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Hex 61 and self honesty

Sparhawk

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I have a few secret places close to home where I can go and quench my thirst for photography. Here is one that I've drawn to year after year. A little wood in rural New Jersey where this little gem lives.

I call this tree "Decisions". If a tree can do that, take a wrong turn and then straighten itself out, anybody can. Which, for me, brings the image of Hex 61 to my mind: The symbol of "Central Sincerity", as translated by Z.D.Sung.

The tree being Sun, hovering over the pond in the background that represents Tui. The acrobatics of the tree serves to affirm the message of the hexagram.

I hope you enjoy it and that we can learn something from its metaphor.

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Luis
 
C

candid

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Luis,

You're in NJ? I grew up in Clifton.

Awesome tree! But it didn't grow that way without human intervention. Having been cut off in maturity, its roots were healthy enough to 'push upward' and create an alternative path. What a wonderful demonstration of intelligence to live, in spite of life threatening circumstances!

Great shot, btw.

C
 

Sparhawk

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Hi Candid, thanks for the words.

I am in Salem County, NJ. Exit 1 on the Turnpike...
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As for the tree, I don't know about being touched by a human hand. If you see where this tree is, in the middle of nowhere, among thousands of trees, you'd wonder who the heck is going to do such a thing. It is possible some kind of natural accident broke its natural flow though. In any case, it certainly is one of a kind...
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L
 
C

candid

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Luis,

It would be interesting to track the land back to early origins. It appears to be in a swamp, possibly created by a man-made damn? The surrounding trees can't be very old.

Why would an old tree have such personal significance, do you think?

C
 

Sparhawk

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That's more or less easy. It is in very old property that has recently been named a National Historic Landmark. Is the site of the Nicholson House

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<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

Why would an old tree have such personal significance, do you think?<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good question! I've always been drawn to woods and I love trees. I qualify as a treehugger. Seriously, I can get very weird about trees and their significance. Something that would certainly certify me as a nutcase...
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This particular tree, at least for me, is self-explanatory. I've certainly resonated with that image.


L
 

Sparhawk

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I forgot to mention that the above house is in the middle of a huge land parcel. You must walk about a mile and a half to get there from the road...

L
 
C

candid

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The link is a nice PR piece for PSEG. At least it is being preserved.

Bet you look up into those windows and imagine the people there 280 years ago, looking out at you. Only thing seperating you is time. Know I would.

C
 

joang

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Fascinating, Luis. "Thus visible effects of the invisible manifest themselves."(Hx 61,W/B)
Whatever caused that tree to take a 90 degree turn has left only its shape behind in the empty (?) center, and we are left to ponder and wonder what it could have been. Or perhaps it is still there... straight, square, great, and invisible!

Thank you very much for this photo.

jg
 

Sparhawk

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Thanks Joang!
Like you said, perhaps is still there, unseen by commong eyes...

I don't remember if I have posted this picture before. Here is the back of the Nicholson House. I took this picture with an infrared filter in the middle of the spring a couple of years ago. This is one of my "keeper" ones. Hex 32 comes to my mind when I see it.

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Luis
 

ninepatch

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Luis -

Beautiful images. B&W photography was my first love, I especially loved doing portraiture. I've worked with infrared film - seems like a filter would have been so much easier.
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OK, 3rd NJ kid here. I lived in Haskell for several years as a kid. They called it Wanaque back then, the original Indian name.

Your Old Man Tree makes me think of moving around to catch your favorite sunbeam "just so" - what a wonderful find for you.

Peace

Beth
 

joang

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Gorgeous, Luis.

This tree reminds me of a peak experience I had once, the kind Maslow wrote about. My love and I were driving up a winding mountain road in the Pocanos one lovely October day. It was late in the afternoon, and the sun had sunk below the hills on our left, so that it was already dusk on our side. As we rounded a curve in the road, we suddenly came upon the sight of a tree with blazing yellow leaves and we both gasped-- it literally took our breath away. The tree looked as if it was lit up from within. It must have been a horizontal beam of light from the setting sun coming from between a cleft in the rocks that illuminated just that tree and nothing else. Everything around us was in dusky shadows except for that golden tree. These words fall far short of describing the experience, but I kid you not; it was awesome.

jg
 

Sparhawk

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<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

Your Old Man Tree makes me think of moving around to catch your favorite sunbeam "just so" - what a wonderful find for you.<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Beth, thank you. I find photography very relaxing and rewarding. You should certainly go out and shoot! I use both film and digital. The above infrared picture was taken using a Nikon Coolpix 950 with an IR filter.

Joang, the one thing you can count on is gorgeous fall seasons in Pennsylvania. The whole state lights up in the fall. I can almost see the tree you describe. I wish I was there with my camera at that precise moment. Speaking of good timing, here is a picture I took recently of a farm near home. I love days with heavy clouds and windy. You just wait for the moment the sun breaks thru the clouds and shoot. The whiteness of the farm buildings was a plus.

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Cheers,

Luis
 

joang

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That unexpected contrast makes this a very striking picture too, Luis. You obviously have a good eye for photography. Did you give this one a name? If not, how about "The Unexpected"?

I also wish I had taken a picture of that shining tree. I did have a camera with me, but I was too stunned to think of it. If I had such a picture, I think I would have to name it "Tree on the Mountain". What else?

I wish you and everyone here will get the chance to see such a sight someday, and hopefully capture it on film or disc.

Namaste,
Joan
 

Sparhawk

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<BLOCKQUOTE><HR SIZE=0><!-Quote-!><FONT SIZE=1>Quote:</FONT>

I wish you and everyone here will get the chance to see such a sight someday, and hopefully capture it on film or disc.<!-/Quote-!><HR SIZE=0></BLOCKQUOTE>

happy.gif
Thanks for the words on my photographs! My eyes are always in training mode. Only way to keep them curious on what may come up once the picture is taken and then strive to correct any errors for the next time. The real goal is to capture precisely what your eyes see as beautiful at the moment of taking the shot.

I carry my backpack with my cameras like most people wear wristwatches... We'll see. One never knows where or when the next nice shot lies.

L
 

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