Submitter's name:	Olaf Greve
Title:	Branches
Gear used:	OM-4Ti + Zuiko 24MM F2
Diaphragm:	f/8
Shutter speed:	1/250th
Film used:	Kodak Tri-X, 400 ASA, 1/3rd step overexposed, developed in T-max developer
Technical information:	As this is a shot from my very first roll of B/W film ever, and as I do not have a dark room at home, I decided to have the film developed at the pro-lab. D-76 was recommended as developer, but at the lab they do not use that, so T-max it was... The picture was scanned from the print at 300 DPI, and then downsized after having (heavily) tuned the brightness and contrast to match the print better. Yet, once more I'm dissapointed at the scanner, and unfortunately it is the only scanner I have access to. So as always, where the picture itself looks nice and strong, the scan is but a weak reflection of it (and all the nice detail has been lost). :((( In order to emphasize more on the gnarlnedness of the tree and its branches, I decided to use the 24MM from up-close and to go for a contrasty shot. Therefore, I took the shot at 13:00 P.M., in direct sunlight (which was about as harsh as it could get). Also, when choosing the angle for taking the shot, I made sure to photograph the cars (and houses in the background) as well, both as a size-reference, as well as to semi-exploit the original idea I had for this shot when taking it (see subject information). A pity that so much detail (especially on the stem of the tree) got lost in the scanning process...
Subject information:	It took me a while to think of a suitable subject, but then my eye fell on this big old gnarled tree which is located near my work. The most interesting aspect about it is that the tree must have been standing there for a long, long time. In fact, so long, that it is now located nearly in the centre of the city and will have seen most of the city being constructed around it, without it having been removed. I initially wanted to make that the theme of the shot (i.e. the big tree being located in the middle of a parking lot), and I did indeed take shots based on that idea. Then, I decided to take a look up close, and found the play of branches more interesting as a theme.
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Comment left by: Wayne Harridge (no e-mail specified)

Incredible tree, I wonder what the background will be in 100 years ?

Comment left by: Brian Swale (bj@caverock.net.nz)

I like this shot. It illustrates the complexity and competition within nature - even in the different parts of one plant. A well-balanced strong tree; should last another 100 years easily.

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