This image, made in the hidden countryside of the county where I live, typifies fields that carve up the open landscape. It’s a familiar scene, one that’s replicated in many of the unpaved back roads I frequent. And yet, it stands out from other scenes by the drama that hovers over the otherwise plain scene.
Two things in particular distinguish this photo from the others in my collection. Most obvious is the dramatic sky that forms the backdrop for the trees and fence row that form the central features of the image. The clouds seem to threaten bad weather that would intrude on an otherwise placid scene. The competition with the central tree sets up a tension that says all is not well in this bit of paradise.
The image is distinct in that it was made using a camera converted to capture infrared light images rather than the normal visible spectrum. Infrared often enhances the drama in clouds, as in this photo, while rendering greens in white and the overall image in black & white. I do not think his scene would have presented as well had it been shot in color. Sometimes less is more, and in this case the drama and tension are best expressed in the somber tones presented here.
This and other images of trees are posted to my Trees Collection, which is accessible by clicking on the Photos tab. You’ll find my Boundaries Collection there as well. Additional collections will be posted in coming weeks.