Tribute to Leonardo Da Vinci.

I walked by this tree everyday for one year without even looking at it.

Perhaps, this was because it really is a nondescript sight, one of

those "beautify the city" things they plant on the side of the road on an

elevated pavement block that looks more like an raised concrete coffin

than the rolling hills and dales where these things usually call home.

This particular tree stands directly across a 7-Eleven, and right next to a

car repair place, so it is not uncommon to see its roots festooned with a

myriad leftover Big Gulps and burger wrappers, but it blooms in the

summer, yellows in the fall, and browns in the winter, so, at least, it

cannot be said that it fails to do its part, and, truth be told, like a lion in

the zoo, one can hardly blame the poor thing for its present

surroundings.

That tangled gnarl of roots suggests that it has no intention of going anywhere. I hope it endures the indignity of the 7-Eleven culture it's forced to see every day.

Beautiful processing and tuning. One can read so many things in these tangled dark roots - decay, despair. I would love to see it as a big print on a wall!

Very nicely done, Emmanuel, the root system here seems almost animate. It does have the feeling of a Renaissance engraving.

Beautiful indeed!

Well done!

Detail of Leonardo's beard :)

Nicely done!

It's a struggle. But life always overcomes.

Finding beauty in ordinary everyday things is so rewarding, isn't it.

I love your choice of tones and key.

I can see many dead bodies in this photo. A little bit scary but very beautiful and nice work !

I cannot fail to impressed both by your story and your vision. As you say the tree is by passed every day by countless people who perhaps don't fully appreciate it in it's prefabricated surroundings. But maybe you have given this tree a kind of recognition and perhaps even immortality as it's photograph will be viewed and appreciated repeatedly. Excellent vision and processing.

Best Regards

Alf