Tap water and white trees.

Big limb seen overhead here broke and is angled out of the tree on the grass, all bloomed out. Like a huge garland. This same thing happened about ten years ago when a whole white tree fell out of the woodline and then bloomed. I print that image but it's difficult because I was using new Tri-x just after they changed it without telling anyone. They ruined the high values with the new emulsion and it prints with an odd flatness I didn't expect. Now using Ilford HP5 and Xtol. I'd used Tri-x and Hc110 for 30 years, with happiness.

Out with film to get a couple images that matter of white trees. Windy yesterday at my favorite tree out on Hiighway 64. Give it another shake today. Going into the darkroom to run film now and reload my holders. Beautiful time of the year.

Making a real effort to shoot in the most dramatic light of the day.

Tap water running at 50 degrees. Have to turn on the hot water heater to get a little help. Usually I just walk down to Brady's coffee with a 64 oz pitcher.

Pear Tree, evening light

  Pear tree, evening light

  Pear tree in late light.  Copy from a palladium print.  This makes a gorgeous silver print and has been shown in several shows as well as in a couple of museum collections.

Cedar Tree shadow on edge of the grass

  Cedar Tree shadow on edge of the grass.

  I watch shadows as much as I look at the actual object.  I loved the way this shadow slid into the treeline and matched up with a young evergreen there.

  Sometimes white trees are black trees.  Early Spring in North Texas.

Blooming Pear and clouds

  Wild Pear and clouds.

  I've photographed this tree for a decade.  Every few years it undergoes major changes.  Recently the owners cut down a companion tree, not a pear, which had stood beside it since they emerged from the earth.

Pear and rosefield road

 Pear and rosefield road. 

  West of Tyler in a rose field where I've photographed for 20 years.  First there was an open road going in, then a wire gap.  A gate followed, then a welded pipe gate with removeable fenceposts next to it and an open gap around the corner.   Lately its a unlocked pipe gate.

  The trees bloom through four weeks in the early spring and go from bare twigs to bouquets.  The bees work them so heavily that the trees seem to hum.