Twisted tree on a rock
Monochrome Madness,  Photographic techniques,  Themed galleries,  Trees, forests and woodland

Gallery: Monochrome Madness, seeing trees in black and white

July 24, 2024 / 74 Comments

Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky

Kahlil Gabran

Kahlil Gabran’s likening of trees to poems is often quoted, I know. And yes, the branches of trees, their twigs and leaves, do seem a little like writing against the sky. But there is more to this poem. He goes on:

We fell them down and turn them into paper,

That we may record our emptiness.

Gabran is suggesting that our poems, our writings, fall far short of the beauty that the trees create. Why then destroy them for the purpose of creating something less?

A couple of weeks ago PR had us searching out images of sculptures for this challenge. It occurred to me that trees can often seem like nature’s sculptures, so that’s my chosen theme this week. I’d love to see some trees so stunning that the manmade sculptures we shared for PR’s challenge can’t compete!

You don’t have to know a lot about trees to join in. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the species, you just have to love the tree and believe that it looks fantastic! And I’m mainly interested here in the whole tree or a substantial part of it. We can maybe look at leaves, blossom, fruits and bark details another time.

Do please remember to tag your post Monochrome Madness so it is easy to find in the reader. And check out Leanne’s Monochrome Madness page to learn more about this fun challenge. Maybe you’d like to host a theme from time to time? If so, do contact Leanne via her page.


As always I’ve used Nik Silver Efex Pro for my monochrome edits and this time have also added a slight blue tone with a filter in Photoshop Elements

Large tree in a misty landscape

Baobab tree near Palmarin, Senegal

Large tree with very wide trunk

The so-called Big Tree (a baobab) at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Squat tree among tall grass

Another baobab, on French Mountain, Antsiranana, Madagascar

Bare branches against the sky

A different species of baobab, also on French Mountain, Antsiranana, Madagascar

Looking up at a tall bare tree

In Ankarana Est, Madagascar

Lone palm near Mandina Lodge, Gambia

Tall palm tree rising above low bushes
Dead tree and sand dune

At Dead Vlei, Namibia

Dead tree in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Bare branches against the sky
Pale leaved trees on an escarpment

Aspen trees on Sandia Peak near Albuquerque, New Mexico

Near Volcan Arenal in Costa Rica

Tall slender tree in a mountain landscape
Looking up the trunk of a tall tree

Redwood tree at Blackwater Arboretum, New Forest, Hampshire, England

Acer at Emmetts Garden, Kent, England

Twisted branches and delicate leaves
Small tree by a wall

Lone tree near Housesteads Fort on Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland, England

Looking up at a group of tall pine trees

Trees at Kielder Water, Northumberland, England

Small tree bent over at right angles

Tree distorted by wind, Brean Down, Somerset, England

Branches of a tree covered in snow

Snowy tree in Lammas Park, Ealing

74 Comments

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