Submitter's name:	Ira Kahn
Title:	Angry Prophet
Camera:	IS3
Film:	XP2
Exposure:	P
Technical information:	A bit of color added just to give the impression of age.
Subject information:	In the Galilean hills around the holy city Safad are some tens of tomb sites, attributed to sages and saints, dating back at least 2000 years. The records show that most of the occupants have switched names, religions, and loyalties with the changing political situations in the area. Some, however, have managed to maintain a constant hold on their sites thanks to the detailed descriptions of travelers since the 12th century. These tombs are traditionally accompanied by a tree, and in some cases the tree has become more of a landmark than the tomb. This olive tree was once a grand example of the species with a broad expanse of leafy limbs and providing enough fruit to support a family. Most unfortunately, the resident Holy Man was famous for his ability to ensure the fertility of lady visitors to the site. These grateful pilgrims followed the long standing tradition of picking a leaf from the tree and keeping it as a charm to ensure fulfillment of their prayers. For untold generations the tree had no problem with supplying the needs of visitors, and the numbers of infants produced, ( mostly males of course ), have never been recorded. With the increase in population of the recent past, and the widening of a nearby highway the tomb has become approachable to more and more visitors. When all the leaves had gone the desperate ladies continued by picking bits of bark and twigs, and eventually attacking the hard wood with whatever tool was available. Within three years of the road improvement the poor tree has reached this sorry state, and I am afraid that by the end of the present holiday season there will be very little left. Birthrate statistics in the coming years should be monitored carefully.
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Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

Lovely composition and great tones, a true classical image indeed!

Comment left by: Fernando Gonzalez Gentile (fgnzalez@mednet.org.uy)

well well well. this has left me speechless.

Comment left by: Ian Nichols (i.a.nichols@bris.ac.uk)

I think this is my favourite so far, but then I like gnarly old trees & roots.

Comment left by: Garry D. Lewis (glewis747@aol.com)

Why does it look solarized? There's Mackie lines all over the image? Or is it just my monitor. I would have gone down and shot up from the base,looking into the sky.

Comment left by: Fernando Gonzalez Gentile (fgnzalez@mednet.org.uy)

shooting up from the base,looking into the sky would have left out the dome of the tomb I think. this is my favorite, and I don't particularly like gnarly old trees & roots tombs like this are true landmarks

Comment left by: Brian Swale ( ... )

What an amazing story! The relict tree looks like a despairing person at the end - throwing their arms and hands in the air at the horror and dreadfulness of their fate at the hands of those who, little by little, plucked away the means for and the essence of life ... until none at all remained. Very dramatic.

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