tree – Dutch goes the Photo!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 196

Reaching toward the sky on Skye…

Welcome to the 196th round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!

My apologies for the late posting of this round up, as I was still fighting the tail end of a bad stomach bug and found myself exhausted by the end of the afternoon on just about every day.

The volume and quality of your posts was breathtaking, as your creative eyes captured many different shapes of trees, each with their own character. I really enjoyed reading through your posts and learned about some trees that I didn’t know and was entertained by many a unique shot!

Thank you for all the effort you put into your posts!! Please share your thoughts with one another!

Here’s another tree…

This Monkey Puzzle Tree is still one of the most amazing trees that I have encountered in my travels. Found in the gardens of the clan MacLeod estate on Skye. The sheer scale of this tree is awe inspiring.

Please enjoy the following blog posts:

I love Nicole’s optimism that showcases in her post in Un Photo,Une Poeme, as she gives me the thought of Spring!
Bren features an amazingly idyllic location in her post in Bren & Ashley Ryan Photography; I expect the elves to appear any moment!
There’s yet another great photo in Land of Images, as the reflections are amazing!
The wonderful sculpture that is highlighted in My Camera and I… makes me wonder: is it art, or Nature? Or both?
The photo in Paperkutzs shows us what is not exactly a tree, but the flowers make me forgive it all the time!
Kammie put together a great set of tree images in her post in Nut House Central; which one is your favorite?
Xenia has a great set of posts this week, first with her post in whippetwisdom, which speaks of the wind and ice! In Tranature, we get to see a small forest, as lichen surrounds us… And last, but not least, we cross the forest bridge in Tranature, surrounded by trees!
Emily captures an amazing tree in her fantastic post in Zombie Flamingoes; that is some set of branches!
The wonderful post in Geriatri’X’ Fotogallery asks the question whether it is a tree or an ent… or is it a house?
Diane has a wonderful take on trees and the memories they bring for her in her post in pensivity101; talking to trees is really important and the tree in the photo is simply stunning!
Jackie’s post in Junkboat Travels tells an amazing tree story, as their drive up the mountain road on Hawaii is interrupted by a tree… you’ve got to read this incredible story!!
In another magnificent post in Don’t Hold Your Breath, we get to see some of the trees of the Himalayas. That really makes me want to go visit the area!
Na’ama’s amazing poem in Na’ama Yehuda tells the story of a tree, whose roots are tired.. Wonderful!
Elizabatz’s post in Albatz Travel Adventures has an incredible array of trees from all over; stunning shots!
Cee shares a wonderful set of trees in her post in Cee’s Photo Challenges; her photos are awesome!
Maria takes us for a walk in her post in Kamerapromenader: a walk among the beeches that is a true pleasure!
A great post in the Jesh Studio brings us some of the sense of Winter that we all love for its beauty, and trees!
I agree that the trees shown in Beautiful Photographs are rather special and provide a lot of interest!
Nandini really gets the trees in the great haikus in her post in queennandini, and the photos are amazing!
Sarah’s not only captures the trees in her post in By Sarah, but also brings us the wind!
Indira finds us a great fruit bat in her post in Sharing Thoughts, which makes for a great silhouette!
Julie takes us to one of those mysterious locations that is on my bucket list in her post in Julie Does Stuff, as we get to see some of the trees at Angkor Wat.
Viveka brings us the story behind the Snapphane Oak in a great post in her blog, myguiltypleasures; the circumference is stunning!
Irene captured a lovely reflection in her post in Heaven’s Sunshine, where the trees stand tall next to the pond! In another wonderful post in Heaven’s Sunshine, we get a view of the winter marsh! And last in Heaven’s Sunshine, and definitely not least, the sunrise breaks through the trees…
Brian takes us to the tip of the tree in an interesting photo post in Bushboy’s World; now to see the rest.
The esplanade of the Chateau Amboise is stunning, as we can enjoy in the post in theOnlyD800intheHameau; great tree structure!
In a lovely post in MyTravelCSP, we get to enjoy a wonderful variety of trees from all over!
David takes us to some absolutely stunning shots, as he captures trees in various moods in his post in David M’s Photoblog! Gorgeous post!
Lisa tells the story of a very specific tree in a wonderful post in A Day in the Life, as it is the tree that her grandfather planted when she was born.
Sandy brings us what I consider the best time for trees in her post in Out of my Write Mind; the colors are simply stunning!
The photos that we get to enjoy in Chateaux des Fleurs are gorgeous! I particularly enjoy the mysterious path that is formed in the second image…
Eric must have endured a bit of cold for the great shot that he shares with us in From the Lens; Winter is one of my favorite seasons as well!
In a lovely post in Wanderlust and Wonderment, we get to enjoy some of the amazing variety that trees bring to us! The Walking Tree is incredible!
Susan documents an unbelievable tree her post in Musin’ with Susan; that Banyan tree is just a single organism! For more great photos, go check out the week in review in Musin’ with Susan!
A great post in radhikas reflection brings us a some really interesting tree views. The tree that forms a big ‘O’ is asking for a small swing…
Deb presents us with an absolutely gorgeous photo in her post in Twenty Four; a very inviting view of a location that all of us could enjoy!
Tatiana shares a truly stunning Winter image in her post in GiftSmart; beautifully executed photo!
Yinglan always has great photos and her post in This is Another Story proves that point!
There very much is art in the sky in a wonderful post in One letter UP ~ diary 2.0; the colors and the tree make for a compelling image, and yes, that tree could tell stories!
Ken takes us to the big tree in his post in Pictures without Film, where we get to enjoy a rather unique shape in this tree!
Chris takes us to Bretagne in his post in What’s (in) the Picture; the mood in this image is just outstanding as I can really feel myself there.
Hammad shares the fight of the green giants in a wonderful post in the Blog of Hammad Rais; those giants are fighting for humanity!
I really enjoy the capture of shape and framing in the photos in Photo Robert’s Blog; Robert really has an eye for catching just the right view!
Woolly leads us down lanes flanked by trees in a couple of gorgeous photos in WoollyMuses; stunning views!
Amy’s wonderful post in Photography Journal Blog shows us how sometimes a little adjustment can do wonders for an image!
Ramya captures a tree overcoming an interesting predicament in her post in And Miles to go before I sleep… It’s just amazing how Nature adapts!
Joanne captures a gorgeous sky and the bare trees against that sky in her post in Joanne’s Crafts and Adventures; absolutely lovely!
In a great post in Alive and Trekking, we get a stunning view of foliage that asks us to go explore further!
Debbie showcases what happens when you look to see what is presented at your feet in her post in Travel with Intent! The reflection of the tree in the puddle is just gorgeous!

Please let all of these great bloggers know your thoughts about their posts!

The Monkey Puzzle Tree

An unusual thing of beauty!

Sometimes, one comes upon an object that is unusual, that catches the eye. Such was the case of a tree that I saw in the garden of Dunvegan Castle.

Araucaria araucana (commonly called the monkey puzzle tree, monkey tail tree, piñonero, or Chilean pine) is an evergreen tree growing to 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft) in diameter and 30–40 m (100–130 ft) in height. It is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Auracaria. Because of the longevity of this species, it is described as a living fossil. It is also the national tree of Chile. Its conservation status was changed to Endangered list by the IUCN in 2013 due to the dwindling population caused by logging, forest fires, and grazing.

As you can see from the people standing next to the tree, this tree is impressively tall; I would estimate this tree to be between 20-25m tall, which is an impressive sight.

This particular tree stands in the gardens of Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, the chieftain of clan MacLeod. This castle on the Isle of Skye is well worth the visit, as its gardens are a thing of beauty!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 143

Hanging in the breeze!

Welcome to the 143rd round up of the Tuesday Photo Challenge!

You certainly breezed through this week’s challenge! Your posts were a blast to read, as you shared lots of breezy experiences with some fantastic photography, poems and stories! I really enjoyed those soap bubles and the action sports that you captured! There were also a number of really tender posts. Thank you for putting your creative spirit into this week’s posts!

I just hope that you have as much fun reading these posts as I did!

Over the years, an on-going breeze can bend trees…

This tree stands in a field not too far away from our home. On this particular day, I noticed the amazing lines drawn by the clouds in the sky, which caused me to take a walk into the field. Between the lines and the color, I was not disappointed by this great scene!

The following were this week’s participants in the challenge with links to their posts:

Brian kicks things off a gorgeous photo in Bushboys World, which shows the gentlest breeze!
In a wonderful post in Une Photo, un Poéme, Nicole shows how the breeze is captured for everyone’s benefit!
Sarah’s post in By Sarah shows us some warm breezes that look like a great place to visit!
Shelley’s post in Quaint Revival explains her love for Paris with all the right reasons!!
Sanah’s awesome post in A Pause for Nature shares a bit of smoke that linges on the breeze…
Kammie finds some rather breezy places in Nut House Central; looks pretty interesting!
Those pennants captured in theonlyD800inthehameau are a wonderful example of shooting the breeze!
In Pictures without Film, we capture a hint of a breeze in a fantastic post!
In Don’t Hold Your Breath, we get a wonderful post about the Temple of the City God in Shanghai.
Stella’s post in Giggles and Tales has lots of great photos of breezy scenes!
With a great photo in the post in Ghost Dog we can definitely feel the breeze; a significant breeze at that!
In Junk Boat Travels, Jackie captures some colorful dream catchers in Mazatlan!
This week, pensivity101 shares the experience of the breeze, whispering through the trees and a stunning poem!
Xenia sounds like she may be ready to head inside for the Winter in WhippetWisdom, where books await!
Ann-Christine finds a stunning breeze that she captured with a great photo in To See a World in a Grain of Sand.
In a great post in Chateaux des Fleurs, we find all the tools that we need for generating a breeze!
In a lovely post in Don’t Forget the Half, we learn about a great visit to Florida and the good times that were had!
A very appropriate post in Geriatri’X’ Fotogallery we wait for just enough of a breeze!
The photo shared in Victoria’s Light is truly lovely with a sailboard enjoying the breeze!
Jase’s post in Proscenium speaks of a one track mind and shares a lovely Winter breeze!
In a great post in Heart2Heart, we find ways to brave the wind and sea and really enjoy it!
In A Day in the Life, there may be a bit more than a breeze, but it looks like a wonderful beach day regardless!
Debbie captures a truly lovely representation of the breeze in her photo in Travel with Intent; one can almost feel it!
Na’ama’s photo and poem in Na’ama Yehuda capture the breeze with a wonderful touch!
In Land of Images‘ post, the breeze may provide some natural exfoliation!
Cee’s photos in Cee’s Photography showcase some great breezes, particularly with that soap buble!
In Photography OCD, we are treated to a fantastic photo that shows bending with the wind.
Maria has another wonderful photo in KameraPromenader; they look to be having a lot of fun!
Sandy finds that the wind has its way in her post in Out of my Write Mind, with a bit of snow for good measure!
This week’s entry in Willowsoul might generate a significant breeze when eaten!
Susan takes us to San Jose her Musin’ with Susan post, where there was quite a breeze among the palm trees!
Hammad has a great post in the Blog of Hammad Rais, as he shoots the breeze perfectly!
Liz’s post in One Million Photographs has us dreaming of the breeze through the cherry blossoms!
Woolly shares his enjoyment of watching the breeze in the grasses in Woolly Muses, with lovely images!
Irene’s post in Heaven’s Sunshine shares a lovely view of sunflowers in a gentle breeze!
Robert shares some stunning photos in Photo Roberts Blog, of which I really like the soap bubbles!
This week’s post in One letter UP – diary 2.0 shares a tender moment between a dad and his son, and the fun of raking leaves with a breeze!
Another fantastic entry from sgeoil captures the breeze, in what looks like a great place to wander!
In a lovely post in Poetry in Pictures, there is a gentle flower that is truly pleasing!

I hope that you enjoy these posts and let the authors know!

WPC Final Week – Favorites – Pt.4

Persistence

The Final WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge has presented their final theme of All-Time Favorites, which, while being a bit sad that it’s their last prompt, is a great way to finish.

Sometimes the images that I favor are rather simple and straightforward, such as today’s choice. What is simpler than a tree in a field?

Such as this tree that has stood the test of time…

Persistence-Tree_14E6659_8_5_6_7 — *Persistence*

What caught my attention, and caused me to take this shot, is the evidence of wind’s influence on the growth direction of this tree. While it spread in many directions, so as to catch the Sun’s positive influence, there is a noticeable lean to this lovely tree. Also, the deep yellow tones in the field, as contrasted against the deep blues of the sky, contributed to my interest…

What this tree told me, more than anything else, is the value of persistence, against the elements and to stand across the years.

Have a great day!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Time

Enduring time!

Welcome to Week 100 of the Tuesday Photo Challenge. My apologies for being late posting this week’s theme, as I’m trying to catch up with work after being in Europe for all of last week on a business trip and getting ready for my next trip to the Middle East at the end of this week. I will post the round up of last week’s theme of Forces within the next 24 hours.

As I test your patience, I thought it might be interesting to make that part of the theme for this week, selecting Time. Of course, Time can be depicted in many ways, from the image of a clock, or the rhythmic swing of a metronome, to Times Square or whatever catches your creative eye!

Here is one aspect of time…

20091121-Persistence_14E6660_1_2_3_4 — *Persistence*

This is an image that I captured about 9 years ago, in a field not far from where I live. Noticing the sky and the enduring struggle of this tree against the forces of time, I just had to capture its persistence…

The full rules of this challenge are in TPC Guidelines, but here’s the tl;dr:

Write a post with an image for this week’s topic
Please tag your post with fpj-photo-challenge (if you’re not sure about how tags work, please check out this WordPress article about tagging posts)
Create a pingback link to this post, so that I can create a post showing all of the submissions over the week (note: pingbacks may not appear immediately, as my site is set up to require approval for linking to it; helps against previous bad experiences with spamming)
Have fun creating something new (or sharing something old)!!

I’m looking forward to seeing the time of your life in images this week!

Dunvegan Castle Gardens

A puzzling example

As part of the WordPress Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge theme of Tour Guide, I thought it might be of interest to find something that ties back to this week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge of Exotic.

My favorite island of the Inner Hebrides is Skye, for its amazing, rugged landscape and mountainous range that are just a dream to photograph, as every different incident angle of light creates a completely new environment, sometimes even otherworldly.

One of the interesting places to visit on the isle of Skye is Dunvegan Castle, the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. Probably a fortified site from the earliest times, the castle was first built in the 13th century and developed piecemeal over the centuries. In the 19th century the whole was remodelled in a mock-medieval style. The castle is built on an elevated rock overlooking an inlet on the eastern shore of Loch Dunvegan, a sea loch.

20130528-Skye-Dunvegan-Castle-Tree_57A0922_3_4_Enhancer — *Monkey Puzzle Tree*

The castle sits on a massive site on Skye, much of which is cultivated into a stunning garden that includes many exotic species, such as the tree in this photo. The people standing next to it give you a sense of the scale of this wonderful tree.

If you’re ever visiting Skye, the castle and its grounds are well worth a look!

Have a wonderful day!

A Tree Grows

Conceptual attempts

The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge provides the theme of Growth.

In this third post in response to the Weekly Photo Challenge, I thought to go into a completely different direction to an image that I put together just over ten years ago.

At the time, I was taking a class in Conceptual Photography, working on how to bring forth ideas through images, with these ideas being more than what is shown in the image. This course was a lot of fun, as it allowed me to express some things in my mind through photographic challenges, as well as stretch me both mentally and technically.

The instructor kept us very challenged through each assignment and his critiques were on point and very constructive. Some of my images got quite a bit of praise from him, but the one that I am sharing here did not. Despite the fact that I agree with his reasoning, I still like this image…

My idea here was to contrast the organic against the rather sterile, futuristic background that is reminiscent of architectural fronts of buildings. The image is a composite with a artificial background (the reason for the criticism) and a bunch of grapes picked clean, except for a single grape.

Hope you enjoy and have a wonderful day!

Good day, Sunshine!

Wisdom and light

The WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge has the wonderful theme of ooh, Shiny!; on Monday I posted a piece with a bit of reflection to celebrate a bit of occlusion of the Sun by the Moon (no totality in New England).

This time, let’s take a look back at one of the images that I still enjoy from my Yoga Tree series…

yt-2013-11-05-img_2630 — *The Wise Tree*

This image is definitely among the top of my list of Yoga Tree photographs, particularly, as it was one of the very early ones in the series; it was not the first, but certainly is the first to convince me that there was a lot to capture of this wondrous tree. Oh, and yes, this is an iPhone shot as well.

Hope you enjoy!

Diversity of the Earth – pt. 1

Where water and life meet

This weeks WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge has the theme of Earth, which is appropriate, given that Saturday is Earth Day. So I figured that I would do a weeklong series of different views of the Earth that I have experienced. Feel free to join in with the fun!

The first one, highlights some of the interesting aspects of our planet, such as water, a biosphere, temperature variations and the colors green and blue…

Frozen-Wachusett-Tree-lw4o8182 — *Frozen Tree in Wachusett Reservoir*

This image dates back just over 11 years on a chilly March day in 2006. Due to wind and water movement, the ice tends to creep up on the shores of Wachusett Reservoir, which caused this lone tree on an outcropping to become entangled.

Technical Details

This image was captured with Canon EOS 1D MkII using an EF 70-200mm f/2.8L lens. Exposure settings were at 1/400 second and f/11 with 200 ISO. It was a rather chilly shot!

Assyrian Trees in Maine

Trees across the ages

It’s interesting to see that plant species can travel around the world and keep their name across many cultures and languages. Today’s tree is one of those interesting species: Sumac.

In Assyrian the name of the tree is ܣܘܼܡܵܩܵܐ (pronounced Sumaq), Arabic سماق (summaq), Latin sumach, French sumac. The original meaning of the name is simple: red.

2016-08-20 12.18.22 HDR-1 — *Sumac in Summer*

During a nice day in southern Maine, we walked along the coast, and as I looked up to the perfect Summer sky, I noticed the almost subtropical tableau that was above my head.

In all this wonderful day was truly enjoyable.