SPOTLIGHT
MARCH/APRIL 2020 ISSUE
DANCING TREES
Inside the Image
Photography and Text By Douglas Schwartz
I created the photograph featured in this SPOTLIGHT at White Clay Creek State Park in Newark,
Delaware. Because of the posture of the tree branches in the image, I have long referred to this
photograph as, Dancing Trees. It was featured on the cover as well as in my 2005 book, Above the
C&D...The Nature of Northern Delaware and is one of my most popular images.
Delaware. Because of the posture of the tree branches in the image, I have long referred to this
photograph as, Dancing Trees. It was featured on the cover as well as in my 2005 book, Above the
C&D...The Nature of Northern Delaware and is one of my most popular images.
As an artist, I always find it interesting how I can transport myself back in time, mentally speaking, and
relive a particular moment in my life. Such is the occasion when I created Dancing Trees. The light
glistened on that autumn day with the full radiance of the season. The air was crisp. The colors were
like delicious, visual candy. I felt truly alive! Considering all of my photographic accomplishments that
day, it was as if I could do no wrong. If you're an artist, you know what I mean. Days like these make
up for the ones when it seems like you can't do anything right!
The moment when I created the photograph of Dancing Trees found me standing with my camera
and tripod on a rise of rocky earth which allowed me to look through the trees and down to an old, mill
pond. You can see part of the pond along with some trees and other vegetation surrounding it in the
distance. These are all supporting elements in the photograph. The primary elements, however, are
the nearby trees which frame the sides of my composition.
Trees have long been used in landscape art to direct the viewer in one way or another. This photograph
is no exception. The trees in this photograph go much farther, however, than direct the viewer to some
other subject. In this image, they and their graceful branches are the subjects. The viewer is directed to
them!
I believe that artists should always strive to tap into the emotional aspects of their subjects. If they
succeed, their art will connect with the audience on a level beyond the obvious. While autumn color is
perhaps the most obvious natural element in this photograph, the true "stars" are the trees and their
outstretched branches, performing a woodland dance to the music of sunlight, wind and time.
Am I reading too much into what some might regard as an ordinary scene in nature? I say, no. What I'm
doing is simply allowing my imagination to be free. Isn't that what all artists must do? After all, if not for
our imagination and our emotional connection to our subjects, be they trees or whatever, artists might
just as well put away their cameras, paint brushes, musical instruments, and all the other tools we use,
and forget about being artists altogether! On the other hand, if our imagination is set free, there is
nothing we can't envision!
relive a particular moment in my life. Such is the occasion when I created Dancing Trees. The light
glistened on that autumn day with the full radiance of the season. The air was crisp. The colors were
like delicious, visual candy. I felt truly alive! Considering all of my photographic accomplishments that
day, it was as if I could do no wrong. If you're an artist, you know what I mean. Days like these make
up for the ones when it seems like you can't do anything right!
The moment when I created the photograph of Dancing Trees found me standing with my camera
and tripod on a rise of rocky earth which allowed me to look through the trees and down to an old, mill
pond. You can see part of the pond along with some trees and other vegetation surrounding it in the
distance. These are all supporting elements in the photograph. The primary elements, however, are
the nearby trees which frame the sides of my composition.
Trees have long been used in landscape art to direct the viewer in one way or another. This photograph
is no exception. The trees in this photograph go much farther, however, than direct the viewer to some
other subject. In this image, they and their graceful branches are the subjects. The viewer is directed to
them!
I believe that artists should always strive to tap into the emotional aspects of their subjects. If they
succeed, their art will connect with the audience on a level beyond the obvious. While autumn color is
perhaps the most obvious natural element in this photograph, the true "stars" are the trees and their
outstretched branches, performing a woodland dance to the music of sunlight, wind and time.
Am I reading too much into what some might regard as an ordinary scene in nature? I say, no. What I'm
doing is simply allowing my imagination to be free. Isn't that what all artists must do? After all, if not for
our imagination and our emotional connection to our subjects, be they trees or whatever, artists might
just as well put away their cameras, paint brushes, musical instruments, and all the other tools we use,
and forget about being artists altogether! On the other hand, if our imagination is set free, there is
nothing we can't envision!
Artwork featured in this SPOTLIGHT © copyright Douglas Schwartz. All rights reserved.
