Winter woods reflected in pond
Copperfield Nature Trail; January 17th.
© 2021 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers
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Portraits of Wildflowers 
I had to enlarge the photo considerably to sort out an optical illusion. It appeared that the long branch on the left side of the tree had looped around and become part of the twisted-trunk tree next to it. Too bad that didn’t happen; some of the big vines can pull that sort of trick, but not the tree.
shoreacres
January 28, 2021 at 9:12 AM
It would be quite a tree if it could pull that kind of viny trick. (WordPress doesn’t recognize viny, which is a real word.) Because my camera takes 50-megapixel pictures, the half-megapixel versions I post here necessarily obscure the fine details. Like most people, I don’t post larger versions that the unscrupulous might steal. Also, large versions would eat up the storage space I have left on WordPress.
Steve Schwartzman
January 28, 2021 at 9:26 AM
Beautiful photo. The tangle for the top 5th of the photo is gorgeously complemented by the linear calm of the bottom. NIcely done!
Tina
January 28, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Thanks for your compliment about the tangle complementing the calm. As soon as I saw the bare trees across the pond I knew a picture was in the offing.
Steve Schwartzman
January 28, 2021 at 3:09 PM
I would call that very prominent tree “The Composer” of the woodlands! Those magnificent arm-limbs are live with energy!
Littlesundog
January 28, 2021 at 2:18 PM
“The composer of the woodlands” conjures up the possibility of a musical piece. I think the trees’ arm-limbs have more energy than mine, but all I needed was enough to raise the camera.
Steve Schwartzman
January 28, 2021 at 3:11 PM
I love this photo—the textures of the trees and the soft, melting reflections.
artsofmay
January 28, 2021 at 6:30 PM
You’ve described it so well. Thanks.
Steve Schwartzman
January 28, 2021 at 6:56 PM
A beautifully captured scene, Steve. That looks like a pleasant nature trail to hike on.
Lavinia Ross
January 28, 2021 at 6:33 PM
As soon as I saw the opposite shoreline I knew I could get some good pictures. We discovered this trail a few years ago. The pond (actually a double pond) is a highlight. The picture gives no hint that a hundred feet behind me was the edge of a neighborhood.
Steve Schwartzman
January 28, 2021 at 6:58 PM
The arms of that prominent tree just beckon one to go over there and explore the woods behind its sentinel watchfulness.
krikitarts
January 29, 2021 at 2:15 AM
Maybe one day I will go and explore those woods.
Did you ever read Arthur C. Clarke’s story “The Sentinel,” which became a basis for “2001”?
Steve Schwartzman
January 29, 2021 at 7:57 AM
Oh, yes, I’ve been a Sci-Fi fan for as long as I can remember. I amassed a pretty good library of Ace doubles (Remember them? Turn the book over and there was a different one!) that I dearly wish I had kept–Clarke, Sturgeon, Van Vogt, Andre Norton, Philip K. Dick (A Wind is Rising), Harry Harrison (The Stainless Steel Rat), Herbert (Dune–I named a favorite cat Jessica), Eric Frank Russell (Wasp), and so many more sources of stimulation for the imagination…
krikitarts
January 31, 2021 at 12:57 AM
Arthur C. Clarke remained my favorite during the years (now long gone) when I read science fiction. Yes, I remember those Ace doubles. Like you, I wish I could have retained some more of the books I collected as a teenager, and not just science fiction. On the other hand, as we have no children, I face the question of what will become of all the books I do still have.
Steve Schwartzman
January 31, 2021 at 6:45 AM
When we made the move to NZ, we donated the vast majority of our accumulated books to the Omaha library system and, though we still regret the loss of many loved ones, the tax deduction was very welcome, and we have high hopes that others will enjoy at least a few of them, as we did through the years.
krikitarts
February 1, 2021 at 2:58 AM
You’re fortunate you found a library that would take your books. Many (most? almost all?) libraries don’t want donated books. Or at least they don’t want to keep donated books; the Austin library system accepts donated books but immediately puts them up for sale to raise money.
Steve Schwartzman
February 1, 2021 at 5:56 AM
This photo is a perfect example of one of the things I like about fall and winter, how the trees can create such great patterns especially when incorporating reflections into the image. Really nice.
Todd Henson
February 2, 2021 at 5:36 PM
Merci. The loss of leaves in the winter makes my role of pattern-finder easier. I’ve long been fond of reflections, which added a lot to this picture.
Steve Schwartzman
February 2, 2021 at 5:42 PM