Paulownia Sunrise

Returning to the Paulownia Plantation at Richmond had been on my agenda for some time. As luck would have it, the Focus Group arranged a sunrise shoot. Hoping to perhaps score a foggy morning 30 of us eagerly arrived to encounter a temp of 0 degrees but alas, no fog. We all became so engrossed in what we were doing that I failed to even be aware of the sun colouring the sky until it had completely risen. Slowly shards of golden light filtered amongst the rows of tall majestic trees, arms reaching for the anticipated warmth. 

It is generally my habit to anthropomorphise my surroundings, and today the guardians of the forest made themselves visible. 

Copious photo opportunities were evident but time as always was the intruder and the opportunity to photograph so many small details which caught my eye was sabotaged:  dew glistening on the abandoned spiders webs;  frost encrusted dandelions at all stages of growth;  spiky seed pods; fallen crinkled leaves lying inert as testimony to the fact that Autumn had not long ago passed; Paulownia seedlings struggling to compete with their taller brothers and sisters and of course those thousands of gnarled eyes on each and every trunk.

One of the advantages of this location is its sheer size. Endless compositions are evident and it becomes so difficult to select the best method of showcasing the Plantation's dimensions, beauty and intricacies.

Hopefully another opportunity will present itself and I will be able to return again to the plantation.