Stopped on my way home from Oregon to snap some pics of this tree farm I had seen on my way down. I figured that it would behoove me to take a little time to capture this amazing sight (after all, it's not everyday that I'm cruising down I-84 with nothing better to do than to take pictures for my weekly B&W project).
I quick take the exit off the interstate and take a turn and start cruising along this little road that runs between the tree farm and the highway. As I'm puttering along, I start to ask myself, "What am I doing? Who in their right mind pulls off the interstate to snap a couple pictures of a tree farm?"
Arriving at what looked to be a good location, I quick pulled off the road and got out. Trying not to make myself too conspicuous in front of the millions of curious eyes zipping down I-84 at 75mph, I shielded my camera with my coat (in an effort to keep it out of the cold, of course), and slowly approached the grove of trees.
ISO 400 | 200mm | f 2.8 | 1/160 sec
I was truly astonished at how beautiful the sight was. Layer upon layer of glorious foliage stood before my eyes. Hundreds of pathways, laid out many years before, stretched for miles in front of me. Peering through the artificial forest, I was quickly lost in an unending expanse of canopy composed of leaves and limbs, whose only supports were the seemingly fragile, slender stalks that fastened the whole glorious array to the soft, dew-stricken earth beneath.
ISO 400 | 180mm | f 2.8 | 1/40 sec
Overtaken by the incredible beauty of the scene, I instantly whipped out my camera and began snapping (to my shame, I even failed to check my exposure before shooting). The novelty of the sight, combined with the fall colors and the slight mist that permeated the landscape egged me on in a desperate effort to capture every aspect of the scene in front of me, lest at any second the ground, trees, leaves, sky, and all should be swallowed up and vanish before my eyes (a reasonable fear, for such occurrences have been recorded by hundreds of photographers in years past ;-) ).
ISO 400 | 17mm | f 4.0 | 1/60 sec
Though some may find these images dull or uninteresting, there's something intriguing to me in the long, solitary forms of thousands of trees, all huddled together as if to keep warm. Unable to venture out on their own, they remain as a group, bound by the roots that tie them to the ground. There they remain, gazing on as millions of busy individuals pass them by without a moment's notice, unable to take the time to stop and enjoy their elegance and beauty. If only someone would stop and capture their story. If only someone could see that there's more there than at first appears. If only someone would realize that it takes conscious effort to find beauty in today's world. If only someone would stop and pay attention...
