<< Previous Next >>

THe Rhythm of Life and Death


THe Rhythm of Life and Death
Photo Information
Copyright: Annick Vanderschelden (vanderschelden) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2573 W: 76 N: 6467] (25759)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-09
Categories: Bushveld
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 70-200f2.8L IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Kruger National Park
Date Submitted: 2008-06-28 8:07
Viewed: 489
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Update 8august08
Thanks to Jan Hendrik (critique)
His is a Leadwood tree...
Info wiki..
The semi-deciduous Leadwood tree (Combretum imberbe Wawra) is found from KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa in the south to Tanzania in the north. It normally grows up to 20 metres (66 feet) tall. The Leadwood tree has a spreading, rather sparse, roundish to slightly umbrella-shaped crown and a single, thick trunk. Recent radiocarbon dating, done in South Africa, has established that a Leadwood tree can live up to 2000 years and subsequently remain standing for years after the tree has died.

Uses

* The wood is very hard, difficult to work, and termite resistant. It was once used for railway sleepers and is now prized as wood for ornamental work and furniture.

* It burns very slowly with intense heat, and is often used for a fire which is intended to burn all night in order to keep wild animals at bay. It is sometimes used in a barbecue to provide a hot, long-lasting flame.

* The ashes are used as whitewash for painting walls of kraal huts.

* The ashes can also be used as toothpaste when mixed into a paste with water

The Hereros and the Ovambos of Namibia regard the Leadwood tree as the great ancestor of all animals and people and they never pass it without paying it the necessary respect.


The Rhythm of Life and Death is captured during a Wildlife trail in the southern mopaneveld where the Olifants river flows.

The Olifants River is generally accepted as the divide between southern and northern Kruger. I haven't figured out yet whether this is still Mpumalanga province or Limpopo province.
To the south the vegetation is dominated by bushwillow. To the north it is mopaneveld. This is photographed in transition zone between north and south.
Kruger is an environment beyond sentiment. Walking here and thus being a part of the foodchain is definitely a reminder of your own mortality and our animal instincts,...and it puts things into perspective.

I wasn't allowed to photograph with the 400 for safety matters. I mounted the 70-200 plus 1,4 teleconverter on the MarkIII.

This picture was taken in the early morning.It was rather cold and windy. The fascinating layers in the sky gradually disappeared and the sun began to shine later on.
goldyrs, pekkavalo1, nglen, Alex99, marhowie, janhendrik has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To janhendrik: sgvanderschelden 1 08-08 06:28
To janhendrik: Leadwood treevanderschelden 1 08-08 05:43
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Annick,

Excellent landscape shot. Very nice composition and colours, working DOF and sharp details.

TFS

Pekka

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1901 W: 4 N: 5175] (19712)
  • [2008-06-28 10:53]

Hi Annick. You have named this picture well. Once full of life but not any more yet still a thing of beauty and i am sure the bird use it. A good landscape with the trees in the BG , natural looking coours. well done tFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2008-06-29 1:22]

Hi Annick.
What a nice three-dimensional picture of a very cute place. I am impressed with clearness of the colours, transparency of the image at whole, terrific DOF and crisp sharpness of all attractive pictured objects. Lights and exposure are great. Cloudy sky and its colouration are fantastic. It is superb BG for pictured main subject. Well done and excellent observation.
Alexei.

Beautifull choice of point of view and great idea for a great pic. The light is perfect and the colors too.I like a lot the words in perfect marriage whit the subjects of the pic,y best compliments,have a nice Sunday,Luciano

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1584 W: 242 N: 5304] (18669)
  • [2008-06-29 2:24]

Hi Annick,
a very meaningful shot.
The title is perfect!
I love the gritty feel to it even though there's no noise. I think its the high contrast and raking light that does it.
Excellent quality.
Superb composition.

This deserves a lot more attention.

Very well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1294 W: 104 N: 4595] (20449)
  • [2008-06-29 9:10]

Hello Annick, very nice shot of that dead tree, great details and a beautiful and strange light, well done, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 844 W: 4 N: 2088] (9792)
  • [2008-06-30 1:06]

Hello Annick, This is a nice shot and talk about the lovely landscape. Lovely BG and great clarity shot. Smiley tmrw

To me there are few place names that are more appealing than "Limpopo" Isn't it wonderful? Maybe it is just me but it always evokes feelings of wildness and adventure. You certainly had a wonderful trip. I've been away for much of the last three months but am back for the summer. This is a sharp image of that nice old "snaggly" tree. I have the same lens and converter but haven't used them together. It seems to work well.... although I don't have your great camera. I wonder if that would make any difference.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Sorry i could not critique this last night, Annick, the Boss had planned another meeting that never happened, but I was called in early, anyways!
You know, Annick, this could be the paradise I've 'adopted', the Jim Corbett National Park!A lovely shot, my friend, very very aesthetically framed and captured!
Cheers!
Goldy

I think the sky here here made it work well Annick..
Knarly dude! ;}
Howard

Hello Sir,

A very well composed picture.Good sharpness and Bg.TFS
Akshay

Hallo Annick,

I was away from Treknature for so long that I missed this posting.

A great picture of my favourite tree. Good composition, nice sky, well done.

This is a dead Leadwood tree (Combretum imberbe). In afrikaans it is called a "hardekool boom". This tree can live for well in excess of 1000 years, and it remains standing for many years after it has died, such is the hardness of the wood. I was told by a botanist that it can be longer than a 100 years. I love the smell of this wood when it is burning; it takes me back to my grandfather's farm when I was a little boy. The wood is extremely hard and also heavy. The sg of this wood when dry is 1.23 or 1.28, or something like that. The sg. of water is 1. Therefore it sinks like a rock in water; I have tried it. Very nice wood to use for a "braai" (barbeque).

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF