Bev, It really is one tree. Along a stretch of the Grand River, there is an area a couple miles long (that is as far as I have explored so far) where these giants are in a flood plain - in every stage of development. Their offspring surround them waiting for a chance at the light. Many have lost their crowns, but in a couple hundred years they make massive new ones. The ones that don't lose their crowns are the tallest...this one looks to have lost it's crown at least a couple times. Today I brought the 5DmkII with my only Canon lens...the 24-70 f2.8 L. So, I had to stitch this image together from three 24mm frames. It would work better if I had something near the tree to give it scale - like the angled log leaning on the tree's right side is about 8 inches in diameter, and about 8 feet off the ground. It was my version of the NG Redwoods cover shot. I had to be close to the tree to get the forest out of the way, and I used fewer frames. It has some barrel distortion, and the tree top is wildly distorted, but it is very accurate to the feeling you get standing 25-30 feet away from, and in the presence of this giant oak. Quite often this area is under 2-3 feet of water...so I am glad I was able to get this angle today.
Beverly Guhl wrote:
WOW, what a tree!!! Thank God for wide angle lenses, too, and James taking this wonderful photo!! It's really one tree? What stories it could tell.
There are a few dozen of these that I have been able to get close to, but others that I just don't even try to get close to. If they aren't in a flooded area, the bugs are so thick it just isn't worth it to get eaten alive to get close to the tree. I was hoping this winter to enjoy a bug free stroll through this forest, and try and capture the old ones.
Hightraxx wrote:
Very nice shot, not too many like that left in the world.
