Sunday, August 16, 2009

drop and give me your best photo!


This month's photo contest at Gardening Gone Wild is all about perspective. David Perry challenged his readers to get down on the ground and shoot from knee-level or below. He wants shots that evoke a visceral response, shots that look at a (perhaps common) garden object in a way that's fresh and unexpected.

This is a challenge after my own heart. I carry a rain poncho in my camera bag so I can get down & dirty with whatever subject catches my eye, even if it's rained the night before. Who wants to miss a great shot just because the ground is a little squishy?

This copper beech is in my sister Sarah's yard. It's a magnificent tree from any angle, but when you're lying on your back, looking up I-don't-know-how-many-feet, the sense of exhileration and vertigo is remarkable. I took tens of shots, but this one pleased me most. I think the placement of the out-of-focus trunk in the upper right quadrant adds a sense of dizziness.

It's a noble tree that dwarfs us all.

14 Comments:

At August 16, 2009 at 8:23 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a wonderful shot, it reminds me of our visit to Rocky mountain National Park last year ...looking up through the Aspens.

 
At August 16, 2009 at 8:35 PM , Blogger molly said...

SUPER dizziness.
it's an awesome shot.

 
At August 16, 2009 at 9:14 PM , Blogger Ellen Zachos said...

Thanks Susie. BTW, I tried to leave a comment on your praying mantis post and wasn't able to do so. Can't find an email address for you, so on the off chance you check back here...I tried w/my google account,w/my name/URL\, and as anonymous. Each time my finely crafted words just disappeared!

 
At August 17, 2009 at 12:38 AM , Anonymous Ditto said...

Nice depth, nicely composed and I love the detail in the leaves when it is full size. It must be a beautiful autumn there.

 
At August 17, 2009 at 7:41 AM , Blogger Ellen Zachos said...

Thanks Ditto, coming from you that means something. And yes, sutumn in New Hampshire is a wonderful thing to see.

 
At August 17, 2009 at 8:03 AM , Blogger Rothschild Orchid said...

I love this photo! Brilliant!

 
At August 17, 2009 at 9:39 AM , Anonymous Leda Meredith said...

Fabulous shot! Reminds me of the noble trees I was looking up into while I ate my lunch at Inwood Hill Park yesterday.

 
At August 17, 2009 at 12:35 PM , Anonymous the inadvertent farmer said...

LOVE this shot, it is what a tree must look like to my 2 year old! Kim

 
At August 18, 2009 at 9:29 AM , Blogger Shady Gardener said...

Love this photo!! I've been scrolling through the entries in this contest. Yours is definitely eye-catching!! And something we see often, if we just look UP! Thanks for posting and entering!! ;-)

 
At August 18, 2009 at 1:21 PM , Blogger Dflybri said...

Simply fantastic. I love this shot!

 
At August 20, 2009 at 11:48 AM , Blogger Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Your photo reminds me of a Georgia O'Keefe painting. (That means I really like it.)

 
At August 27, 2009 at 12:26 AM , Blogger Town Mouse said...

This is a great picture! I've tried those looking up into the sky photos, and they're so hard to do! Thanks for sharing.

 
At August 29, 2009 at 1:36 AM , Blogger Chookie said...

Great shot -- I love the colours.

 
At August 10, 2016 at 4:28 PM , Anonymous Gail said...

Nice perspective- would make great wall art.

 

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