<< Previous Next >>

Last Sunset over Limburg


Last Sunset over Limburg
Photo Information
Copyright: Niek Bouwen (SunToucher) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2227 W: 199 N: 2484] (9078)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-14
Categories: Trees, Sky
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 18-200 Zoom F3.5-6.3 DC, Tiffen 62mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Limburg 2007
Theme(s): Sunsets, 50-59 points Chapter 7 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-28 7:51
Viewed: 907
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This was the last sunset of my mini trip to the south of the province Limburg. I ventured of the campground for just a few 100 meters to get this view. I spoted that tree on the first day I arrived and knew that I had to capture it. The tree is covered with mistletoe.

Since most have already been written about sunsets, I thought I dedicate the note to mistletoe:

Mistletoe is a plant parasitic on the branches of a tree or shrub. All mistletoes are parasitic plants in the order Santalales. This mistletoe habit has evolved independently five times: 1) Misodendraceae, 2) Loranthaceae, 3) Santalaceae (formerly considered the separate family Eremolepidaceae), and Santalaceae ( formerly treated as the separate family Viscaceae). Although Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae were placed in a broadly-defined Santalaceae by APG2, these two mistletoe lineages have independent origins.

The name was originally applied to Viscum album (European Mistletoe, Santalaceae; the only species native in Great Britain and much of Europe), and subsequently to other related species, including Phoradendron serotinum (the Eastern Mistletoe of eastern North America, also Santalaceae). The European Mistletoe is readily recognized by its smooth-edged oval leaves in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy white berries in dense clusters of 2-6 together. In America, the Eastern Mistletoe is similar, but has shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of ten or more berries together.

The largest family of Mistletoes is Loranthaceae with 73 genera and over 900 species. Some of these species have small, insect-pollinated flowers (as with Santalaceae), but others have spectacularly showy, large, bird-pollinated flowers. Mistletoe biodiversity is markedly higher in subtropical and tropical climates; Australia has 85 species, of which 71 are in Loranthaceae, and 14 in Santalaceae.

The species grow on a wide range of trees, and can eventually prove fatal to them where infestation is heavy, though damage more commonly only results in growth reduction. All mistletoes are hemiparasites, bearing evergreen leaves that carry out some photosynthesis on their own, relying on the host mainly for water and the mineral nutrients it carries. The genus Arceuthobium (dwarf mistletoe; Santalaceae) has reduced photosynthesis. As an adult, it manufactures only a small percentage of the sugars it needs from its own photosythesis but as a seedling it actively photosynthesizes until a connection to the host is established.

Most mistletoes seeds are spread by birds (e.g. the Mistle Thrush in Europe, the Phainopepla in southwestern North America, and Dicaeum of Asia and Australia), which derive sustenance through eating the fruits (drupes). The seeds are egested in their droppings and stick to twigs, or more commonly the bird grips the fruit in its bill, squeezes the sticky coated seed out to the side, and then wipes its bill clean on a suitable branch. The seeds are coated with a sticky material called viscin (containing both cellulosic stands and mucopolysaccharides), which hardens and attaches the seed firmly to its future host.

The word 'mistletoe' is of uncertain etymology; it may be related to German Mist, for dung and Tang for branch, but Old English mistel was also used for basil.

While historically often considered a pest that kills trees and devalues natural habitats, mistletoe has recently become recognized as an ecological keystone, an organism that has a disproportionately pervasive influence over its community. A broad array of animals depend on mistletoe for food, consuming the leaves and young shoots as well as transferring pollen between plants and dispersing the sticky seeds. The dense evergreen witches' brooms formed by the dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium) of western North America also make excellent locations for roosting and nesting of the Northern Spotted Owls and the Marbled Murrelets. In Australia the Diamond Firetails and Painted Honeyeaters are recorded as nesting in different mistletoes. This behavior is probably far more widespread than currently recognized; more than 240 species of birds that nest in foliage in Australia have been recorded nesting in mistletoe, representing more than 75% of the resident avifauna. These interactions lead to dramatic influences on diversity, as areas with greater mistletoe densities support higher diversities of animals. Thus, rather than being a pest, mistletoe can have a positive effect on biodiversity, providing high quality food and habitat for a broad range of animals in forests and woodlands worldwide.

Source: Wikipedia

RAW to JPEG. Slight crop, levels and saturation. USM, frame, resize and USM.
Kathleen, SkyF, dew77, ramthakur, Altair, horia, SelenE, Adanac, uleko, jeanpaul, PaulH, hester, livios, Jamesp, peter_stoeckl, Seiei, delic, Evelynn, gracious 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 bobcat08: mistletoeSunToucher 1 05-31 14:29
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2007-05-28 8:04]

Hi Niek,
must be early Spring as the trees are not filled with leafes quite yet, which makes them even a more dramatic silhoutte against the beautiful sunset sky.
Excellent composition with fabulous colors and lovely scenery.
TFS..Sky

Hi Niek.
These trees look wonderful silhouetted against that beautiful colour in the sunset. Not thick dark silhouettes, so they keep the whole simplicity of this image together being able to see through them. I first thought of birdnests when looking at the thumbnail until I read you notes, interesting and well spotted saving it for a shot like this. Great detail and sharp throughout, wonderful image.

Kathleen
New Zealand

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-05-28 10:09]

Hello Niek,
Lovely sunset capture.I liked POV,framing,warm colors,tree silhouettes and composition a lot.
TFS..:-)

This sunset picture evokes a sense of peace and tranquillity, Niek. I like it.
The silhoetted shape of the tree with the mistletoe on it looks wonderful in this image.
I know of the mistletoe parasite; I have seen it in my native area in India.
However, it has been very beneficial to read your note on it.
Well done and best regards.

Hallo Niek,

Is wederom een schitterende opname. Het contrast tussen de bomen en de achtergrond is perfect. Haar en haarscherp. Kleuren zijn zoals ze horen te zijn bij een zonsondergang. Alleen vind ik het jammer van de omlijsting. Met name de onderzijde van de foto. Is het jou ook opgevallen dat je in Limburg veel van die mistletoe in de bomen ziet zitten? Groeten Bob

Hi Niek,
Great silhouettes and lovely warm colourtones here! I realy like the mood in your photograph. TFS!

Regards, Peter

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3091 W: 234 N: 5896] (19880)
  • [2007-05-29 2:22]

Lovely sunset, Niek. : )
The colors of the sky are beautiful.
I can see why that tree attracted your attention.
It is very "picturesque" and is a good counterbalance to the other tree on the right. I like the lacy texture of the tree branches and twigs.
A well balanced composition with wonderful textures and colors.
TFS. : )

Hi Niek ,
very nice image from sunset.
great conposition and lovely colours.
sharpness is excellent too.
thanks for sharing
Regards
Saeed

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2124 W: 222 N: 3909] (12977)
  • [2007-05-29 4:11]

Hi Niek

Another very beautiful and moody landscape from you, my friend!
The silhouettes of these trees and the mistletoe look really beautiful in the sunset light and contrast well with that splendid sky.
The colors here are really beautiful and very nicely saturated and the composition is again terrific, with the carefull positioning of the big mistletoe-branch at 1/3 of the frame.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1096 W: 1 N: 4461] (14974)
  • [2007-05-29 8:04]

Hello Niek,
Beautiful scene well captured with great sharpness and its' lovely colors. Thanks for the great note as at first glance I thought it was nests in a colony.
Rick

Lovely play of sunset colours and shadows here Niek.

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-29 11:42]

Hello Niek

A wonderful landscape shot,with beautiful colours and silouhettes.Very good POV with sharp details.The clouds are beautiful.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2007-05-29 12:32]

Hello Niek,
This is a very beautiful capture of a sunset!
The colours are magic and I like the silhouettes of the trees and the mistletoe (which we don't have here!). Nice POV and a very fine composition.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Niek
C'est une belle et intéressante composition photographique bien réalisée pour ce superbe coucher de soleil. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Merci et au revoir...JP

Hello Niek,
An interesting phenomenon is captured in the tree!
I know one tree not far from where I live where the same occurs (most likely), I will try to photograph next time I pass by...
Attractive sunset, textures and patterns in the sky are wonderful!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2397 W: 62 N: 3947] (12698)
  • [2007-05-30 3:33]

Hi Niek,
You got beautiful colors in the sky here. Composition and the silhouettes of the trees are very good. TFS.PT
Selen

  •      
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1059 W: 26 N: 3162] (11367)
  • [2007-05-30 7:30]

Hi Niek,

very well seen and executed shot. The shapes of the mistletoe add some extra interest and thre colours are subtle yet beautiful. Good note too, very interesting.

tfs,

Paul

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1477 W: 18 N: 3013] (11052)
  • [2007-05-30 14:14]

Hi Niek

You have some lovely silhouettes in your shot. They are nicely placed within the frame as well. Wonderful colours in the sky as well. Nice to see the mistletoe - we don't see this as much as we used to in England

TFS

Karan

Hi Nieck, wonderful sunset with splendid colors and lovely silhouettes of trees, great presentation, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16856)
  • [2007-05-30 20:32]

Niek, this is very beautiful.

Excellent colors, saturation and contrast. Very nice mixture between dark and light shades.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5060] (15082)
  • [2007-05-31 3:06]

Hi Niek

Great, atmospheric shot with lovely colour.

The note is very informative also.

James

Hi Niek.
Great colours. Lovely sky. I like the positioning of the silhouettes. Keeps interest across the image. Very beautiful. Well done.
Regards, Steve.

Hello Niek,
emotionally very appealing scenery. A pleasantly well controlled study on clouds, trees - and perfectly well shown mistletoes.
Thank you! With bestg regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • delic Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 530 W: 6 N: 340] (936)
  • [2007-06-04 16:08]

Hello Niek,
Strong composition here matching the silhouettes with the orange sunset. Sharp contrast has good visual impact. Interestinh note on the mistletoe.
Best wishes,
Hakan

Hi Niek,

We have plenty of mistletoe out here on the west coast too. It is an interesting idea to showcase it as a silhouette. Color, exposure and sharpness are really good.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hello Niek,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful and trully beautiful sunset!
good POV, good colour and details
Greeting
Tony

Hello Niek!
Beautiful sunset, love those silhoettes and the pretty colorful sky...nicely framed. TFS
Donna:o)

Hello Niek,Very impressive shot with nice colors and elegant framing
best wishes
Sibel

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF