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Kahikatea Bush


Kahikatea Bush
Photo Information
Copyright: Janice Dunn (Janice) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3460 W: 145 N: 5905] (17690)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-12-05
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon EOS 30d, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): New Zealand Native Fauna and Flora (2) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-08 1:47
Viewed: 618
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This photos was taken at Smith’s Bush, about 8 kms from where I live.

It is a reserve of a rare remnant of mature New Zealand native forest. There is a 40-minute nature trail through this native bush that leads past a cathedral grove of giant Puriri trees.

What is strange about this bush is that it does not have a Maori name, and there are no Kauri trees. Kauri have been planted there, but none have survived.

Also there are no Pohutukawa trees. The sea would have almost lapped the margin of this forest in the past, but there is no evidence of coastal influence in the vegetation, and no Pohutukawa, which is found just about everywhere else on the coast around here.

The most conspicuous tree is the feathery grey-green Kahikatea “White Pine” (dacrycarpus dacrydioides) .

Until recently the tree was more likely to be referred to by the misleading name "white pine", despite its not being a pine; the Māori name Kahikatea is now more widely used (other Māori names are kaikatea, kahika, katea, kōaka).

For Māori, the Kahikatea had many uses. The fleshy aril or koroi was an important food resource, and was served at feasts in great amounts. The wood was also favoured for making bird spears. Soot obtained from burning the heartwood supplied a pigment for traditional tattooing (tā moko).
cataclysta, ellis49, eqshannon, mariki, eng55, jusninasirun, marhowie, goldyrs, Heaven, Argus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goldyrs: Forests ForeverJanice 1 06-10 20:41
To eqshannon: Kia ora and thanksJanice 1 06-08 14:27
To LordPotty: Kahikatea treesJanice 1 06-08 13:32
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Janice
Beautiful place and a very interesting note. Photo is nicely composed with great mood. I like it very much
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 4 N: 2512] (11673)
  • [2008-06-08 3:29]

Hello Janice, This is very lively landscape shot. The view is perfect and well presented. The composition is good. Ganesh

Hello Janice,
This would have been a tricky one to take.,but you did well.
I hadn't heard of Smiths Bush before.
Those Kahikatea look pretty young to me.
If you get a chance,drive down to Pirongia
(you know,where I used to live).
If you go for a walk in the forest there you will see some massive Kahikatea and Rimu.
NZs tallest native tree is on Mt Pirongia.
It is a Kahikatea over 66m high.
Well worth a trip.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Janice,
a very nice picture with beautifiul dull light, not
easy to take. Well compsed with good deep and nice POV.
Loveley colour and fine detals.
Well done, old friend.

Over +30C today too.

Which Bush is Mr Smiths? I say that with obvious tongue in cheek humour..It is a fine landscape Janice..and landscapes are where I started 45 years ago as a child...VERY well seen and it looks so New Zealand, but perhaps that meaning might escape one who has spent most of their life there..and from a man who has only seen images...Very well composed.
Bob

Hello Janice,

Excellent composition with and excellent framing. Excellent DOF and sharpness. A great variety of plants with different shape of leaves and colors. I like it very much.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 3 N: 427] (1335)
  • [2008-06-08 14:23]

Hi Janice,
Very nice landscape.Looks like a painting.Very well caught and composed.Details,exposure and 3D effect are perfect.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

Hello Janice,

This is a interesting advice what Steve you offer Janice.

A very fine composition with and excellent framing. Great DOF, POF and sharpness. Beautiful natural colors.

Greetings and TFS BOB

Hello Janice. I enjoyed reading your note as much as looking at this composition. Excellent shot of the trail with the undergrowth looking like our rain forest here. I like the tall trees in perspective and the unique diagonal stem across the frame. Thanks for sharing and best regards. Jusni

I see we're in the "thicket" of it again Janice :)
Nice sense of depth and well exposed bush scene..
The color & detail looks great too mf.
Interesting notes..and yes, I read them all the way through ;}
Howard
PS - I'll write soon - promise!

A ity that native trees are nowadays only to be found in reserves, Janice...And trees are my weakness, especially when captured so well, that the shot seems to have given the forest a soul, if you know what I mean...A really beautiful shot, Janice.
Goldy

Hi Janice!

I like the wild and untouched aspect of that forest very much. Your picture also is very well accompanied by interesting and instructive notes.

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-06-11 4:36]

This is a fine capture of the forest, or bush in your area, Janice.
You are lucky to live near such a fine habitat.
This has a great composition of the Kahikatea gnarled old tree trunk in its natural habitat. Excellent exposure too.
TFS this fine image and the informative note,
Best wishes, Ivan

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