the art of survival, a photo from Dodekanisos, South Aegean

Photographer's Note

On the little island of Lipsi, this area is known as 'monodendri' - 'single tree' named after the small but tenacious specimen you see here!
I chose to compose my shot in 'portrait' format in order to emphasise its loneliness at the end of a rocky peninsula. Using 'landscape' made it just another tree by the sea shot.
Scanned from a print so no technical info.

kiks, Zelanda, Jakab, rushfan2112, john_c, evanrizo, ekinokswest, elmec, touristdidi, zhelach, JCG, wishlist, Vames, pascalrouget trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

tho_ebert (876) 2007-08-03 12:51

Hi Maggie,
Incredible how this tree is able to survive there !!!
Composition and colors are great, even if the sky seems a bit noisy, congrats and TFS
thomas

kiks (12805) 2007-08-03 13:34

Hi Maggie,

I like the idea of this compostion. You realy choose the perfect POV to get a big depth of image. Personaly i think that it will work better if you crop a little of the bothem side. In my opinion there is now to much fg. You can also try to go in a lower position to take the photo. That way you'll get the pretty rocks at the fg and keep more balance in the depth.
Still a very nice image.
TFS
KIks

Zelanda (5692) 2007-08-03 14:28

Hola Maggie,
Bella foto con gran profundidad y estupendo formato.
Preciosos colores y excelente definició.
Gran POV.
Saludos cordiales
Ros

Jakab (3867) 2007-08-03 15:39

Hello Maggie,
your picture shows an absurdity: survival where life seems to be impossible. Therefore the composition may not be balanced, the hard rocks and white salt must be emphasized in order to convince us that the survival of the lonely tree is a kind of wonder. One can not miss the tree since the line of the coast leeds the eyes. I like this picture so as it is, I don't think it could have been made better.
Best whishes and congratulations!
Laszlo

[2] +

Glint (6171) 2007-08-04 0:19

hello Maggie,
excellent composition. It looks good in portrait mode. So pleased you did'nt call it "Lonely Tree".
regards
Bev

rushfan2112 (2965) 2007-08-04 0:51

Hi Maggie. Gret shot. I love the expanse of foreground - I think it leads the viewer nicely into the shot. The tree could have been a cliche but it isn't -- it's just a part of the scene. The distant hills are faded and the tonal recession overall is superb. A cracking shot. Regards, Paul.

doubay (674) 2007-08-04 5:50

Hi Maggie!
A tree sieged by rocks and the sea. It looks like a miracle that it survives. And it raises the question: If one can exist, why not more? Very nice capture of this harsh landscape.
Regards
Andreas

john_c (24666) 2007-08-04 8:45

Hi Maggie,
Not a bad scan, with all the essential elements well preserved. The vertical format is indeed a wise choice here, as it really emphasizes the lone tree struggling to survive on this rocky headland. You controlled the strong light well, as it would have been all too easy to overexpose here. I also like the limited slice of sky, with the hills in the background enhancing. Well conceived and executed, Maggie.
John

KKar (486) 2007-08-05 22:59

Nice greek summer mood in this picture Maggie. One may still have the chance to be in a remote spot in some island all by himshelf dispite the crowds and the noisy tourists.
Thanks for sharing
Kostas

evanrizo (462) 2007-08-07 3:23

Hi Maggie, I was there on summer 1987 and I had my best summer time.
TFS it and so you gave be back these wonderful memories.
Lightness and colors are excellent.
Cheers
Evan
tomorrow...

manada (6239) 2007-08-16 0:02

Hello Maggie
I like your vertical compo giving importance to the coast, but above all, splendid subjet and great title!
Wooooow, so lonely....

Regards,
Freddy

ryno (6869) 2007-08-16 1:57

Great POV here, Maggie. An interesting image, with the focus on the lone tree clinging to life on this barren outcrop. Well seen and captured!
Regards,
Ryno

Malyshev (2522) 2007-08-17 11:52

Hi,Maggie!
Wonderful place,great idea and superb picture!
I like POV and colours!
Regards!
Yuri

fserajian (2299) 2007-08-21 14:05

Hi Maggie,

Nice composition, excellent framing the portait style works very well. TFS

Fara

noborders (1010) 2007-08-22 0:25

I lıke the POV very much for thıs vertıcal pıcture, the colours too are splendıd... and I am not dısturbed by the fact that ıt ıs the scan of a prınt, personally...
Bravo,
Cath.

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-08-24 7:27

Hi Meggie, what i love in this image is the great composition!
perfect for my taste to have a little piece of background and a lot of importance to the foreground..
very good to see the image in two vertical parts with a strong conrtast of colours...
the tree in the middle it is a perfect subject
A very good image!
ciao!
Valeria

mesutilgim (0) 2007-08-24 14:33

Hi Maggie,
This capture is great. Specially the length format and your pov, makes this shot a unique one. Colors of the sea stays in contrast to the rock formations at shore. Perfect sharpness throughout the capture.
TFS and have nice weekend
MESUT ILGIM

zhelach (3626) 2007-08-24 22:24

Hi,Maggie!
Wonderful place,great idea and very nice picture!
Zorica

Hellas (7123) 2007-08-27 4:06

Maggie,
I like very much your photo as well as your preference about scanned images. Monodendri steals the show!
Fondest wishes,
Athanasios.

mcenteesalas (1618) 2007-09-03 5:49

Hi Maggie thank you very much for your comments on my photo, may give you the favor back by complimenting you on this shot, you really captured this one well with a great POV one feels that is actually there admiring that view, well done again, regards, Salas

konok (2068) 2007-09-03 10:46

I agree absolutely with my Hungarian fellow, Jakab (the fourth in the row). It is an absolutely perfect and intelligent composition.

rene06 (370) 2007-09-05 7:35

Hi Maggie,
A nice landscape..the life with the green tree in the middle of rocks and sea. I like the yellow colours of the rocks as well.
TFS,
Rene

thiv56 (1628) 2007-09-09 1:53

Hello Maggie!

Nice, clear and sharp shot! TFS.
But I agree with kiks about too much FG and his idea of another (lower) POV.

ekinokswest (2994) 2007-09-12 12:54

Hi Maggie
I noticed that you take wonderful landscape and scenery shots . Although this is a very old photo and not digital , the image is so neat. this single tree is a good element but also the perfect beach, how the bottom of the sea is visible , so pure and clean those are other nice things that make this photo very valuable

elmec (12210) 2007-09-18 10:23

Hello Maggie!
Excellent shot!
Great scene! I love greece and their island and I will be there after two days!
Best regards!

MarcJente (29) 2007-09-18 12:09

Hello Maggie,
Nice composition,I love the colors in this picture with in the end the tree and the white cliffs.
Marc

touristdidi (8583) 2007-09-30 15:40 [Comment]

Show Comment

JCG (35153) 2007-10-17 11:44

Hi Maggie,

A very interesting photo. Curious all these fragments of yellow stones. The point of view is chosen well with this curve which gives a graphic side to the photo and this tree brings a lot. Observed well.

With all my friendships,

Jean-Charles

avishek_khan (544) 2007-10-21 23:43

Hi Maggie,
The story of a life coming out from nowhere - the thought process behind this snap is great. Though you require the bottom portion to describe the lonliness , a little crop might not have disbalanced the mood here.
Regards
Avishek

Kosynierka (143) 2007-11-03 11:33

Beautiful composition...

wishlist (4133) 2007-12-03 8:20

This is a great shot Maggie, very well composed and presented. The eye run through the pic starting from the fg and going towards the bg with the tree which is also a nice focal point in the compo. You managed to get excellent details throughout and beautiful colours and tones.
Very well done!
Thanks for sharing it and regards

Igor :o)

grandklaus (423) 2007-12-09 14:49

hello Maggie ,
this picture is really close to perfection in terms of composition and choice of point of view
great colors too
i'd like to have shot the same
BRAVO!
au revoir
JEFF

Vames (4356) 2008-01-07 15:35

Ciao Maggie che buona fotografia il mare hai bella colore ! bravo Maggie !

windosil (1158) 2008-08-28 4:03

another woonderful example of your artist eye, Maggie. Lovely colours, POV, framing make this subject memorable. Thanks,
Winifred

pascalrouget (393) 2008-09-14 7:12

Magnifiques couleurs qui contrastent parfaitement avec les îles ternes au loin. Un axe vertical coupé par un axe horizontal donnent une très bonne composition à mon goût.
Bravo!