Photographers, like most of their peers, tend to look for good photography subjects outside of their usual place of residence and activity. The unknown, the new, the exotic inspire us more than our neighbourhood or our immediate region. It is probably a reflex as old as humanity to awaken our creativity.
I myself am part of this group and my gaze is often dormant when it comes to exploring my neighborhood. I am even someone who plans very carefully his photo expeditions, documenting myself in depth and doing remote tracking to make the most of my trips.
However, very nice surprises await us often close to home. This is what happened for this photo during a short drive. I then remembered a cultural event that takes place in an orchard located in Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec and titled Créations-sur-le-champ, Land art. Every autumn, the orchard and the neighboring forest harbor a group of artists who create art works from what they find on location. So I decided to stop there.
I was wandering through this forest when I saw this incredible construction by Rebecca and Mark Antony Ford titled Atamatik which translates as “in the heart of a tree” in the Innu-aimun language. It instantly brought me into an imaginary world populated with leprechauns and gnomes. It was as if I could see them running around doing household chores and gathering what they need to feed their family. I also have a very special love for trees. They evoke for me the very fabric of life, the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth. With the two intertwined, I had a perfect match.
What do you think are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!
This photo appears almost like a glimpse into a parallel world where different living things grow organically together. On the other hand, one is also struck by the strong contrast between this strange black creature that is throwing its tentacle among ghostly trees thus looking like an emerging threat to its environment.
If you would be able to make this photo once again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or different?
This photo was taken at midday when the light is harsh on subjects. I would have liked to be there by the end of day when the light is softer, warmer and grazing creating side shadows.
Line Lamarre shared her photograph in the FRAMES Facebook Group.
Photographer
Line Lamarre, Chambly, Québec, Canada
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
Equipment and Settings
Fujifilm X100F
1/60 sec., f/5.6, ISO 800
Every year we release four quarterly printed editions of FRAMES Magazine. Each issue contains 112 pages printed on the highest quality 140g uncoated paper. You receive the magazine delivered straight to your doorstep. We feature both established and emerging photographers of different genres. We pay very close attention to new, visually striking, thought-provoking imagery, while respecting the long-lasting tradition of photography in its purest incarnation. Learn more >>>
Nigel Walker
June 24, 2020 at 22:57
A lovely story and you correct about planning trips and overlooking those things nearby. I think many of us can make this oversight. I love the complexity of this picture and the questions it leaves me with which continually draw me back…..as though expecting an answer.
Line Lamarre
June 25, 2020 at 02:28
In french we call that communauté de pensée which means litteraly in english community of thinking. Your comments touched me. Warm thanks.