Just beyond Mile Marker (MM) 469, at the very end of the Blue Ridge Parkway, growing on the banks of the fully integrated Oconaluftee River on River Right at the confluence of Raven Fork with the other already joined forks of the great stream, a many-yeared sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has watched travelers of all kinds come and go. Likewise, for many years I have watched as the venerable old tree has leaned into its place in the mountains with grace and determination. Yesterday, for the first time in all of those years, Bonnie and I stopped to pay it homage with our cameras.
A focal length of 100mm from about fifty yards away gave me the angle-of-view I wanted, from the first division of the manifold trunks, well into the great crown, and with sufficient width to take in nearly all of the span of the great limbs. An aperture of f/8, focused on the middle division of trunks, gave me depth-of-field and allowed the colorful background foliage to go a bit soft. A shutter speed of 1.0 second at ISO 100 gave me an overall medium exposure.
This old “ghost tree” has seen much in its sojourn on the river. I honor its life now and through the seasons yet to come.
Howdy Don, you have another one of those extracted intimate landscapes so much like Elliot Porter. I love the way you have the white tree branches lace their way through the entire composition. And the subtle colors of fall don’t “steal the show” like the fall foliage I’ve been photographing up here in New England. I am always excited to see your image of the week so keep them coming.
Howdy Michael. Your keen thoughts and insightful observations are always a wonderful addition to our discussions, and I really appreciate them very much. I said to Bonnie a couple of days ago that this year the fall color in the Smokies almost demanded begin seen as intimate landscape because the grand scenics were sparse and the overall color fairly spotty. Having Eliot’s example to fall back on certainly made working in this park this year much easier and more rewarding. And having old sycamores like this one around made the work that much better. The diversity of Smokies forests is truly a blessing. Hope your New England autumn was every bit as rewarding as you could wish. Walk in Beauty.
So beautiful Don, like a pointillist painting
Hey Lynne. I think I said to Bonnie while we were photographing this wonderful old tree that what I was seeing on my monitor very much reminded me of pointillism; so I very much relate to your kind comment. I think the the state of the foliage on that day lent itself almost perfectly to pointillist style. We look forward to seeing you and John soon. Stay safe and be well.
What a beautiful story!
Thank you Jeanne. It’s great to hear from you. I hope you and Tom are safe and well. Your kind words are very much appreciated. Walk in Beauty.
That is a very proud sycamore tree. It is still turning heads after all these years. He has been proud to wave at all that pass by and now can be seen by hundreds who will click to see his branches on the world-wide-web! Now it is even more proud and deservingly so!
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Nancy T. Ghost trees seem like magical beings to me. They are common near water in the park and each one seems to me like a unique individual. This tree has heard your thoughtful words and is beaming from root to crown. Talk soon. Hugs.
Thank you all for joining me for this conversation and for offering such poignant and thoughtful words to the presence of this wonderful old giant of the forests. I once lived in Union County, Georgia where, just north of the Appalachian Trail on the Chattahoochee National Forest is a memorial to Joyce Kilmer, whose profound words ring forever through the woods: “… only God can make a tree.”
Have a wonderful week and Walk in Beauty.
Don, what an homage to this venerable element of the landscape. Thanks for sharing that.