FEBRUARY GUEST BLOG - BRIAN NICHOLSON - TREES
When we got the February theme from Kim I was really excited about it because of my love for trees, especially this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere where the trees don't have any leaves. It helps give a better connection because I see all the different shapes and forms within. Quite often I see characters represented in the trees. I think about what they are, what they are doing or how they work together.
We have seen how much there is to learn about trees with so much shared in the Resources Section of the the Photographic Connections Members Page including books and Youtube videos. The theme has been very enlightening to all the community members.
When out at Edgelaw Reservoir recently I found myself asking "do trees and the moon have a relationship?" I then created a collection of images and, after a quick online search, I came across this website (https://www.thoma.at/en/moon-wood/). It was the initial impact of the image with blue skies above the tree that caught my attention as this was how I seen the moon and trees on my visit.
In the website they mention how the quality of wood can be better if harvested when the moon is in the waning phase due to the amount of water absorption making it more contracted and denser increasing its ability to resist compression.
The theme has made me think more in-depth about trees and I have done a lot of research. It's extremely important that we understand the impact of what trees do in nature and how they help it flourish and survive. Trees are essential.
There are many trees that mean a lot to me like the crooked tree that I have shared images of within the Photographic Connections Community. I found this tree a while ago and have visited it many times. I initially thought it was dead then returned to find it had sprouted some leaves. I was absolutely delighted. I went back on numerous occasions only to find on the last visit that storms had broken off some of the key branches. The one that had formed leaves the year before was still there though so will be interesting to see if they are still there in Spring. It makes you feel part of the life of a tree when you are visiting it so many times and have spent countless hours beside it.
Trees are wonderful, they are all around us and we've got to protect them. I'm working with a local Charity, Midlothian Wildflowers, where we educate about the importance of Wildflower Meadows and Trees as they work in harmony.
I'm reading a book my father gave me called "The Man Who Plants Trees" by Jim Robbins. I like the Chinese Proverb on the cover which says "When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. The second best time? Today." So let us all plant a tree!
The wonderful images that have been shared within the community and the chats during the zoom meetups invoked a memory in me. We have all talked about our childhood and having child like states and days. I spent my childhood climbing trees, some particularly high ones, much to my parents dismay! Trees are an integral part of our lives and memories.
On a personal note my friend sadly passed away very recently. He was a lover of trees and woodland and I would like to dedicate this blog and images to his memory. I was away on a workshop with Mali Davies photographing the trees and woodland around Derwent Water when he passed. The images shared here are all from that day.
