A beautiful Araucaria tree in high key

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At the beginning of the summer, I pledged to work in high key for my “Summer” gallery at GeoGalleries. I started with a few images and planned to create more. However, the excessive heat in the Sacramento area, and lack of company to travel, have interfered with my best intentions. It’s too hot for photography, even inside the house!

Like many photographers, I have a collection of unprocessed photographs in my archives. While revisiting my past trips to Brazil, I discovered a treasure of unprocessed photos, including the featured image (f/4.5, 1/1250s, ISO 320), taken in 2021 (repeated below for convenience).

The subject is a beautiful Araucaria. This conifer, once widespread during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, is no longer found in the Northern Hemisphere. Like the California Redwood, Araucaria is extremely slow growing and long living: there are some trees older than 1,600 years. It reaches its reproductive maturity between the age of 100 and 300. It’s pine nut is an edible seed that the Pehuenche people used as the basis of their diet.

I haven’t seen many Araucaria trees in my life since they are more common in the Brazilian South, and I am from the Southeast. There used to be one near my mother’s house (the FEATURED IMAGE), but it was cut down by the city because it was about to fall.

I hope you enjoy my depiction of this beautiful Southern Hemisphere conifer. There used to be extensive Araucaria forests in the Brazilian South, but most have been cut down, leaving only a few patches. The high key interpretation of this image was made possible by the intense fog that day, a common occurrence in the Brazilian mountains of the Southeast and South.

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10 responses to “A beautiful Araucaria tree in high key”

  1. Steve Schwartzman Avatar

    I’m wondering if you debated with yourself about whether to remove the branches coming in at the lower left and upper right. Removing them would clear the way for all of a viewer’s attention to fall on the main tree. On the other hand, the lesser branches leaning in at opposite corners create a diagonal sweep up and to the right, which you may also value.

    Like

    1. Alessandra Chaves Avatar

      I opted for the diagonal as just the tree seemed a little boring.

      Like

  2. stuartshafran Avatar

    I like the diagonal framing with the branches lower left and upper right, it really adds to the composition.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Alessandra Chaves Avatar

      Thanks, that was my thought too.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. shoreacres Avatar

    I don’t think I would have found the lone tree boring, but I do like the diagonal. What struck me was the tree’s shape. It resembles so many plants like Agapanthus and Aliums — even Queen Anne’s Lace in some stages of development. It’s a beautiful tree!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Alessandra Chaves Avatar

      Yes, queen Anne’s is a good comparison.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. howg2211 Avatar
    howg2211

    Great shot and a very interesting looking tree. Sad that so many have been cut down. Seems like a recurrent theme these days.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Alessandra Chaves Avatar

      Yes, they are magnificent witnesses of history, just like the sequoias here in California.

      Like

  5. tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles Avatar

    Lovely photographic work!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Alessandra Chaves Avatar

      Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

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