NikonGear'23

Images => Nature, Flora, Fauna & Landscapes => Topic started by: James Fitzgerald on August 19, 2015, 05:54:17

Title: In a Desert
Post by: James Fitzgerald on August 19, 2015, 05:54:17

An older photograph.
After moving to our new home and finally getting printers up and running I had a chance to print.
Happy to say it prints well, even if it does creep me out a bit.

A Saguaro cactus from where I used to live.

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: elsa hoffmann on August 19, 2015, 07:15:39

eeek - looks a bit like viruses floating around under a microscope :)

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: Frank Fremerey on August 19, 2015, 08:45:14

Are these the cactus' with the edible red fruit in spring?

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: Jakov Minić on August 19, 2015, 10:29:49

totally agree With Elsa!
i want the color back  :'(

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: James Fitzgerald on August 20, 2015, 20:46:53

Thanks all! Yes Frank, these do produce an edible fruit, although I never did get to try any.
After moving I have a backlog of prints to make. I'm using Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta which makes beautiful B&W prints. A bit expensive, but worth it.

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: David Paterson on August 20, 2015, 20:58:27

Wonderful detail and tones, and at this scale almost completely abstract - in fact though I like it, I'm having trouble reading it. That's got to be ice we're seeing?

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: James Fitzgerald on August 20, 2015, 23:51:02

Hi David, actually a close up of a very old Saguaro cactus. Somewhere I have some images that will put this in perspective.
I know it's been said before, but I do like making photographs as Minor White Said.

“One should not only photograph things for what they are but for what else they are.” – Minor White

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: David Paterson on August 21, 2015, 00:23:21

I see it now - I knew it was cactus (you said so!) but I was interpreting its cracked and dried skin as an overlay of thin ice.

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: James Fitzgerald on August 21, 2015, 23:11:43

Funny you thought of ice David, as ice is a favourite subject of mine.
It's always changing so there is new material to work with every visit.

One of only a few regrets I have after moving from Arizona is that I never did get a star trail photograph with a giant Saguaro Cactus. Oh well, maybe a road trip is in my future.

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: ColinM on August 21, 2015, 23:21:11

Hi James, your creative juices are obviously still working now you're settled in your new place. Good image.
If it was in colour, I'd say this is the fabled Green Man of ancient times, hiding in your cactus. But it works well too in B&W.

And you mentioned ice? Maybe you can find a way to covert some of these to Tequila.......?

Title: Re: In a Desert
Post by: James Fitzgerald on August 22, 2015, 00:04:43

Thanks Colin. I saw a more sinister character in this image.
I love to see different interpretations. In color the Green Man would indeed fit, as I see many faces in the image.