Baobab Tree

[botspur]

At the end of a blistering hot day on a small island dropped into the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans this lone Baobab (Adansonia Digitata) still stands firm. These extraordinary trees are surrounded by a wealth of African legend and superstition. Larger baobab’s can be over 3,000 years old; some Africans believe there is no longer any such thing as a young baobab. There is another well-known tale that God planted them upside down and another that a lion will devour anyone rash enough to pluck a flower from a baobab tree for the blossoms are believed to be inhabited by spirits, and that a man who drinks an infusion made from the bark will become mighty and strong, and a draught of water in which the seeds have been soaked and stirred will act as protection against attack by a crocodile.
Please note: I have not tried nor do I intend experimenting on anything to do with being eaten by wild animals!



C&C most welcome

[woty87]

That is a really awesome tree and wonderful light in the image. I wonder whether the horizon could have been a bit higher to show a little bit more of the foreground? Love it, either way!

Regards, John

[SpiderBob]

the subject is totally on the tree, I like it, a lot.

[raghunath]

Lighting and composition are absolutely superb!

[Donald]

That image just shouts 'Africa'. Excellent bit of work, Clive. Beautiful mood and atmosphere.

I would love to see a version posted at, say 1500 pixels wide, so that we could click on it and see it much larger in the lightroom. I'd guess it would be even more spectacular.

[Dave Humphries]

That image just shouts 'Africa'. Excellent bit of work, Clive. Beautiful mood and atmosphere.

I would love to see a version posted at, say 1500 pixels wide, so that we could click on it and see it much larger in the lightroom. I'd guess it would be even more spectacular.

Hi Clive,

Exactly what Donald said from me too

[adriana]

Lovely light and composition. I like it very much as is! It does look like God planted it upside down lol.

[botspur]

Hi John, many thanks, I toyed for ages about the foreground and I,m still undecided.
Hi Bob, raghunath and Audrey, thank you for the comments.
Hi Donald, Dave. Many thanks, I will post it as requested later on in the week. Thanks for the comments.

[Jack R Mann]

Just awesome, light and comp fantastic!

[Edwin Harvey]

Me three Donald & Dave.

[PBelarge]

Love the image of a tree I have never seen before. The colors not just in the tree, but the grass and low horizon really make this image.
...and the story behind it makes it even better!

[botspur]

Many thanks for the comments Edwin and Pierre

[botspur]

The bigger picture

[Bobobird]

Wow now that is what I call a tree. Awesome shot and great light.

Get a big print, frame it (or sell it).

Wow

[botspur]

Hi Bobo,
Many thanks for the positive feedback.

Clive

[WJT]

Clive this is a perfect picture. I thought at first it was in the North West or Australia, awesome colour and composition. The rule of two thirds?

[botspur]

Hi Wayne, thanks for the comments. Correct, this time the rule of thirds applied itself and worked.

[WJT]

The Boab tree is a mystery to Northern Australia. The fruit may have floated there but is more likley to been brought to WA by seafarers as they used it as a long life food source. We call it the "Upside Down Tree" because it apears the roots are coming out of the top.

[botspur]

Hi Wayne, funny how the upside down analogy applies to both continents.