Last week’s challenge in the 52 Frames community was “Extreme Contrast,” which could kind of mean whatever you wanted (as most of the challenges are, if you think about it!). I went with the traditional view, amping up the contrast between black and white. And what better subject than the amazingly beautiful trees of Gainesville, Florida?
I took my Sony A7 on a walk around the neighborhood, my first since arriving home late Friday. The last two years, I left before Spring had really gotten underway, and the difference is amazing: flower bushes in full bloom, smells of wisteria and jasmine and oranges, and the bare branches of winter trees replaced by green buds and then leaves.
All that southern humidity is good for something: Spring is busting out all over and it was hard to find a bare enough tree for what I was going for with this challenge. I thought this one might be it, and yet, that straight line of branches on the left kept distracting me, so I decided to keep going.
And then…. this one. Wow, it had everything: light and shadows, bare bones and hanging spanish moss. I took about a dozen shots and then went to Lightroom. And that’s when I realized I was making this image all about how my February felt: dark and a bit spooked, with bits of light at odd intervals. I decided for that reason alone this would be my submission to the challenge.
So if the above image represents last month, here’s hoping this one below is a harbinger of good things for March. If there was ever an image that encapsulates the lightness and calm I hope this month brings, it’s this one.
Suffice it to say that black and white are also colors… for their simultaneous contrast is as striking as that of green and red, for instance.
Vincent Van Gogh
Love these compositions and contrasts. Such a great way to capture tree “energy!”
Thank you, Ann!
Perfectly beautiful, Annie!