Just a thought for nature photographers in Virginia

[beauh44]

I live in Virginia and was listening to a local NPR show and the

guest was a person working on a book about some of the big trees

that are still left in Virginia.

 

I couldn't listen long but I caught the name of the website - <a

href="http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/index.cfm">The

Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project</a> - so when I got home, I

Googled it and found it.<P>

 

Anyhoo, there have already been a number of trees "nominated" to be

included in the soon-to-be compiled book. However, when you click on

their name <a

href="http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/remarkabletree/results.cfm">on this

page</a>, almost none of them have been photographed yet.<P>

 

I haven't read any of the particulars. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't

get paid. I just think it'd be cool to go shoot some of these trees

(some may be world records) and some other Photo-Nutter out there in

Virginia might feel the same way.<P>

 

So I'm just passing it on in case anyone's interested. I'm going to

try and get a shot of the two that are near me if I can.<P>

 

BTW, on the radio program, these guys found a US record cypress tree

not long ago, somewhere in Va (near the coast, I'm sure) that is

over 1,000 years old. I won't name any names, but this didn't please

the state who, prior to this discovery, <i>thought</i> <b>it</b> had

the record cyprus. ;-)<P>

 

They also talked about finding a previously "undiscovered" (to them

anyway) 30-acre or so stand of virgin forest on some private land

that they hope to preserve.

[patrickconnolly]

Beau ... Thanks for the notice. I live about 1/2 mile from Seashore State Park here in Va Beach, and will keep this in mind. Sounds like a nice project for me and my 11 yr old for this spring and summer.

 

Pat

[cappoldt]

Read the novel A Walk in the Woods sometime - real eye-opener, and a great, quick read.

[greg s]

Very interesting, and a great idea. I recently told my wife about the giant American Elm that was a couple of blocks from my house when I lived in Illinois. A really special tree.

 

That's one of the things I enjoyed about backpacking the Smokies, seeing the old, gnarled, ancient trees. If I was in VA I would head out to see them, especially some of the rarer types.

[colchicine]

That is some great info, I'll spend some time looking up the trees in my area.

 

Where do you live Beau? Like Patrick, I am in SE Va (Newport News). In case we are nearby, I'd like to arrange an outing. I am an "advanced beginner" and really need to spend time with photography knowledgable people.

 

Newport News Park and Beaverdam Park are two great places for unique flora for photographing.

[beauh44]

<I>Where do you live Beau?</i><P>

 

Hey Kory, unfortunately I'm in the SW part of the state - in the sticks, near Roanoke.<P>

 

I did hear back from them about a large black birch that sits right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Floyd Va. They have a picture of it taken a while back, (1995) but it's an awful photograph - half the frame is lens flare because the shot was taken through the windshield of a car, I think.<P>

 

Anyhoo, they asked me to get some shots of it as well as measure its circumference. It's supposed to be up in the 70's here this weekend so it looks like I'll give it a shot.<P>

 

I just showed the photo to my girlfriend and she swears I already have a shot of it with her sitting in that same tree! I'll have to look through some old shots I guess.<P>

 

Here's a link to a shot of the tree from the Virginia Big Tree Database: http://www.cnr.vt.edu/4h/bigtree/bigtree_detail.cfm?AutofieldforPrimaryKey=30 <P>

 

Kory, if you'll go to the link in my first post up above, I bet you'll find plenty of un-photographed trees in SE Va too. It seemed like there's a bunch out there!

[beauh44]

Turns out I *do* have a shot of that tree! (Link to someone else's shot in my post above this one) I just happened to grab a shot of it last summer. My girlfriend was right!<div></div>