10-83

Dead Beach Tree,
Bridgman, Michigan

This photograph conceals a "life after death" theme.  The tree is actually twice dead - the main trunk was lost at some point and a side branch thrived for a time before dying as well.  The photo is unbalanced, with the severed base of the tree pointing toward empty sky.  The deep blue-black of the sky is "what's beyond death (the dead tree)".  While not answering the question directly, the area "beyond death" seems to be vast and pure.

Generally a photograph would be balanced - something on the left to balance the tree on the right.  This expectation actually implies that the blank sky is supposed to balance the tree (which was my intent).  I got as low as I could so the tree would appear high against the sky where the polarizing filter was making the most pronounced effect.  I'm fascinated how such a simple filter can make such a profound change on the quality of light in a photo.