Top Ten (#7)

Photo by: Tim Bindner Photography

Here is # 7.

Technical aspects:

Camera – Fuji XT-2

Aperture – F/5.6

Shutter Speed – 1/125 sec.

Focal Length – 18mm

ISO – 200

Film Simulation – Acros+R

Location – Mt. St. Francis – New Albany, IN (https://goo.gl/maps/rSyKLFbKmXDAY7sh9)

Date – November 25, 2018 @ 9:57am.

Today’s image was one I noticed in an instance, snapped the shot but it didn’t hit me how symbolic it was until I got home and looked at it closer.  The irony is why it made my top ten.

As I often do in the autumn, winter and very early spring, I went for a hike at Mt. St. Francis.  I had a few days off around the Thanksgiving holiday and began my normal 3-4 mile hike.  Today was a bit different.  I generally have a few routes I take, either going one direction or the opposite, and sometimes take a side trail to mix it up.  This day I decided to go an offshoot I had never been down before and it was worth it.

As I was completing my trek for the day I was taking trail 6 towards my car when I saw what appeared to be a lesser traveled trail to my left.  Looking at my watch I know I had some time before I needed to get back to the car, so I took the trail.  Unlike most trails in this park, this one was defined but not as clear as most.  I was snapping branches below my feet, rustling leaves with every step, and walking gingerly as to not lose my balance.  I was also making more noise than I liked to.  I was descending a slight hill which I could see in the distance opened up to a field.  Seeing is one of the benefits of hiking in late fall.  About ¾ of the way down the slope I decided to stop for a second after one of many numerous slips under the branches and wet leaves below me.  At that moment I saw a doe and her three fawns in front of me in the field below.  I froze and watched them as they starred in my direction but I don’t think they saw me.  The wind was blowing slightly uphill and hitting my face.  The cool breeze was refreshing, but also allowed me to stand there motionless without my scent being detected.  After about 5-10 minutes they moved on and I continued downhill, eventually and gingerly reaching the bottom.  My curiosity kicked in and I headed the direction the deer was going.

My goal was to try and walk silently and see if I could still see them, instead of out of the fog arouse not only a small pond but the tree you see before you.  I raised my camera and took this picture.  Normally I shoot, then lower my camera to preview the image to ensure I captured what I wanted/hoped to.  Today was different.  I snapped the shot and held the camera to my eye.  I was soaking in the framing of the shot for a few moments.  Like I mentioned I looked around, then headed back to the car and home again.

Once I uploaded the shot on my computer the irony of this tree hit me.  I love the fact that it didn’t grow straight and perfect, but had some trauma that caused it to bend and grow crooked.  I saw myself in this tree.  I was there hiking to build my strength and perseverance and I too am surviving despite those things and people who often try to change my path or course in life.  The fog in the background not only added to the ‘feel’ of the image but like me this hike and photographs allow me to emerge from the fog of my life as this tree has done here in its habitat.

I am sure many have walked this area, and I imagine only a select few even noticed this tree, and fewer still saw what I see in this tree.  I have unofficially adopted this tree.  Each hike at Mt. St. Francis going forward I plan to take a moment and visit my buddy, this tree.  As he continues to grow and fight the outside elements, I will do the same.  This tree is now part of my inspiration for life.  A true symbol of beating the odds.

If you ever go hiking with me at Mt. St. Francis I will take you to ‘my’ tree.  This reminds me of a quote from a great poet Tupac Shakur (yes him).  If you replace his rose with this tree it is so prolific to why I chose this guy as number seven.  “Did you hear about the rose that grew in the crack in the concrete?  Proving nature’s law wrong, it learned how to walk without having feet.  Funny, it seems but, by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.  Long live the rose that grew from concrete, when no-one else even cared.” – Tupac

Until next time,

Tim