Time passes, but the tree doesn't care, a photo from Grevena, Macedonia

Photographer's Note

I love trees, I have a sort of "admiration" for them. I admire their patience, their persitence, the "wise ignorance". Many times I see in them a message, or a sign of courage, they face proudly the weather, the wind, the snow, and most important, the test of time. That's why I chose to "welcome" the New Year with a photo of a tree, for the second time since I became a TE member ( ***SEE MY "WELCOME" PHOTO FOR 2007*** ).

This tree is a Robolo, I think (in greek "Ρόμπολο"-Pinus Leucodermis), a specie of pine tree, the "king" of the greek mountains. It grows in high altitudes, between 1500 and 2400 metres, where few other "greek" trees grow. Photo taken high up on Vasilitsa mountain, above Smixi village where I spent my Christmas holidays.

TECHNICAL INFO:
Lowered manually the ISO to 50, used a small aperture (f/22), a polarizer, an ND-4 (2-stop down) filter and a tripod for a 3 seconds shot, trying to capture the movement of the clouds.

***WORKSHOP-COLOUR VERSION***

***HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY!***

Copyright ｩ 2009 � Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

ymrk, vasilpro, kastanaras, Budapestman, Leconte, magalik, baba_flies, adramad, jafadabret, Dashab, JLMaster, theodoros8 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Hellas (7123) 2010-01-01 7:37

Η εικόνα που βλέπω με αγγίζει!

Όχι μόνο ο χρόνος αλλά και οι αντίξοες συνθήκες περνούν χωρίς να επηρεάζουν τα ρόμπολα!

Αγέρωχα, βιγλάτορες των ψηλών και απόκρημνων πλαγιών �. Αντάρτες!

Καλή χρονιά με υγεία, καλές ειδήσεις και προκοπή!

Dragut (14) 2010-01-01 8:02

Hi Hercules

Happy new year my friend.....So nice with this effect in the sky, this give a life....to the picture.

supi4u (601) 2010-01-01 8:54

Hi Hercules

you beautifully control your exposure time. Also vey good note about this picture. well done.
-Supriya

bema (26591) 2010-01-01 9:01

Geia sou Hercules,

welcome into the new Year, and a strange start..
Treeｴs are really a very photogenic object..
would more prefere the color version.. but for the shown effect this one fits also very well..

have a nice weekend, greetings Bernd

amaryllis (37047) 2010-01-01 9:35

Bonjour Hercule
tu portes bien ton pseudo pour nous pr駸enter une superbe composition de ces arbres en noir et blanc et l'effet que tu as donn� dans le ciel
excellent
bonne ann馥 2010 bonheur et sant�
juliette

gilou530 (34) 2010-01-01 10:56

salut hercules
meme en N&B avec un ciel pareil l'arbre ne pouvait qu'黎re beau, excellent contraste, bonne et heureuse ann馥
amiti駸
gilbert

coco (30439) 2010-01-01 12:32

Kalispera Hercules kai kali xronia.

T馗nicamente una foto muy lograda y un muy buen trabajo. El blanco y negro o casi sepia funciona muy bien y me gusta mucho la nota que acompa la foto.
Sin duda, una buena forma de empezar el a.

Ta leme, file mou.

Morac (27725) 2010-01-01 13:06

Bonjour Hercule,

C'est par un "coup de ma羡re" que tu inaugures cette ann馥 2010 : le mouvement des nuages est merveilleux
Bonne et heureuse ann馥 pour toi et tous les tiens
Amicalement
Marc

afroditi (731) 2010-01-01 13:12

Hi Irakli!
Kalh xronia kai eutixismeno to neo etos gia esena kai thn oikogeneia sou! Poli wraia eikona to aspromauro ths paei poli moy aresei pou peiraxes ton ourano!
afroditi

vasilpro (41801) 2010-01-01 16:20

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Εξαιρετική τεχνική και λήψη, όμορφο αποτέλεσμα.
Ευτυχισμένο και δημιουργικό 2010, Βασίλης.

izmirli (3989) 2010-01-01 23:56

kalimera my dear friend hercules
happy new year 2010 for you and family.
friendly greetings from Istanbul.
g�rkan ak軋kır.

kastanaras (1160) 2010-01-02 0:44

Geia soy Irakli,
Exeretiki B&W eikona. Poli kali texniki.
singaritiria.
Kalo WE
Dimitris

Budapestman (82620) 2010-01-02 2:49

Hi Hercules,
great impression, the realization is fantastic.
Have a nice weekend, my friend!
Happy New Year! Boldog ﾚj ﾉvet!
George

brandstaetter (15915) 2010-01-02 3:15

Hi Hercules,

I like these pics with moving clouds, maybe as you know from my skyscraper pics of NY.
This one is hard to make in the middle of the day, and 3 sec. is very long for bright daylight. I tried it with two ND8 filters and f/11, but with f/22 it works even better, it seems.
Good one !
Compliments, Chris

umutlu101 (13629) 2010-01-02 3:21

salut Herk�l!
Bonne Ann馥 2010 !
amicalement!
er

Leconte (5795) 2010-01-02 4:55

Hello Hercules

what a wonderful symbolic picture to celebrate the new year
good choice of black and white, fantastic management technique! It is a feeling that I also found when it's my birthday!
I wish you all my best wishes for the new year and many photos extraordinary delight us all,
best regards,
Valerie.

Dyerco (10185) 2010-01-02 6:46

Hi Hercules
This something I have thought about trying. The movement in the clouds is quite amazing considering it is only a three sec exposure. Very well done and the B&W really works well here.
Phil

baba_flies (8829) 2010-01-02 8:40

Hello Hercules! What a nice idea!!! Yes sometimes you see a lonely tree in the middle of nothing and you think "what a true survivor" or "why just one tree and where is the rest, have they been cut down or is the environment unfriendly" etc. etc. And it smells so good ... This is not just a tree picture but it has your own handwriting and you made a litte piece of art with the moving sky. Most would be glad to have a decent tree picture :))) Happy New Year, Hercules, and yes more pictures, each of them is a treat. Barbara.

magalik (6103) 2010-01-02 10:03

Hello Hercules,

Very impressive the effect of clouds. It makes your shot so much original !
I like you N&B/sepia traitment and I prefer it to the colour version.
A daring shot with a centered framing which is not always appreciated but not disturbing because it is a very dynamic shot. Well done.
A note interesting also.
Happy new year to you.

Magali

ngk (2413) 2010-01-02 13:59

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Εντυπωσιακή φωτογραφία και στις δύο εκδόσεις.
Χρόνια πολλά και καλή χρονιά σε σένα και στους ανθρώπους που αγαπάς.
Σε χαιρετώ
nasos k.

mesutilgim (0) 2010-01-02 14:14

Hello dear Hercules,
I've missed this one ! Something quite different than your used style. But again "my taste" !
Great graphism.
TFS and my best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

bebbetto (122) 2010-01-03 12:24

Ciao Hercules.
Happy new year.
This is an absolutely original photograph that demonstrates your talent.

adramad (73484) 2010-01-04 4:13

Hola Hercules.
Extraordinaria fotografia para dar comienzo al a con este magnifico ejemplar de centenario pino, fantastico el efecto de movimiento de las nubes. Un perfecto trabajo en B&W.
Igualmente te deseo un Feliz 2010 junto con todo tu familia.
Saludos.
Luis.

jafadabret (56501) 2010-01-04 5:56

Bonjour Hercules.
Tu as bien jou� avec la vitesse de prise de vue et celle des nuages. Ta photo donne � l'arbre une impression de calme devant la temp黎e.
Mes meilleurs v忖x pour cette nouvelle ann馥 !
Amicalement
Jacques

scyntilla (1844) 2010-01-04 9:48

Hello Hercules,
A tree has been a very good choice to celebrate new year. Your exposure really creates a sense of passing time and the tree standing tall against all odds. TFS
You too, have a good and prosperous new year.
Best,
Petek

Dashab (2564) 2010-01-04 12:40

Hello Hercules,
From your description of the technique, it looks like you had a lot of fun taking this picture.
The result is excellent, the movement of the clouds contrasts nicely with the "everlasting" tree.
The colour version is also good.
TFS and have a nice week,
Dasha

veyselk (0) 2010-01-05 1:42

Merhaba Hercules,

we are passing, that's why we think that all the things are same like us but we are wrong, somethings have watched our father and now are watching us. maybe in future thet will be watching our children.
"Time passes, but the tree doesn't care" because it is always there, we are not.
kind regards

kakody1 (18) 2010-01-09 5:24 [Comment]

Show Comment

jmcl (14535) 2010-01-19 9:25

HI Hercules,

This wonderfully executed and a conceptual masterstroke (that I will have to fight myself from "borrowing" someday) .. I would bet the challenge would be to get the motion in the clouds with the stillness of the branches .. wondrous image.

take care, John

kiks (12805) 2011-01-08 13:36

Very original effect you got here. I love it.
Best regards
Kiks

jaywalker (16105) 2011-01-08 13:57

Hi Hercules, A brilliantly composed photo & a wonderful choice in B/W, the sharp quality is excellent, amazing detail & the motion blue is a stunning finish to this picture, kind regards Wilson.