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Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Symmetry in Nature II (Standard Editing)
Collection: Portfolio
Camera: Canon PowerShot SX540 HS
Location: Lee County, Texas (USA)
Date: Dec 17, 2025
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 200
Shutter: 1/100
Date Uploaded: Dec 19, 2025

 Someone's going to penalize me for this not being perfect symmetry. But I hope the sense of symmetry I see here registers for most.

Call me simple, but the story here is that I've long admired the near-perfect balance of the way this particular stand of trees has developed over the years since I first noticed them. Each year I'm a little more mesmerized by the complementary way the trees have grown, almost as if they are collectively forming one organism (and might be, depending on the species--I know some of these trees have rhizome-like root structures).

I usually only see this scene in quick glances because this fence line runs along a very busy and fast-moving state highway, and there isn't really a safe place to park where I could capture this scene from the more desirable westward-facing side, where there's greater DOF for subject isolation. I got lucky on this super foggy morning, though. This is shot from the far side of the hay pasture (where I could easily get out of traffic on a side road) at near-max zoom. The fog/mist gave me just enough contrast against the otherwise flat shadows background that, in processing, I could bring up the highlights and get the sense of atmosphere and balance conveyed by the trees' natural placement and relative isolation.

I opted for this more painterly, textural treatment to embrace the imperfections introduced by the limitations of my equipment at this focal length and lighting. Mileage will probably vary on how effective that processing is, but someone I showed this to said it looked like a book cover to them. I took it as a compliment. :-)

Statistics
Place: 4 out of 22
Avg (all users): 6.5152
Avg (participants): 6.8667
Avg (non-participants): 6.2222
Views since voting: 253
Views during voting: 60
Votes: 33
Comments: 7
Favorites: 2 (view)

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AuthorThread
Sony DSLR-A580
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 12/31/2025 10:48:47 PM
This is art. I love it! Nice finish.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
 12/31/2025 06:53:01 PM
Very interesting and beautiful. I love the way you showcased this image and the story above.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-6D
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
 12/31/2025 11:03:46 AM
You are taking DPC by storm, Johnathan!

Congratulations!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon D7000
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR
 12/31/2025 06:30:10 AM
This is such a lovely shot and it is amazing how those trees form a perfect semi circle. 10 from me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro M.Zuiko Digital ED
 12/28/2025 05:15:25 PM
This is unique in how they form a circle in the grouping like that.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8
 12/28/2025 03:05:51 PM
I like your processing.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony Alpha a1 II
Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS
 12/27/2025 01:29:10 PM
Beautifully processed nd presented, front page for sure, well done...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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