this world!

Regards,

Gil
Phil Douglis14-Sep-2006 20:04
I am delighted that this image stimulates your sense of touch, Lorraine. That was one of my intentions. We should always be thinking of ways to reach the senses of our viewers. They can easily see our images, but would they also want to touch them? Might they also want to hear, taste, or smell them? The more senses we can engage, the more sensually expressive the image becomes .Thanks for coming to this image and for appreciating its tactile qualities.
Guest 14-Sep-2006 07:15
Phil, another picture that I just want to reach into and touch, the texture and colour of this old post is what makes it tactile. L.
Phil Douglis12-Sep-2006 18:43
Thanks, Shirley for noting the implied depth here. Each crevice represent a slice of time.
Shirley Wang12-Sep-2006 12:54
Love this shot. The depth makes the expression very strong.
Phil Douglis09-Sep-2006 02:58
Thanks, Sonia, for seeing the hands of a clock in this trunk. That is exactly what we see within its rings. The mark of time. The weathered texture, as you note, plays a pivotal role here. Exposure to the sun has bleached much out of the color away over the years. And yes, in the end, this image is all about long memories and a vital industry.
Guest 09-Sep-2006 01:54
The circular form of the trunk and the diverging slits are both reminiscences of the clock, which is a symbol of time. I love the rugged nature of the top, the rings tell us that the tree was old and the weathered texture tell us that it was truncated a long time ago. The years that the tree lived plus the years that the remaining trunk still stands remind me of how long memory lingers - in this context, how long Oregon was associated with the timber industry.
Phil Douglis19-Jun-2006 19:07
Thanks, Jenene, for this wonderful comment and critique -- I like your interpretation of the starburst as a symbol of hardship and renewal. As for that green slice (which you like) vs the dry grass (which you don't), I find it to be the very opposite of a distraction. This image speaks of life cycles, and from green grass to dry brown grass is also part of the life cycle.
JSWaters19-Jun-2006 17:28
Wonderful texture and coloration. The starburst shape slashing through the growth rings evokes hardship and renewal. I like the slice of green at the upper left, but the dry grass in the upper right distracts me somewhat.
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