Angophora Forest above Garie Beach

[gcowan]

First post for some time. I notice the last upload was made early in 2014. This is scanned medium format film.

A first attempt at using Portra in the landscape. Delibrately scanned low contrast and subtly over exposed highlights.
Hasselblad 503CW 40mm Distagon - Portra 400 Film Epson V700 Scanner.
Abstract expressionism influences.

[IzzieK]

Interesting shots...are these the real colourings of the branches? They are a bit on the reddish side...I have heard of a Hasselblad but never been really interested in it in the past because I know I won't be able to afford it...

[gcowan]

Interesting shots...are these the real colourings of the branches? They are a bit on the reddish side...I have heard of a Hasselblad but never been really interested in it in the past because I know I won't be able to afford it...

Thanks Izzie. The branches change colour during the year. At present they vary from very light pink through a salmon colour to grey. It is not a bad rendering of the colour, but this is film which is optimised to very fine graduations of skin tones. It has been exposed for the shadows and the highlights tend towards a pink cast especially when over exposed. I think the best thing to say is that it is how I perceived it at the time, with morning sunlight filtering through the trees.
The Hasselblad is a 20 year old second hand professional camera. There are plenty on the market. They take a while to get used to though. The lenses are really beautiful and using film is a joy, but the scanning is a bit of a dark art.

Graham

[bnnrcn]

Very nice images, I especially like #1

[IzzieK]

Thanks for the added info Graham. I stopped photography at some stage because with my salary at the time the cost became prohibitive. I am more interested with your image. What kind of trees are these that changes colour of branches? Are these eucalyptus? (I am an Aussie transplant here in the US, Graham...) I am not saying your rendition is bad I just thought it is too reddish...

[gcowan]

Ji Izzie,
The trees are Angophora Costata. I think they have a common name of Sydney Red Gum, but they are not eucalyptus, their flower buds do not have the little peaked caps on them that eucalyptus have and they have a different leaf layout on the branch. The leaves do not smell of eucalyptus when crushed.
The bark is smooth and can be almost deep red before shedding. It grows on the sandstone ridges around Sydney. I have seen them further west but they always occur on sandstone ridges. This group here stand out as they are fairly stunted, they can be very large and often the roots and trunk molds itself around large rocks in very precarious positions.
Incidently I am rather impressed with this film's rendering of the colour. I am not sure how it will go when the sun rises a little higher and the shadows deepen.
Regards Graham

[IzzieK]

'Must be beautiful over there with all those gnarly roots...'appreciate the added info. I learn something everyday...