This Southern live oak tree (Quercus virginiana) seemed almost too big to fit on the camera screen, silly as that seems. I had planned to crop out the people, but rethought the shot because they give a sense of scale. Their placement doesn’t comply with the rule of thirds (rule of thirty-thirds, perhaps) but then my pictures rarely do.
The dark limbs, foliage and Spanish moss have a sombre character, so the flash of bright copper foliage towards the top right fascinated me. Despite the colour, the tree limbs dominate the shot.
The scene seemed to be crying out for sepia, and the old fashioned, dream-like quality it gives. Trees of this stature are awe inspiring. I only took a few shots as they seemed to defy my ability to capture them, but looking back, I’m glad I tried.
Susan Rushton 
🙂 Great examples!
Have a very HAPPY day 🙂
Thank you!
That is quite some tree! I never tried to get all of our 200-year-old oak tree in one frame.
It’s a big ask! The leaves of the American ones always surprise me, no matter how often I see them. The English shaped leaf is often used in imagery – for example, the National Trust logo.
I really like the sepia treatment especially without the people and with the old time lights.
It’s extremely rare for me to think of using sepia – it adds a misty character.
I am in love with that tree. Seriously, through time and space, I am in thrall of that oak. What a majestic specimen.
I am sure we’d have the same feeling about whales if there were not so much out of sight.
Wonderful images! Such magnificent trees…
They become communities all on their own once they get to that age.
Recently I met an oak very much like that one, and so this image has a special reality. I approve of the people in the photo for the exact reason you gave; those trees really put us in our place. But, oh, the sepia! Inspired!
Love your choice of ‘met’. Quite!
You were spot on with that sepia picture. What a pleasure it would be to walk among those giants. Reminds me both of simpler times and times when our country was being torn apart another time. Beautiful picture!
If only they could talk!
Now THERE’S a thought for a different sort of book! Imagine what history they’ve seen. What a wonderful thought, Susan.
Love the sepia version!
Trying out sepia made me wish I was there all over again so I could experiment a bit more. It helps draw out the history – not that these trees really need that.
I too love the Sepia image – it has that timeless quality about it which is so appropriate when you consider how long-lived oaks are and the history that they have witnessed.
You’ve reminded me of the ones on the Mississippi coast that were broken in two by Katrina and have been carved by an artist into eagles and dolphins.
Wow these are beautiful!
I’m glad you like them.
I saw the Angle Oak in 1988, amazing tree. Cheers
I haven’t seen that one but I looked it up. It must be an amazing sight.
It was massive, had support cables on many limbs.