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December 2009
The story behind it
01/12/2009
My hart closes in. Even all of my inner self contracts in grief. The first time I went to this place, 1 month after the September fire, nothing could be heard. There were little signs of life, that miraculously had been hidden in the roots, breaking through the black Death that had come by fire. The forest, which for me is the spring of all Life, had been devastated. Some skeletons remain standing, as graving stones for an ironically static burial. There are skeletons of once vigorous and beautiful oak, around 50 years old. There are others of centuries-old chestnut trees, ending with this especially strong fire. And I, too young to grasp such History of existence, arrived there too late. Now I need to photograph this to tell the story.Comment
Technical issues
01/12/2009
This photograph has been taken with the DSLR, Nikon D700, Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-D (at 200mm) telephoto lens, at maximum aperture, ISO 800 and 1/350s. No tripod. The resulting short DoF concentrates focus and visual attention on the green oak leaves, sharply focused. The composition was obtained with no crops. The RAW original has had curves and contrast adjustments. With the intention of visually showing what I was feeling during those moments, I added vignetting, reducing exposure along the borders.Critial review
01/12/2009
It carries a great load, visual or symbolic. Visually: it is composed by nearly only 2 colours, black and green; then our eyes move on to the texture of the bark in the blackened trunks, in a visually effective V. The symbolism comes from the V-shaped frame, around the green leaves, as if protecting the remaining upcoming life. It is a fight between Life and Death.But this photograph also carries a load about the context and place where it was taken - it is in a Park where only green moss and golden leaf colours are usually photographed; a Park needing to evolve from past mistakes! For our trees, from the younger ones to those that had been born during the glorious Discoveries and lived until Sept/2009.
Where you should place it
01/12/2009
I have a problem with this, since my relation with this photograph isn't a peaceful one. For me, as the author that has captured it, it brings sadness and disenchantment. But it also signifies positively healthy activism, in favour of the forest. Firstly, you'd think that this is a photograph to hide. But, in fact, it needs to be seen, as a motivating piece for taking positive action. For this, I don't see it simply as a decorative means.In other than an exhibit, or a magazine or in a site, placing it on a wall will have to be for a very good and rare reason.
I am sorry for this, but I do have something to say about it, as the author.
