Pearlescent Bark

I have stuck with just one image today, an abstract image of the bark of a tree. 

I have played about a little with the edit in lightroom for this image and I am really pleased with the result. I wouldn't normally take risks with colour because I know that I don't see things the way most people do and while I like the effect of this edit I cannot be sure what other viewers will see.

The colours in the bark were all there, the result of sap leaking out of the tree, as well as stains from the rain and algae. I have increased the saturation of specific colours to add a little drama and to emphasise the pearlescent effect. 

I  grew up believing trees are green and brown but when you look closely there is always so much more to see, and enjoy.
 

Looking at Yew

I have been feeling a little under the weather this past week so hadn't been out for a few days so today I headed out to Chirk Castle near Wrexham in North Wales to look at and possibly photograph the display of snowdrops .

On the way there I almost turned back due to a heavy snow storm but when I arrived although the conditions were very changeable it was definitely worth the effort of getting out and as well as some shots of the snowdrops (including some experimental images) which I will eventually share I got a range of other images from the castle and grounds which I am really pleased with.

The best display of snowdrops is found in the "Pleasure Ground Woods" and on the entrance to the woods there is an old yew tree. I was struck by the depth and the detail in the ancient bark and took the above shot to showcase some of the detail. As I looked more closely at the image I noticed a chilling face so I rotated the image and cropped it slightly to bring the face into focus as you can see in the image below. It looks to me like an alien face either with the creature's own hand covering its mouth or perhaps being restrained or silenced... I hope you like this as much as I do.

 

Rough Exterior

Canon 100mm 1:2.8  ISO 200 f/3.5 1/200sec

Photography in a garden doesn't have to be about flowers and bright colours. There is so much more to see and texture is just as important as colour as you can see from this really nice abstract image of bark. I don't know what tree this is but I really like this image.

Like a Rock

Four new pictures for today continuing the theme of texture and from these images you can see a range of very different textures and colours.

The first one resembles crocodile skin and the second has a rock like quality to it. The third picture to me at least has the appearance of embossed or cracked leather and the final image looks a bit like rust streaked metal. Of course these are very subjective views and you might see something different.  That however is the beauty of images such as these because apart from the objective fact that they are all pictures of different types of bark different people will see them in different ways.  Whatever you see I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Trees Have Eyes

More pictures today from my walk in Wepre Park and I'm following on with the theme of texture. 

Being a woodland there is plenty of varied texture and today's offering starts at the smoother end of the scale with the rain adding a sheen.  The title of this post obviously refers to the third picture which looks a bit like a weeping eye.

Over the next few days there will be more pictures from my walk which I hope you will enjoy.

Triberg im Schwarzwald

After the difficulties I had yesterday things have been much more straightforward today and as a result you are being spoilt with a plethora of photos.

In total we have driven 1059 miles so far and we are in Triberg in the heart of the Black Forest. It's been sunny and warm but with plenty of snow on the ground. The scenery is spectacular.

Today's pictures are a mixed bunch, the first three were taken in the Black Forest Museum. Pictures 1 &  2 are of the very bizarrecostumes worn locally in the past to celebrate Shrovetide. Not a festival that I'm familiar with and the costumes are I think pretty scary.

The third picture is a little curiosity and I'll leave it open for comment to see if you can work out what it is... Please have a go!

I couldn't resist the picture of the berliner as it made me think of JFK... It also sort of fits with the other window displays I've posted this week. I couldn't resist the doughnut either, it was really good.

The snow rabbit was completely natural and I couldn't resist, again there has been a rabbit in one form or another in other posts this week.

The final image is a view of the apartment where I am staying, it's absolutely lovely, and probably a place I will come back to.

Well that's all for today, don't forget to have a guess re number 3

Texture

Today's pictures are three different shots of the same tree.  I have posted two in monochrome because I think they show the texture and patterns of the bark to good effect and the third picture I chose to highlight the rich warm colours.

Hidden Beauty

The pictures I have chosen for today were taken in September, often when I'm out walking I see piles of cut wood and I like the patterns of the logs as they are stacked.  I also like the patterns in the bark which very often we see without really seeing... so the reason I have posted these is to show some of the beauty in nature that we don't usually notice.