Back to roots, a photo from Sarawak, East

Photographer's Note

I struggled for a long time on whether to post this one, as it seemed to be quite interesting to see by eye for this natural growth of roots by the riverside, but I had doubts about the photo to be of any interest to many of you, and mostly, how it could make a good TE photo. Well I had no answer to that doubt, but I finally post it here anyway and leave it to you for comments.

The roots grow radially out from the tree trunk, and only the pointed ends pop out of the muddy soil, sort of to breathe the air and perhaps absorb something above the soil. In some ways, the growth of the roots also bind the soil and prevent erosion.

From the photo, a hole at the base of the tree could be for some crawling creature to live in it? You can interpret whatever imagination comes to mind. Thank you for viewing.
Update: Mangrove - radial roots, see link here and here
EXIF DATA - 2008:05:10 16:23:12, ISO100, FL62mm

rigoletto, crhieatt, dareco, Waylim, Isabelle, Gessle, siamesa, Gerrit, jusninasirun, hispic, kpav, Cretense, jlbrthnn, stego, mirarer, lrw1966, gunbud, TopGeo, patdeph, pierrefonds, belido, Charo, cfreire, ls7902, ManuMay, Colombiana, pboehringer, omerozden, fightingillini, riclopes has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jmdaoudal (82) 2008-09-02 10:20

Very interesting, the composition is well made.
Looks like a crowdof people joining a column.
I like it
Jean Michel

rigoletto (34279) 2008-09-02 10:21

The thumbnail suggested a screenshot from the Lord of the Rings, as the orcs were gathering at the foot of Barad-dur.
I am really surprized to see what it really is. Very good image, quite original. I haf not seen something like that before.
Rgs,
Deniz

liviu (600) 2008-09-02 10:34

no doubts! it's a good one and different comparing with what I have seen on this site!

well done!
liviu

crhieatt (5347) 2008-09-02 11:04

Bill,
Definitely interesting - and I love rigoletto's comments too!

I think it's always important to keep the quality high with this sort of shot. Poorly presented snaps never work, and detail is essential. You have that here, which is probably why the shot is such a success.

Of course, you are right, it won't appeal to everyone.

Regards
Colin

gravatar (1586) 2008-09-02 11:28

Very interesting shot. The thumb made me think it was a crowd of people.

afroditi (731) 2008-09-02 11:36

Hi Bill!
It reminds me lord of the rings as if they are a lot of warriors and they run to the objective!I like a lot!
afroditi

dareco (17136) 2008-09-02 12:07

Very interesting! I've never seen anything quite like it. I'm glad you posted it, it's very original. Good job with the details and pov. TFS and have a good day!

Waylim (25436) 2008-09-02 12:19

Bill,
Looks dangerous to be walking around here and if you fall that seems like it would really hurt. May not be a pretty picture to look at, but It's a very informative image especially with a good note explaining what it is. The tree trunk look like a giant foot of some creature. I thinks it's worth it. TFS.
Way

kevinos (7517) 2008-09-02 12:43

THis is a very artistic shot, Bill.The colors are very subtle and enjoyable and textures too. Regards Kevin

cbrman (21675) 2008-09-02 12:56

Hello Bill,

Je trouve cette image saisissante ! On a r嶪llement l'impression que des centaines de petits personnages s'avancent dans le sable jusqu'� un tronc g嶧nt !
L'effet graphique est tr鋊 bon ! J'aime beaucoup.

A+

Dominique

Gessle (70) 2008-09-02 13:10

Hej Bill!
Another great picture of you!!! This one is fabulous - you shouldn't have hesitated - it is marvellous. This is what is TE about - you probably cannot find such strange tree nowhere else . What is the name of it?
Anna

siamesa (28231) 2008-09-02 14:41

Hi Bill,
A very interesting and original image.Very well done.Congratulations for the very good work.
Regards
Maria

Isabelle (9046) 2008-09-02 14:55

from the thumbnail i thought it was an incredible procession, then a huge amount of ants then i opened it et voil�, surprise!
very very much TE spirit (original TE spirit perhaps - oh, well, what is TE spirit? certainly much much more than beautiful places) and very interesting post.
As for photo qualities, the composition is correct, sharpness is also ok. i just think the image has a bit of a blue hint or perhaps it lacks a bit of yellow.
I wish there were a specialist who would explain this kind of tree.
TFS!

Gerrit (59968) 2008-09-02 16:01

Hi Bill,
never seen it before, Interestiong phenomenon.
Regards, Gerrit

jusninasirun (17529) 2008-09-02 20:15

Hello Bill. Interesting observation with educational notes. The radial roots certainly make excellent pattern for nice perspective. Graphical image with nice detail. Well done and best regards.
Jusni

Can you imagine yourself holding the SLR for movie making? Honestly Bill, tell me!. Just 2 extra MP and that silly movie feature is not going to appeal me... I'll use my handy cam if I want to make movie. 50D is a better deal if you are planning to switch camp. Are you?

hispic (9658) 2008-09-02 20:21

Hello Bill,
Very interesting photo. This teaches us the mystery of the life of root of tree extending radially.
Have a nice day, Hisashi

Clementi (52514) 2008-09-02 23:38

Ciao Bill,
Unbelievable, was seeming to see under the tree an immense crowd of people. Compliments for this beautiful photo and the possibility be able to interpret in various manners.
nice work
Giorgio

sayanwithsenice (758) 2008-09-02 23:59

Wow , this is ones different from anything i have seen before.. At the first site , it looked as if tiny people were under the tree .. Then by reading your note and observing the photograph , i understood it was bunch of roots with the most amazing like growth i have ever seen!! Thanks a lot for sharing..

Have a nice evening,
Sayan

Piotrek80 (672) 2008-09-03 0:58

Hi Bill.

Very well observed and very well photographed. Bravo!

Regards
Piotr

kpav (5031) 2008-09-03 2:44

Hello Bill, very interesting shot, I haven't seen something like this before. Very nicely composed and captured in order to present the phenomenon. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards,
Kostas.

Cretense (68709) 2008-09-03 3:03

Hi Bill!

Fantastic idea and realization, you had a "special eye" for this one! Very artistic result created by the low POV, the excellent composition and framing! Great light managment, too! Congratulations!

Hercules

jlbrthnn (76041) 2008-09-03 4:22

Hello Bill,
It is an image whose topic is very selected, of which you should not doubt the interest. The colors cannot of course be bright, but these ends of roots radiating since the trunk have a pictorial interest. Your note specifies well the nature of these formations. Cheer.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Jo螔

stego (24132) 2008-09-03 11:35

Hi Bill,
Very interesting and intriguing image! We can easily imagine that the root tops on the sand are some kind of creatures for whom the tree is a giant temple. You made a clever choice of POV and framing/cropping that enhances that effect.
Regards, Jos�.

mirarer (4751) 2008-09-03 11:35

Hi Bill,
Very pictoric shot. Good POV. The roots seem like a crowd of little people.
I like it.
Regards,
Mirari

jemaflor (135308) 2008-09-03 12:36

Hi Bill,
Impressive shot, original and well framed, tfs.

lrw1966 (1632) 2008-09-03 12:41

Bill Hi:
This is extremely interesting an very unusual. I have never seen these kind of roots before.
Very very unusal and interesting
thanks for the note
Congratulations
Larry
USA-tfs

gunbud (34066) 2008-09-03 18:39

Hi Bill,
You made the right decision beacause this image is so well seen with the lines and textures created by these strange roots forming on the river beach.
Excellent details and sharpness to this unique posting.
Regards, Tom

bucanas (2218) 2008-09-03 19:19

Hi Bill,
Interesting photo,good composition.
Best regards,
Ralf

Colombiana (2957) 2008-09-03 20:25

Hi Bill,

Great patterned composition
you made out of peculiar roots.
Here, you show us great
creativity and technique only skilled
a photographer with a trained eye
can appreciate and capture.

Regards from Miami
(hopefully we don㦙 get too pounded by 𨧻ke� next week!)
Maryori :)

TopGeo (38220) 2008-09-03 23:45

Hi Bill Very interesting, shot! It is a peculiarity of flora there that impresses, did not know him! Good work
Best Regards
Georgios

patdeph (35750) 2008-09-04 0:38

hello Bill
when I saw the thumbnail,I thought you were very high,and that it was much people walking to a giant tree!It was funny to discover that it was some roots!It's strange to see how they are placed around the big trunk,like sun rays!
Strange,original and very well done!
Cheers
Pascale

John_F_Kennedy (43797) 2008-09-04 4:18

Excellent shot of the Mangrove tree, very well detailed with lovely colours.
Best wishes,
Achim

pierrefonds (103424) 2008-09-04 4:35

Hi Bill,

The tree seem to in charge of the roots coming out. In a way nature is fighting back to protect herself. The subject is well frame. The details and colors of the roots are clear and precise. The light brings out the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

belido (19934) 2008-09-04 6:22

Hi Bill,

very interesting image! I really like the graphism provided by those roots. You've chosen an excellent pov, placing part of the tree at the right and creating a nice contrast element. Very good work!
Regards,
Carlos

Charo (51290) 2008-09-04 14:26

Hello Bill,
A very interesting and curious image with all these small tops of the roots emerging of the ground.
The hollow of the tree is quite probable that it serves as den to some animal, but as I do not know the fauna of the zone, I do not dare to predict anything.
Made good my friend.
Cordial greetings,
Charo

cfreire (11741) 2008-09-04 17:34

Hi Bill,
It's a scene movie! So, when I saw it I thought that is a fiction picture. wonderful work, fridend. Excellent POV and framing. Best regards, Consuelo

ls7902 (7380) 2008-09-05 23:08

Hello Bill,
Actually this is a great shot. No reason to hesitate to post. Very nice sharp details & textures here with a million protruding mangrove roots and a single trunk. I think this is what makes the image special. Nice soft colors too. Regards. Latiff.

ManuMay (36447) 2008-09-06 1:38

Hi Bill!
Great composition and powerful and graphic idea here!!
And thanks for sharing this good note to undestand it!
Well done!
Regards from Madrid.
Manuel.

albertz (2468) 2008-09-06 20:12

I imagine this shot as warriors of stone age surrounding a tree, i saw your latest post asking about the biggest tree, so i guess this is the biggest.

UnTrained (0) 2008-09-11 1:23

Hi Bill,
the framing with the trunk at a great position makes it to a strong graphical impression, the preview was just asking me for a closer view. A bit like people coming together to a tower.
Lieben Gruss, Ulf

npecanhuk (79329) 2008-09-15 2:30

Hello Bill!
Thanks to God you chose to post this one! It's eye-catching from the very thumbnail!
It's interesting and beautiful!
It was intelligently seen by you and smartly captured by your camera! A very talent one!
TFS - Congratulations!
Have a nice sunday!
Neyvan

pboehringer (770) 2008-09-19 22:59

Bill,
I'm happy that you finally overcome your doubts and posted this one here at TE. The thumbail looked funny and intriguing. The main post looks even better and shows a new feature of these roots sticking out making circles around the tree. Nice tight frame around it and with the tree of center makes this an attractive image.
Peter

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-09-21 4:40

Ola Bill,
Muito interessante esta tua foto com estas ra瞵es de 嫫vore fora da areia fazem um belo grafismo , bom enquadramento da foto , gostei muito dos detalhes, boa luz , parab幯s!!
Um abra蔞 Gon蓷lo

mumek (20226) 2008-09-21 6:22

Hi Bill!
Very impressive shot. Original and very interesting scenery with a trunk of the tree near riverside. Looks like thousands of pilgrims are walking to the tree. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the note
regards
ziggy

omerozden (1259) 2008-10-05 6:51 [Comment]

Show Comment

foozi (7101) 2008-10-11 5:04

Hello Bill,
excellent shot and wonderful idea.
You final decision is just perfectly right.
You realised that it is a spendid thing to post.

Regards,
Foozi

Jackos (3542) 2008-10-12 3:22

The roots make interesting pattern growing radially out from the tree trunk. I've never seen something like that. Well captured.
Regards
Jack

wolf38 (30) 2008-10-17 9:05

Hello Bill. Titles, photo and text complement each other outstanding. The motive is original. - a eyecatcher. Best regards, Wolfgang.

fightingillini (217) 2008-10-29 14:28

This is really cool. The Mangrove forests that I have seen are usually submerged in water.

Bill

riclopes (35577) 2008-11-28 0:55

Spectacular, Bill. I was going for your last one but I'm glad you linked me here because I love it. I don't know how you had doubts about posting this one. It's also fun for me, because I have a similar pic from a beach I visited in this area, when I was in Kuching, 8years ago - the quality is very poor though. I remember how muddy the sand was in some parts make it impossible for us to walk.
Anyway, love the graphism of this close approach and the sense of geometry centered in the tree, every invisible line pointing to the trunk. Nice soft colors too.
ricardo

Chanizard (129) 2009-06-29 0:28

Hi Bill
Nice shoot ...
composition is nice ,,, when i saw the thumb , i was wondering what is it about ...