Saturday I came across this old tree, many years dead but still standing, in a meadow along the upper part of Thompson River. It was a colorless and rather cold day and the only photo I brought back seemed to be best presented in sepia. I simply can’t resist those old trees!
Montana Outdoors 
How I wish I could listen to the stories that old tree would tell! Sepia makes an elegant presentation.
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Comment by Cedar — March 3, 2010 @ 7:53 am
I wish I could listen to those stories too. There are stories about that area that I lived through and others that I remember the older folks telling that go back to the 1920’s, and I know there were plenty more that I didn’t hear. And that old tree was there all the time.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 8:59 pm
The sepia helps tell the story in this Terry, fine choice in processing, don’t you wish we were as strong as that tree sometimes ?
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — March 3, 2010 @ 8:06 am
Somehow sepia just seemed right for that scene. The conversion added a little spice to the photo. It was a rather gray day, the forest was very dark and the tree just stood out there alone awaiting attention. That old tree had its share of adversity and yet remained upright through it all, something encouraging to me.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
Sepia works well for this scene in the same way that stark black and white worked so well for Ansel Adams’ best work. This is great.
Malcolm
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Comment by knightofswords — March 3, 2010 @ 8:08 am
Thanks Malcolm. I seldom dabble with sepia, but this seemed to call for it.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:02 pm
Ah, I love that– a sepia kind of day. Seems I have those once in awhile too.
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Comment by Bo Mackison — March 3, 2010 @ 9:26 am
Not too often I know, but I think we we need a few days like that, not unpleasant, but awaiting one with blue skies and green leaves.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:04 pm
Sepia is great for old things. 🙂 Old trees both living and dead have a character about them.
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Comment by Scott Thomas Photography — March 3, 2010 @ 10:05 am
It seems to be that, Scott. I love old dead trees and there is an abundance of them here. I remember some in Arizona too, Bristle-cone Pine, dead now, but having been standing for a millennium.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:07 pm
Wonderful tree, Terry!
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Comment by Stacey Dawn — March 3, 2010 @ 11:22 am
Thanks Stacey. It has looked out over that meadow and I can only guess what all has passed beneath its branches; deer, elk, moose, bears, coyotes, wolves, fox, beaver for sure and probably many others over the decades.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:09 pm
I love trees!! Was injured recently and frustrating trying to type with one finger,.still checking you out every day and had to let you know how much I love this photo.
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Comment by SuzieQ — March 3, 2010 @ 11:48 am
I’m sorry that you were hurt, SuzieQ! I hope you recover fully and quickly!
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
I love it! I’m a sucker for old gnarly oak trees, they are so intriguing!
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Comment by Barbara — March 3, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
I remember some beautiful old oaks in North Carolina as well as cyprus, Bristle-cone pine and juniper in Arizona, Pine, aspen and cedar here in Montana, and on and on. So many are memorable.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:13 pm
it is sort of a greenish sepia, at least on my screen…I love the effect.
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Comment by burstmode — March 3, 2010 @ 12:49 pm
I see that a bit too. Perhaps because the lower part of the forest was so dark (in the color version, very dark green).
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:14 pm
I love a good tree shot, and this is one!
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Comment by Sandy — March 3, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
Thank you Sandy!
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:15 pm
Oh, that is unique as well as lovely. I like dead trees still standing. The sepia treatment worked well with this. 🙂
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Comment by Anna — March 3, 2010 @ 4:53 pm
That old tree went through some adversity in its day by the looks of it. Somehow the sepia treatment seemed to emphasize the tree itself.
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 9:17 pm
Outstanding. Great lines from the stream in the foreground pulling me into the image. Nicely done.
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Comment by Jeff Lynch — March 3, 2010 @ 10:10 pm
Thanks, Jeff!
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Comment by montucky — March 3, 2010 @ 10:13 pm
Perfect treatment for a photo that could ahve been taken any time in the last 100 years.
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Comment by Candace — March 4, 2010 @ 12:47 am
It certainly could have been. My memories of that area go back over 60 years and many scenes like that one have not changed.
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2010 @ 9:14 am
Nice find, Terry! Great treatment. Although, I prefer color, there are times certain shots cry out for a different post-processing treatment.
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Comment by Iona — March 4, 2010 @ 9:36 pm
I greatly prefer color too, Iona, but on that day there just wasn’t much at all. Every once in awhile…
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2010 @ 9:43 pm
Indeed, sepia is just the right choice to present this landscape with old tree. The forest at background seems a little bit mystical. Good photo to stop and to think nature.
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Comment by sartenada — March 4, 2010 @ 11:55 pm
The background forest is quite dense and the trees are dark green. I think that was why I tried the sepia treatment. It is a wonderful natural area with lots of wildlife including many trout in the stream.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
Great find for a subject of a photo. I love the choice of Sepia.
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Comment by Maggie — March 5, 2010 @ 5:27 pm
Thank you Maggie. The tree struck me as soon as I saw it, particular in that setting. I am very sensitive to trees anyway.
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Comment by montucky — March 5, 2010 @ 8:13 pm
nice; it gives it an “old west” feel
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Comment by silken — March 9, 2010 @ 3:35 pm
That tree was probably growing when this part of the west was pretty “new”.
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Comment by montucky — March 9, 2010 @ 8:47 pm
[…] Source […]
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