Photo of the Day: Bark Art

I made a pretentious statement to someone the other day along the lines that photography is finding the balance between colour and light. On a technical level, it is true that the information in a digital file contains a numerical value of chroma and luminance, but that’s not really what I meant. This abstract image is a case in point. Looking at the tree from a distance, it just looked like a tree that some sad git had tagged and there wasn’t much to see. Getting up close to the tree is when the balance between light and colour started to get interesting. I can’t really explain what it is that makes this image work for me, but I do know that I’d be more than happy to print out a huge version of it onto some gorgeous paper, frame it, and hang it on my wall, with a wonderfully pretentious title like Bark Art.

Walking around with a camera on your own allows you the luxury to slow down time and pick out the details that you might otherwise just have walked passed and not noticed. For me, it is this that gives me the greatest satisfaction and may go some way to explaining why I became a photographer. Rushing from point A to B is often necessary, but finding the time occasionally to observe the details allows you to appreciate the beauty of a world that we sometimes take for granted. It is one of life’s great luxuries.

Update: 22/02/16 – Knowing how sharp this lens is, and the fact that I shot it at f/6.3@400th, I’m surprised to see that the image is a little soft when looking at it on a big screen. I’m going to have to admit to user error and do better next time. Maybe even take the travel tripod out of its bag and actually use it! I still like the shot so shall leave it up, to remind me.