I read human emotion and meaning into scenes in nature that don't necessarily exist. I know that. Visually speaking, they are the cues that cause me to stop and take notice and ultimately set up my camera to take a photo.

It's a dead tree in Yosemite Valley - not all that uncommon. There was something about the setting, however, that drew me in. Here was this grand white trunk of a once impressive tree in the Leidig Meadow. It stood surrounded by black oaks on the right and various pines on the left and behind. All against the backdrop of granite cliffs.

It reminded me of how families of elephants gather when a member passes. They stand around it, surrounding it, gently touching it to say goodbye. In time, this tree will shed its limbs in the winds and under the weight of snow, the trunk will stand for many years longer until it can longer support itself. It will break down, returning nutrients back to the soil. The whole circle of life thing.

It seemed worthy of the half hour to set up my view camera and make this image. This tree is now part of me. When I return to the valley and find it again, I'll say to myself "that's my white tree". And I feel that its guardians share it with me.

Zone VI Cherrywood 8x10 View Camera, Rodenstock 360mm f/6.8, Kodak TXP 4164 Film, EI 320Low values (EV 11) placed on Zone V, High Values fell on Zone VIII, 1/4 sec @ f/45, negative given N-1/2 development, HC-100, Dil. B, Gitzo 1349 Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripod, Gitzo G1276 Ballhead, Pentax Zone VI modified Digital Spot Meter