The John Muir Tree

[Donald]

Despite my ongoing incredulity at how things have gone politically in the US, it remains for me the most wonderful and amazing country, with the most friendly, polite and helpful people that I have ever encountered (I know, I haven't been everywhere).

This tree, in Yosemite, carries the name of the Scotsman who was at the forefront of the establishment of the national park system in America. By all accounts, Muir was an 'interesting' character. As told to me by a professional photographer working in the park, Muir wanted to 'really' experience nature. He wanted to know what it was like for a tree being tossed around in a storm. So, apparently, when there was a storm he would climb this tree and hang on in there. I don't know whether he tied himself to it or not. Maybe Scots and Americans are well suited after all !

Anyway, your comments on this as an image will be welcomed.

[mugge]

Donald, love the composition. I wonder if you could lighten the LHC just a tad, and I mean a tad only. I realize that the mystery of that corner will be revealed. Just a thought.
Cheers Ole

[Donald]

Good call, Ole. I agree. There is too much gone to complete black in that bottom left corner. It would not look good in a print. I have lightened that up just a tad.

[Sam W]

Donald - I spent a month working in Dunoon many years ago. I would have to say that the Scotts are some of the nicest people I've met. The Kiwis (NZ) folks are crazy nice too.

This Muir Tree photo is really beautiful. I enjoy looking at your photos as a challenge to find something to suggest. I agree with Mugge about the LHC. I am not sure that you need the vignetting in the top LHC. Well done!

I like your recent edit better.

[NorthernFocus]

I really like this one, Donald. When it comes to landscape imagery subtlety is lost on me. To my mind this is a straightforward composition and nicely processed with the edit being an improvement IMO. Nicely done.

Now I'm loathe to go here but feel compelled to do so.

Despite my ongoing incredulity at how things have gone politically in the US, it remains for me the most wonderful and amazing country, with the most friendly, polite and helpful people that I have ever encountered...

So there's a lesson for all of us in the above statement. Statistically half of the kind and helpful people that you ran into voted for Pres.Trump. Would knowing the politics about each of them after the fact alter your memories of the kindness that you encountered? In my experience here and abroad, for the most part people want the same things out of life. Political beliefs are simply differing views on how to achieve those things on a societal level. It doesn't change who people are individually. Which is why we're supposed to simply love one another. Regardless of politics, religion, and sports teams

Now can we move on?

By the way, how many generations removed from the homeland does one have to be before he/she is no longer a Scotsman?

[chauncey]

Tis the tree that tells us the strength of the wind...fewer branches on one side equals more wind.

[NorthernFocus]

Tis the tree that tells us the strength of the wind...fewer branches on one side equals more wind.

Or less light.

[Wavelength]

Excellent

[Mike Buckley]

Despite all the talk about the tree, it's the light on that big hunk of granite that I especially like.

I prefer the the minor change made in the corner but I prefer the crop in the first one. The tiny little bit of additional space in the bottom of the first one makes a difference to me that I miss in the second one.

As for the people being so nice in America, I notice that with every country I go to everyone is equally nice and that people in the more rural areas tend to take the time to be more engaged with others than the people in the more urban areas. I also haven't been everywhere but I have been to about 30 countries and most of the continents.

As for the differences in people, one difference is that the number of continents in the world depends on where you happen to be.

[Donald]

Thank you all for commenting.

Despite all the talk about the tree, it's the light on that big hunk of granite that I especially like.

Must admit that is what I came to really like in the image. That particular hunk is Cathedral Rocks, just to the left of which are Cathedral Spires, with one of the spires casting a shadow onto the face of the rock.

I prefer the the minor change made in the corner but I prefer the crop in the first one.

I'm still trying to work out what happened there. I went back into edit and lighten up that bottom left corner and when I'd saved it again as a JPEG and posted it up here, I saw that it had cropped. Cannot fathom what on earth happened and am trying to undo it.

[madcrow]

Super image.

[John 2]

Either version would grace any wall but I tend to prefer the second if I'm asked to choose. Nice work as always.

[Jimr1961]

Here's what the valley looked like 5 days ago.

https://youtu.be/0anEvXeFkco

[Wavelength]

I enjoyed this and other related links about Yosemite

[Black Pearl]

I love the crop, the feel and emotion your image portrays but I have a hankering for a little more detail in the darker areas. At the same time I don't know if that will help or just alter the feel - either way its a crackin' shot.

[Donald]

Here's what the valley looked like 5 days ago.

https://youtu.be/0anEvXeFkco

Yes, I've been staying in close touch via various sites and blogs. I keep in touch with the professional from the Ansel Adams Gallery with whom I spent my first two days. It's been amazing to see the scenes of the flood and of the build ups of snow and ice. What is particularly wonderful for me, sitting way over here many miles from Yosemite, is that I can look at all these images and recognise where they are. I can still feel Yosemite in my bones.

[billtils]

Despite my ongoing incredulity at how things have gone politically in the US, it remains for me the most wonderful and amazing country, with the most friendly, polite and helpful people that I have ever encountered (I know, I haven't been everywhere).

Donald,

I lived and worked in the US for 12 years; the job took me to (almost) every state. I soon learned that there is no such place as "The USA". It is a huge and varied country in regard to pretty well everything, including geography and society. Whatever you want, whatever your taste, you will find the best and worst in the world somewhere in there.

Oh, and I do like your image, particularly as edited.

[Kaye Leggett]

As with everyone, I prefer the edit. The lightening of the shadows helps the balance and for me emphasizes the tree more. As ever I marvel at your creativity and how you get the shot just right - it would have been 'traditional' to put the tree on the rule of thirds map - you haven't done so and it really works.