18-01-2015 / Personal Visions #1: Orion's Tree
Orion's Tree - Version 3
In this entry I present the first photograph of a series I call Personal Visions.
This was an idea I had time ago with some colleagues, which had as a purpose to have each of us present an image each week for analysis and discussion with the aim of enriching the experience of taking photographs as well as providing feedback
regarding the photo: how was it captured, the challenges involved in making it, the author's thoughts about it and any idea that helped to improve the personal technique of everyone involved.
The experiment didn't go too far with those people, but I plan to keep going with my personal visions.
Without further ado, I present photograph #1 of this series: Orion's Tree.
The reason why this entry has 3 different versions of the same image is because the first one is the original but I decided to spend some time tweaking the adjustments in my editing software to see if I could come up with a version that came close to the original intent of the image, versions #2 and #3 are the closest representation of that idea.
This was an idea I had time ago with some colleagues, which had as a purpose to have each of us present an image each week for analysis and discussion with the aim of enriching the experience of taking photographs as well as providing feedback
regarding the photo: how was it captured, the challenges involved in making it, the author's thoughts about it and any idea that helped to improve the personal technique of everyone involved.
The experiment didn't go too far with those people, but I plan to keep going with my personal visions.
Without further ado, I present photograph #1 of this series: Orion's Tree.
Technical challenges:
This image was shot during the winter of 2015 and it was quite the task due to the cold and the fact that I couldn't see anything at all.
Even though I used a flashlight to try to frame the tree, light dispersed too fast to be able to reflect off the tree with enough brightness to make it visible.
My camera's viewfinder could barely detect any brightness, which forced me to frame the photograph by making use of my knowledge of how much of the scene would fit according to the lens I was using at the time. That's why it's useful to know your gear intimately.
Another problem was focusing; the camera could never do so on its own and I couldn't do it manually with the certainty of doing so correctly. I had to do my best gauging the distance between the tree, the stars and my camera. Considering the result, I think I did a good job.
The final framing is quite close to the original idea in my mind: I sought to have the stars forming Orion's belt, the tree and the rest of the sky, but have them look as if they were reaching for each other.
The reason why this entry has 3 different versions of the same image is because the first one is the original but I decided to spend some time tweaking the adjustments in my editing software to see if I could come up with a version that came close to the original intent of the image, versions #2 and #3 are the closest representation of that idea.
Orion's Tree - Version 2
Personal commentary
The Orion constellation is one of the most recognizable group of stars in the sky on this side of the planet, especially the 3 stars that form his belt (the ones in a vertical line above the middle branch of the tree) and that's why I concluded it'd be the most appropriate group of stars for this image, which back then I had been pursuing for quite a while.
In Greek mythology, Orion was a hunter and in modern times, his constellation helps as a reference point to those who travel and know how to use the stars as guidance.
Back then I used to believe that Orion was the patron and protector of travelers but turns out I was wrong, that one is Mercury / Hermes.
The tree in the image is a Mexican pinabete (I couldn't find the proper translation for the name in English at the time of writing this), which at the time was an important protector of this region against the sand storms that occur every year (we call those storms "tolvaneras"). Unfortunately, as time marched on, few of them are left due to man and wind removing or bringing them down; this type of tree is very fragile against strong winds due to 1) they are usually planted at a shallow depth which causes their roots to be at an unappropriate distance from the ground and 2) their foliage tends to be very heavy (especially when it rains) and against strong winds (nothing unheard of here) it behaves like an umbrella under the same conditions: it bends and breaks. This causes them to fall down and in the process break in half with their roots exposed, which is a certain death sentence for the tree.
To me, this image is about protectors from ancient times that are still among us. They have endured time's onslaught in order to remain here and protect us in their own way; one guiding the way, the other from the elements.
Orion's Tree - Version 1
Through the wrinkles of time, despite the gods' will and under the stars, here I've been and here I have remained
Because when the universe was born, I took an oath and swore to protect you in any path you chose to follow
I'm always vigilant, even when you can't see me
Whenever you feel deserted, find shelter in the shadow under my tree
He will take care of you until you can travel across the stars and come home.
Comments
Post a Comment