Medusa

Any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated on this 1400 year

old live oak tree! Please have a look at the ever expanding portfolio!

In case anyone is wondering, this tree is tucked away in the middle of nowhere just outside Charleston, SC, and is the oldest living thing in the Eastern half of the US and some people even say it is the oldest living thing in the world.

What a great photo of this fantastic tree. You have captured it so well.

1400 years - i am speacless.

Thanks! I appreciate the kind compliment! This was my first time shooting this tree and it was honestly a horrible day for it. The sun was high above head on the western side and bright as ever. This tree gives great shade, but the shadows and highlights were disasterous to deal with! There was a professional photographer out there shooting with me and he had a light meter and said there were 7 stops difference because highlights and shadows side by side throughout the composition. I have widely bracketed exposures of about 30 compositions and I've been thinking about giving HDR a chance to see what it can do (just to increase my range a bit closer than 7 stops). Regardless, I thought this turned out decently. I'm waiting for an overcast day when the shadows may not be so harsh to go shoot again. There are endless compositions. My other struggle with this shot is post-processing. I know there is no way a photo is "supposed" to look, but I just stink at processing black and white. I can look at some shots that are way overexposed and think they look great and then take the same composition 4 stops underexposed and think that looks great as well. I really need some help finding the right balance. Any tips of pointers are greatly appreciated!