Ann-Christine from LEYA has set the challenge this week and she wants us to do ONLY ONE PICTURE. Different, but I’ve been trying to do this more recently. I definitely read the instructions this week as I managed to mess it up last time with Patti’s challenge and posted too many photos.
So one image and then tell you why this one, if I have understood it right. Straight off the bat, I know the header looks like a different image, but it is the main image just cropped, so like a preview.
So I am choosing this one. If I hadn’t started my favourite series it might have been a different image. I posted the Flatiron on Saturday with a story behind it, so I think I can do the same with this one.
Why this one, the morning I took this was one of the most amazing experiences and one of my worst photography experiences ever. It had both highs and lows.
Here is the image. It is the Wanaka tree in New Zealand. I was there in 2019 in May. I seem to do a bit of my travels in the southern hemisphere in May. I like it because the trees have changed and while it can be cold it is still the end of Autumn. We had gone at this time hoping to get the trees changing colours.
A bit about this image. It is a long exposure, but I have to confess, it is two images put together. You see I like the foreground in the image, but you couldn’t see the mountains in the background. With the image that had the mountains the foreground wasn’t so good. What is a girl meant to do, well combine them. Which I did.
Some technical stuff, I know some of you like this. It was taken with the Fujifilm X-3 and the 18-135mm lens. The focal length was 118mm. It was at f8 for 2 minutes and ISO at 80. They are the same for both images.
So the morning was great at first. We had gone there the morning before but there were already so many people there that it was hard to get a good spot. We were only in Wanaka for this tree, so the next morning we went even earlier. We were among the first to get there so we were able to pick our spot. We got it and stuck with it. So many people can showed up to the tree, that once you get your spot you can’t really move.
I’ve spoken to other people and they have said that not a lot of people were there when they went. I think there were probably over 200 that morning. There were at least 3 tour buses and lots of individuals like us. It was crazy. We were all jammed up to take the sunrise images of this tree. However, there was no sunrise. It was a very misty morning, but I think that added to it.
We started when it was dark and continued for about 2 hours, according to the time on the camera. It was amazing. The way the light changed and then the mist and slowly the mountains became visible. It was so cold and my feet were absolutely freezing, but I wouldn’t move.
It was one of those moments that was just magical, well almost anyway. What is one thing to spoil a magic time like this? Other people.
Like I said we got there so early and marked our spot. We were having a lovely time until this guy behind me went off at me for moving my arm to take a photo and getting in his shot. I said what. He went right off at me and I said, I am taking photos. He turned around and said to me if you weren’t so fat then you wouldn’t keep getting my shot. I was just shocked and my friend went off at him. He was part of a tour group and the guide came over to find out what the problem was and we told him. He was an arrogant little so and so.
Let’s remember I was there before he was. It isn’t my fault that he set his camera up so close behind me that I couldn’t move without ruining his photos. Also, if he wasn’t so rude, I would have been more than happy to work with him. To find a way for us to both to get the images we wanted. The whole experience was really soured after that.
Just so you know I didn’t change anything I was doing and the more shots of his I ruined, I just didn’t care. We were all there for the same thing, and we should cooperate with one another to help each other out. Please, can you help me because every time you move your arm to take a photo you ruin my image. That would have been a much better way to approach the situation. He was most definitely the AH in that situation.
So, as you can see it was one of the best experiences of my life, but also one of the worst. I have never had anything like that happen before or since.
My one image with a story. I hope the story isn’t too long.
Thank you so much Ann-Christine, a great idea for a challenge. Please go and take a look at her image and post.
If you would like to participate in this great challenge then go to the following link to find out how to join the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here for more info. Don’t forget to put a link in your post back to the host.
I remember this well … such a wonderful image, and such a rude person
Thank you JUlie, it is a special spot, hopefully not too many rude people visit.
nice picture
Thank you.
ahhhh the Wanaka tree. Will go and see it in April but nothing can beat this photo of yours… love, love, love it.Thanks Leanne.
I hope you love it as much as we did. Go early in the morning if you want sunrise. Very early. Thank you so much Teresa.
Great photo, beautiful tree. Well done.
Thank you so much.
Glad you chose this. I loved the photo the first time I saw it, and I love the story behind it
Thank you IJ. I really love the image too.
I could never have guessed that such a wonderful, tranquil photo was indeed an experience shared by 200 or so people and to top that, a rude one too…
Thank you Sofia, I guess we never know what happens behind closed doors, if that makes sense.
It does.
😁
I just wanted to say thank you for visiting my blog as much as you’ve been! It really means a lot! Love your pictures too!
You’re very welcome and thank you.
After all you went through – you got a beautiful photo!
VEry true, it was a good outcome. Thank you Nora.
It’s one of my favourite images, but I have to admit I was disappointed that you said you had combined 2 images. I would have liked to see the original unedited and an edited version, but the challenge is just one shot.
I can appreciate your creative mind in doing so however.
Some people, photographers, have no manners or consideration for the fellow photographers around them. But then some people thrive on being disagreeable and nasty. That’s their nature. Fellow photographer or not.
I’m sorry that person spoilt what was a magical moment in nature for you. I guess we have to accept that and move on in our photography day.
Basically the main part of the image up the mountains is the original, The fog just went right up to the sky. So I put another one, take about the same time where you could see the mountains. I like the mountains, it gives some context of where the tree is.
I hate people with bad manners, we are all there for the same reason, so we should help one another. I think the guy was too entitled really, the world revolved around him.
He didn’t spoil it too much, just for a brief time and I just ignored him and kept doing what I was doing. Thank you so much Vicki.
I hope he didn’t get a single shot! Your composite is truly beautiful.
Me too Jo, thank you.
I like the tree without the mountains 😀 That is a horrid story of selfish people with no manners. The tour guide should have taken him aside and given him a mouthful. I hope you really ruined his day as much as possible too
Well you can’t please everyone, lol. I like the mountains, they stay. They are there anyway. I agree about the tour guide, he was a bit gutless really. Puts a bad light on him too. I hope I did too. I secretly hope he has seen my photos and heard the story and realises what I really thought of him. lol. Thank you Brian.
That’s a phenomenal photograph!!
Thank you.
Leanne, this is a wonderful photo, and a sight I never knew about when we were in NZ in 2011. I wish I had known! Now I can savour your heavenly photo instead. But your story – what a rude person you met there! Good to hear you never experienced anything like it before or after. I have been rudely run over by some photographers on interesting sites – but I am not that tall, so it is easily done…Helping each other to make the most of a session should be the natural way, and most of the times it is I hope.
Thank you for a great story and a glorious picture!
What a shame Leya, maybe in 2011 it wasn’t as well known, I don’t think digital photography was as popular then as it is now. Thank you so much.
He was very rude indeed. I agree, we are all there for the same thing, be polite and help one another, that is my motto. You’re welcome, it was a good challenge.
What a wonderful image, thank goodness you got this despite the trials of the day ….
I do agree that the mountains add an extra dimension, so well done with the composite image
Thank you Sue, I was very lucky in a way.
I’m glad you like the mountains, I do too, I think they add more context.
What a fantastic creation, Leanne! The addition of the background mountains makes this such a special photo.
Thank you Egidio, I think the mountains were really important.
I love this image. And I like how you described how you got it. The two images are put together perfectly. Were the mountains shotwith the same long exposure as the foreground? Great pic!
Thank you Joanne. It helped that they were taken fairly close together and the tripod wasn’t moved. Yeah, they were both shot exactly the same.
I love your lone tree image and the story behind it. There is a HUGE maple tree growing in a neighbour’s hayfield standing alone on the top of a hill, season after season. I’ve photographed it in all four seasons and love that tree and the resiliency it embodies!
Thank you Ceci, it is quite a story. I would be doing the same if I had a tree like that around me. Maybe I need to find one. Great plan.
Stunning!
Thank you Tracy.
What a truly awful person! It must have left such a bad taste in your mouth, but look what fabulous shots you got anyway!
It did rather, but I just stopped paying attention to him. Thank you Margaret, glad I didn’t let him affect me too much.
Leanne, that image is amazing. I don’t think it matters that you had to combine two similar images to get the result you wanted. Photographers have been doing that ever since developing images began. It’s one of those images you look at and think ‘I wish I’d shot that’. I’m sorry you had to take that undeserved abuse to get your picture. Think karma, I’m a firm believer in that, and the AH will get his, just because people like that are the way they are.
Thank you so much Steve, I like the mountains and think it was good to show that they were there. I agree, they have been manipulating photos from the start. That is really kind of you to say, I appreciate it. I think the AH will most definitely get it eventually. I hate people like that.
Beautiful
Thank you.
The tree is waving his arms at the rude guy telling him to stop. Peace must prevail! (And in the photo, with added mountains and all…….. it does!
I like that thought Geoff. I agree, don’t be a horrible person. lol. Thank you Geoff.
This is such a beautiful and relaxing image Leanne. Worth all the effort you put into it. As for the rudeness of that guy, you handled it well. Some people think they own the space around them, giving little to others. And it’s a shame when something so beautiful gets so popular that it is also changed forever. Take care!
Thank you so much Anne. It was worth it all. They do think like that, entitled I believe is the term for them now. Yeah that is for sure, you know how I said the tree doesn’t look like that anymore.
Oh my goodness Leanne, what a story!!! It is hard to believe that such an amazing image could have come from such an annoying experience! I must admit I would not have had the patience or the endurance to spend 2 hours surrounded by so many others, and especially by the jerk who verbally accosted you! And yet you created such an amazing result it was obviously well worth the effort. It’s quite simply glorious, and good on you for combining both elements into the beautiful result!
Isn’t it, almost unbelievable. It was such a wonderful thing happening in front I jsut have to forget the little s**t behind me. The time went so quickly, it just kept changing. Thank you so much Tina, I think it is much better with the combination of both.
I have had a similar experience, I will refrain from a rant…🤨. Some people are ‘amazing’, and not in a good way. BTW, I found several of your comments on my site in the old junk folder. Sorry if I have not replied to anything in the past. Seems WP rejected multiple comments for a bit.
I totally agree, sadly I’ve had other experiences, with those “amazing” people. I don’t know what is going one with WP, you try and comment and it says, no you didn’t, so you leave another and another another, then find out they are all there but you couldn’t see any of them. I hope they get their act together soon. NO worries Ted, it is a frustrating time on WP.
Beautiful shot, horrid little man.
Most likely he has a very bad life, maybe at first it wasn’t of his choosing but with an attitude like that it is now. I am a firm believer that you reap what you sow.
But wow, what a shot, I wish he could see it. Ahahaha! 😉
Thank you Dawn, absolutely, the guy was a real piece of work. I think he is one of these entitled people, that thinks we are just there to serve him, spoiled his whole life to get what he wants.
I’m sorry that happened to you. So many jerks all over the world. I’ve had people politely ask me to move when they were taking photos at tourist attractions, and I’ve happily done so. There was no reason for him to be so rude.
Tahnk you Donna, the guy was a total jerk, that’s for sure. If people are polite, you don’t mind doing that, but when they are rude, why would you do anything to help them. I agree.