“When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
Dark Morning
Angel Oak
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
California Oak
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
Southern Live Oak
Oak in Sonoma
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.
Redwoods Rising
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.”
~ Maya Angelou
Eucalyptus Reaching
WOW, all of this pictures are stunning! I love them all, but the “Angel Oak” is extraordinaire beautiful!!
Warm regards, Heidi
Hi Heidi, Thank you! Aren’t Trees wonderful? Angel Oak is a famous old live oak in Charleston, SC.
That was a quick reply hihi 😀 Yes the trees are wonderful.
Beautiful, Jane! It’s amazing to see the one tree with the branch almost lying on the ground.
Thank you, Pam. That’s Angel Oak, one of the oldest and the most famous live oaks in Charleston, SC. Happy you enjoyed this tribute.
A magnificent and elegant series of photos and truly heartfelt words.
Thank you very much, Simon. It felt right for the time.
The backlighting you captured on Angel Oak makes for a beautiful view of that magnificent tree..
Deep, soulful words & images.
Thank you, Diane. They matched my mood at the time. I’m glad you like Maya’s words and the B&W conversion of Angel Oak…had never worked it in monochrome. Hope all is well with you.
Oh my! Sensational and soulful images!
Thanks very much, Realmaven. Glad you enjoyed.
these are gorgeous!
Superbe série…L’ensemble des clichés est très graphique !!! Bien joué !
Merci beaucoup, Olivier! 😊
Those are awesome trees. You get starstruck when you think about how long they have existed to get this being and beautiful. And your photos make them proud. Simply gorgeous black and white images.
Otto, Your reaction means a lot to me and I agree, the history that they have witnessed is awe-inspiring. I am rather obsessed with their shape and form. Very pleased that you enjoyed this series– thank you so much.
Fantastic collection and a impressively text.
I like these charismatic trees.
Thanks so much, Lutz. Pleased you enjoyed the pairing of the two. Much appreciated.
What a gorgeous photo essay, Jane. Maya Angelou’s elegant and soulful words are a perfect match. I was fortunate to meet her many years ago after a talk at the Kennedy Center. She was surprisingly tall. Her warmth and graciousness were amazing. I’ll never forget her. I’m not surprised that her writing touched you deeply.
Thank you, Patti. Pleased you enjoyed these. How wonderful that you met Maya Angelou and felt her warmth and grace.
All very nice, Jane! That is a great image of the ancient Angel Oak and the sky up through the Eucalyptus is moving!
Thanks, Ellen. I recently converted some color images of Angel Oak and liked the result. When you come to SF, you’ll love the Eucalyptus in the Presidio.
stunning Jane…I can feel the power ~ smiles hedy 🙂
Thank you very much, Hedy. 😊
Simply stunning Jane.
Thank you, Andrew. Felt right.
Fantastic set of trees. but it has to be the Angel Oak for me, Jane
Thanks so much, Mike. Angel Oak is amazing(500 years old) — near where I used to live in SC. I hadn’t converted some of my shots to monochrome until recently and I thought it showed off her beautiful shape. Glad you enjoyed them.
Dreamy picture set! Great pictures.
Thanks very much, Arv. Was feeling contemplative.
A lovely tribute to the beauty and strength of trees and humans, too, Jane. The steady words of Maya Angelou were the perfect accompaniment for your outstanding photos.
That is so nice to read, Jet. Thanks very much. Angelou’s word hit me deeply especially this week. Glad you enjoyed the pairing with some of my favorite old trees…
As I sit watching waves crash on the shore, your photos and Maya Angelou’s poem, moved me, Jane. Thanks for the good reminders about shooting straight up, wide open. I’ll have a chance to practice on a giant Banyan tree over the next few days.
Thank you, Susan. I’m happy that this Post spoke to you. Much appreciated. Good luck with your Banyan. 😉
Moving series. Some of those trees are like beautiful carved columns serving as supporting construction for the roof of the temple of Nature.
When I lay down on the grass, looking skyward through the branches, I like to image that the branches of a tree are their real roots. They seem to be deeply embedded in the sky extracting energy from the firmament.
A fallen tree : https://marceloleonard.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/101/
Hi Marcelo, What beautiful thoughts about trees. Thank you very much. Your image link is powerful.
Great images! There’s something in an old tree that touches the soul!
Thank you, Allan. That is so true. They are witnesses to history. Glad you enjoyed.
Souls maybe weak when body itself are lack of sleep and rest regenerating power in bed sometimes needed …beautiful post Jane 🙂
Thank you so much for your thoughts, Jake. Pleased you enjoyed it. 🙂
This is a stunning set 🙂
Thanks so much, Joshi. I am infatuated with the shapes of trees. Glad you like them. 🙂
Wow – those shots are just amazing! The images and words resounded with me.
Thanks very much, Ladyfi. I thought they paired well– pleased you agree. Appreciate your visit.
You have captured the beauty and splendour of these magnificent trees and putting them into silhouette gives them a feeling of mystery. What a beautiful and meaningful poem to accompany them. Love this post Jane
Thank you, Pauline. I’m pleased you like the pairing. Angelou’s powerful words really hit home this week.
I didn’t know this poet so went to look at more of her poetry
A few of her most famous are “I Know Why A Caged Bird Sings”, “Phenomenal Women”, “On the Pulse of the Morning” (which she read at Clinton’s Inauguration). I’m glad you were inspired, Pauline. Thank you.
I found some. “Phenomenal Woman” was ranked as a top rated poem, I read it, it is very inspirational. I’ll check out some more. Thanks for putting me on to her Jane
Isn’t it? Happy you are inspired, Pauline.
It’s been a disturbing time…beyond words, but Angelou’s poetry is a good touchstone…and your photographs of trees. What is it about trees? And oaks especially, how I love them. I used to go to the Georgia coast every Spring, each year another chance to venerate those graceful live oaks. But the Angel Oak! I hope I can spend time with that tree before too long…a beautiful post, Jane. (Did I tell you I’m going to see the Redwoods in April? Can’t wait!).
Thank you, Lynn. I was working on a post of blooming mustard and my mood just wasn’t matching their vibrance. I’m so glad we share a love of trees…living in SC for years gave me some good subjects and now I am often on the quest for CA oaks. So glad you are visiting the Redwoods! I love their quiet beauty…such a challenge to photograph. 🙂 Appreciate your thoughts, as always. Safe travels!
I’ve had that experience of working on a post that doesn’t match your mood, and saving it for another time, so I hear you. As for photographing redwoods, I really don’t have great expectations – but I’m curious – what was the focal length of your redwood photo here? It succeeds at showing the grandeur, it’s really nice.
Hi Lynn, I’m glad you know what I mean– photos are so emotional. I shot this image a while ago with an 18-55mm Nikon lens at its widest (in this instance, would be 27mm with the cropped sensor on the Nikon I was using) Lately I’ve shot them wide with my 24-70mm at full frame with nice results. I find in the groves that my most successful are wide looking up, or wide vertical with foreground and also, using my 70-200mm, close ups of a group of trunks and detail shots (your specialty) of the trees and understory of ferns and clover. The groves can be quite dark (and dusty!) so I do use a tripod. Good luck and enjoy. Looking forward to your images.
This is great information and advice, Jane…unfortunately, tripods an I don’t get along…I have one but never use it…we’ll see on that one, but just knowing to plan for a darker kind of light is helpful. 🙂 Dusty, well, maybe that will provide a hazy atmosphere. Something else to work with! I know it’s not an easy place to work. It’s interesting to hear what’s been most successful – and it all make sense. The best part, undoubtedly, will be the feeling of being there.
Indeed…it’s all about being there in the quiet cathedral of trees.
PS I struggle with my tripod, too. A love/hate relationship. Luckily you can jack up the ISO on newer cameras with great success. 😉📷
wonderful. MYSTERIOUS shots….love the different personalities of each…gorgeous!!
Thanks so much, April. I thought they paired well with Angelou’s stunning poetry.
Impressive picture from the Angel Oak. Amazing in b&w.
Thank you, Detlef. She is a wonder and I found that the b&w version really showed off her shape. Glad you enjoyed it.
Wonderful images. I particularly like the Redwoods Rising.
Thanks so much, Margaret. I really liked the drama in the monochrome version of redwoods. Appreciate your visit!
Impressed!
My take on “A Face in the Crowd”.
https://wordpress.com/post/satyaanveshan.wordpress.com/659
Thank you, Satyanveshee.
I loved the beautiful pictures of the trees ( especially Angel Oak) with Maya Angelou’s beautiful words. I really felt like i could hear her unmistakable
voice reading as I looked at the pictures and as I get older(?) the words mean so much more.
Hi ML, Thank you so much. I agree, I felt like I could hear her, too. I’m pleased you enjoyed the images. Hope all is well with you.
Beautiful images accompanied with wonderful wisdom. Thank you Jane for sharing.
Thank you very much, Cornelia. Felt right this week.
LOVE this post, Jane– it’s fabulous!
Thanks so much, Eliza. I really appreciate your enthusiasm. 🙂
Jane, these are absolutely beautiful!
I especially love the redwoods.
They are such magnificent trees.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks very much, Lisa. I thought they worked well in monochrome. My tree obsession continues…
These are amazing, Jane! The monochrome really brings out the textures and forms of these wonderful trees!
Thanks so much, Pete! I love the graphic forms in black and white. Glad you enjoyed them.
You are welcome, Jane 🙂
These tree photos are accompanied with Maya’s poem perfectly. So beautifully done, Jane!
Thanks so much, Amy. Pleased the combination touched you.
You may want to read the Wish Tree. It’s a middle grade book, but I think you would appreciate it. Oaks are wonderful, so majestic and beautiful. Makes me want to climb them.
Thanks for the recommendation, Lisa. I’ll check it out. Happy you enjoyed the images, thanks again.
Wonderful post Jane. Your photos and Maya Angelou’s words, just beautiful!
Thank you, Belinda. I’m so glad you like the pairing. And my obsession with trees.
A perfect union of photos and words. You fill the spaces with a soothing electric vibration!
How nice of you to say, Freddie. Thank you so much and I’m pleased you enjoyed this one.
I just saw Angel Oak a year ago for the first time. Magnificent, and wonderfully captured. I have to admit the words paired with these images put me in a panic~”OH NO! Are these trees dying???” Surely not?
Hi Melissa, I’m so glad you got to visit her– pretty amazing. I used to live near her when I was on the east coast. In light of the recent current events, Maya’s poetry really hit home for me. And I love trees.
I love trees too and you really captured some of my favorites. I can show you some beautiful bur oaks if you are ever out this way 🙂
Beautiful trees, Jane, especially the Angel Oak. You captured the volume of the tree as well as showing the graphic beauty of it’s lines.
Ω
Thank you, Allan. She is a southern fascination and is 500 years old. Glad you enjoyed my tree obsession.
Amazing.
Ω
Ah the beautiful Angel Oak Jane – we do so love her! Your use of Maya’s poetry was wonderful with your choices this week.
Thank you, Tina. Glad you like the images paired with the poetry. A melancholy week.
Your black and white photos are gorgeous !
Thank you, Maria. I am on a constant quest for trees in winter. 🙂
Excellent words and images
Thanks very much, Drew. Glad you enjoyed this one.
The large, old trees are both elegant and magnificent. I always enjoy your work.
Such a beautiful post for this challenge, I love trees, especially in winter when their structure can be easily seen. You have done them proud.
Beautifully reflective post…
Excellent words by Maya and gorgeous images to pair with the text Jane 🙂
Thanks so much, Joe. I’m glad you feel they worked well together.
Jane, what a powerful post. The photos support the text beautifully. I especially liked Dark Morning, maybe because I’m sitting here in the dark.
Thank you, Jane. Pleased you like the pairing. Hope you are enjoying your day now that the sun is up.
Jane – straight to my heart, this post. The Angel Oak is – an Angel. Love the way you used Maya Angelou’s words with your beautiful photos.
Thank you, Ann-Christine. Have been feeling melancholy with recent events and Maya’s word rang so true. Pleased you like the images with the poem.
Melancholy is often with me as well. The world is suffering. And as your post says – great souls die and many other things die with them. I love your post.
Thank you. I had a post of mustard flowers ready and it didn’t match my mood after Parkland. Such sadness.
I believe all of us have those young in our hearts and thoughts.
Scrumptious, Lavish, Stylish, Impressive…Good, good work.
Thank you very much, Paula. That means a lot to me.
I enjoyed this post and the introspective thoughts of Maya Angelou. Couldn’t help but think of Steve when reading it.
And yes, I am up in the middle of the night. Back from our trip to Galapagos, Machu Picchu and rain forest, only to be stricken with the flu, both of us. Fever has finally stopped raging but now up coughing. This, too, shall pass.
Hope all is well with you and Bob.
Hi Linda, Maya’s poetry evokes feelings of loss and I’m glad you are moved. Thank you. I hope you two are feeling better!
I love how you captured the gnarly, majestic sculptural forms, intertwined movements of the California Oaks. And I can’t help it, these oaks do conjure up memories of the Addams Family.
I like how you interspersed Maya Angelou’s poem which, like your photographs is so honoring of these amazing beings.
Thank you so much, Arati. I love your comparison to Addams Family! Pleased you enjoyed the images and poetry.
So beautiful and impressive. Trees can move me deeply, certainly when they are old and have seen so much…
Am in love with the ‘Angel tree’…
Thank you very much, Noortje. Trees are the sentinels of history.
I’m currently reading “The Hidden Life of Tree” by Peter Wohleben It’s the science of trees written by a man with the soul of a poet. I’m enjoying it and this post kind of ties well with it.
Hi Amy, Yes! I was given that book and it’s fascinating. Great pairing for tree lovers. Thanks so much.
Beer wise and profound words by Maya and a magnificent set of trees. A stunning post.
Thank you very much, Miriam. Maya’s words really rang true to me this week.
Fantastic pics, Jane. What a magnificent tree – the Angel Oak.
Thank you, Fred. She is an amazing beauty. Glad you enjoyed!
A nice tribute. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the California oaks.
Thank you, Gunta. So do I and I’m always on a quest for them in winter.
Wise words form Maya Angelou. Things come and go, but something else will come along and moving forward can be just as good and valuable of a time. Amazing set of BW shots. So many perspectives of what it means to be a tree, and what they stand for.
Thank you, Mabel. Trees are the witnesses of history. I’m glad you enjoyed these images.