306 Sunset Tree
Love of the hunt is a big reason why I love photography. I went for a drive just before dusk last night. My approach is simple and random: I pick a road and follow it. I drive slowly, about 60 kph, and allow my “photosense” to take over. I stopped to photograph a number of times last night. Some shots were successful and some weren’t. The successes feel great. The “failures” keep me going because I want to apply what I’ve learned the next time I go out. The photographs you see here, 306 Sunset Tree, were taken at the end of my drive when I followed another one of my rules - “just a little further”. I consider the sunset, on its own, to be the low hanging fruit of good photography. I try to get away from the idea that pretty things make pretty photographs. Instead, I look for interesting forms that interact with the light that is available at different times of day.
What caught my attention last night was the beautiful round shape of the tree and the way the roundness of the setting sun echoed its shape. Of course, the sky was also fantastic. With the sun so low in the sky, colours moved from white to yellow to orange and then to blue. The clouds add a swatch of texture, especially in the black and white version. I was also interested in how the setting sun just kissed the top of the grass surrounding the tree, adding some lines and texture.
Which one do you like better? For most, I suspect that the dramatic sunset colours will be the deciding factor. For a minority (myself included), the black and white version will be the most interesting. I enjoy the drama and the rich lines/textures emphasized in the black and white representation. Let me know in the comments which you prefer and, if you have a moment, why you prefer it.
Nikon D750 w. Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 @ ISO 400
