Black willow leaf spiral
On September 10, when I was slowly following a white heron around a pond in Cedar Park, I noticed a very young black willow tree, Salix nigra, that was only a few feet tall. What caught my attention about it was the way one of its upper leaves had curled into a spiral, so for a while I left the bird to its own devices on the other side of the pond and focused on what was at hand.
For those of you who are interested in photography as a craft, points 1, 2, 5, 9 and 14 in About My Techniques are relevant to this photograph.
© 2012 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Fetching!
pixilated2
September 30, 2012 at 8:21 AM
Thanks. You fetched a good adjective, one I don’t remember anyone ever using here till now.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 8:55 AM
Good adjectives need more exposure to the light of day. Sometimes, you just have to get them out, dust them off, and use them when appropriate. ‘-)
pixilated2
October 1, 2012 at 6:07 AM
Good for you, then, for dusting that one off.
Steve Schwartzman
October 1, 2012 at 7:39 AM
Utter perfection. I enjoy simple, structural images, and this is one of my favorites. Now, here’s my question – am I right that the background is the pond, and the honey-colored band across the top the blurred reflection of the other side of the pond?
This did send me back to my childhood for a moment. Remember the little girl who had the little curl, right in the middle of her forehead? Apparently I had some of her tendencies. I could be very, very good, but if I decided to be bad, I could be horrid!
shoreacres
September 30, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Yes, here I am in full minimalist mode, and I don’t find you horrid at all for finding it perfect. You’re right that the blue background is the pond, whose color comes from the reflected sky, and that the honey-colored band across the top is a fringe of the opposite side of the pond. I took other pictures that didn’t show the band across the top, and I find some of those effective as well, but I ended up posting this image because for its suggestion of something beyond the water, and also because the color of the fringe matches that of the tip of the spiraling leaf.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 11:23 AM
The simplicity is the image’s beauty and strength.
Sally
September 30, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Thanks, Sally. When I was young I coined an adage: brevity is a virtue. This is the visual equivalent.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Beautiful, Steven! A great example of less is more.
suburbanferndaleark
September 30, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Thanks. Your comment says it all—more or less. The picture I have planned for tomorrow is an example of more is more.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 3:12 PM
🙂 Will look forward to seeing your more is more!
suburbanferndaleark
September 30, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Une pure merveille !
lemarcal
September 30, 2012 at 3:05 PM
Je te remercie.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 3:21 PM
Ooooh! Very striking in its simplicity. Thank you!
Cathy G
September 30, 2012 at 5:25 PM
You’re welcome. Sometimes Simplicity is the city I live in.
Steve Schwartzman
September 30, 2012 at 5:35 PM
Similar to the tattoo on my arm lol!
Bonnie Michelle
October 1, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Really? What does your tattoo represent?
Steve Schwartzman
October 1, 2012 at 2:43 PM
The Triple Goddess-There are three spirals created with an unbroken line. It predates the Trinity! A representation was found in New Grange north of Dublin in 2001, I already had the tattoo!
Bonnie Michelle
October 1, 2012 at 4:16 PM
I looked it up: its symmetry reminds me somewhat of yin/yang.
Steve Schwartzman
October 1, 2012 at 4:25 PM
In my tattoo the design on either side of the spiral is the Celtic symbol for the yin/yang! I felt I needed both a connection to the cycle of life as well as balance!
Bonnie Michelle
October 1, 2012 at 4:37 PM
I really love this shot! Beautifully clear background with no distractions and the perfect curl at the top. Awesome!
Brian Comeau
October 1, 2012 at 8:31 PM
Thanks for the awe, Brian. I’m fond of simple abstractions like this.
Steve Schwartzman
October 1, 2012 at 9:52 PM
I think this shot deserves a “superb”…
dhphotosite
October 2, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Thanks for your superb comment, David.
Steve Schwartzman
October 2, 2012 at 1:50 PM
So very elegant, Steve!
drawandshoot
October 3, 2012 at 11:55 AM
Thanks for finding it elegant, Karen.
Steve Schwartzman
October 3, 2012 at 1:27 PM
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January 1, 2013 at 6:14 AM
I’ve always wanted a tattoo; I think this one would fill the requirement nicely! 😀
janina
January 1, 2013 at 7:24 AM
If you ever get one that looks like this, I’ll expect to see a photograph of it.
Steve Schwartzman
January 1, 2013 at 9:16 AM
….in your dreams….L>O>L!! Cheers my friend, 😉
janina
January 1, 2013 at 8:29 PM
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