"The Haunted Tree"

This image reveals my love for nature and my quest for nature's "darker beauty". Years ago I dreamt a vision similar to this one, and I had hoped to someday see it happen in my viewfinder. One day, while on a vacation that turned rainy, I just drove around with my gear. This tree was one of several in a row at an orchard's edge. After gaining permission from the orchard's owner, I patiently tried many camera angles that would compose the tree as i wanted. I deliberately ignored the technique often taught "to compose off-center", as I wanted this tree to evoke a very deliberate power in my image. That said, I also had to avoid capturing the neighboring trees at frame's edge. it started to drizzle, and I thought I had better 'bag' my camera to protect the lens. When the birds flocked into the orchard to rest and noisily socialize, they flocked from tree to tree until, as my hopes would have it, they landed in the tree I was focused upon. Careful not to allow rain into my lens, I unbagged and shot several frames, but the birds took flight as I did so, and you now see the result. Pure serendipity aided by envisioning the "dream" years prior. And yes, my lens did get wet. It is part of a series about Trees. This kind of "emotional seeing" is what I teach my workshop participants. I have sold this print as an 20x24" IRIS on Somerset Velvet, and as an archival Epson print onto Arches Ivory 300lb paper. Yes, it is available inquire, and specify size (of mat) desired. See more at http://www.davidjulian.com