integument |inˈtegyəmənt| noun: a tough outer protective layer, esp. that of an animal or plant.
Real beauty is found in unexpected places. Over the years I’ve spent a lot of time admiring and photographing integument. I’m fascinated by the beauty that can emerge from one the roughest, toughest, least hospitable of subjects. Lignin is a polymer that gives structure and stability to plant cell walls. Bark, the stuff you see and touch on the outside, is called rhytidome and it is composed of highly lignified dead cells. Its primary function is to protect the living tissues beneath but for me it’s much more. Whether the deeply crevassed bark of a giant redwood or the undulating piassava of the palm, as I’ve looked more closely I’ve found beautiful patterns, pleasing shapes and stunning colors. Up til now I’ve largely kept these images to myself; I’ve considered it more a personal hobby. While out taking pictures the other day I came across this adorable little spiral of bark and couldn’t help but share it along with a few more in the coming days.
Pretty isn’t it…you know, for bark?
32 Comments
yes, it is beautiful. fascinating macro.
Nice DOF. I like the contrast too on this.
Great DoF and patterns. Love the composition. Sometimes nature beauty hides itself very well. Great if someone can discover it.
spiral and selective focus technically are the perfect balance for this really unusual photo, my friend, let me say, you are right, the best things are hidden by interest to find them, and you found and created a masterpiace!!!
Nice detail:-)
What a delightful image.
Really nice details and use of DOF. I love this!
Exquisite..magical beauty!! What gorgeous detail…would never have guessed it to be bark!
Very nice photo!
Like the perspective and captivating patterns. Great use of DOF for this excellent composition!
don’t keep beauty to yourself
it looks like bark from a tree, love sweetness and light in your b&w. Beauty is everywhere, let’s see it.
oooo! i like that one …. excellent DOF
loved the abstractness that it gives and the perspective and the DOF is so cool!
Fantastic shallow DoF!
Great shot. Love the depth of field.
I’ll look forward to seeing more of the micro images – meanwhile, a happy Halloween to the four of you.
delicate high key et beautiful title..
It IS pretty. Yay for Macro (and your eyes) for helping us see things in new ways.
Such a work of delicacy, oh yes i enjoy this a lot, Christopher and your subtle focus & dof.
Nature is quite photogenic. Marvels (like the one shown here) are out there for us to discover. I do hope you share more of your personal hobby images, they are beautiful and inspiring. I feel that a photo not shared is not worth capturing.
fantastic play with framing and dof
I think this is what our photo journeys are all about: Learning to see the beauty in these everyday things. Great shot Christopher!
Really well seen Chris. The shallow focal point on the scroll is masterful. This is what is called extracting the extraordinary, and you are an extraordinary extractor! Look forward to more of your mining of natural beauty.
une impression de mélange de bois et de métal
For bark… that’s pretty neat
Kinda like a poem…
that’s quite some info there.. i didn’t know bark was called.. urmm… (wait.. lemme scroll back up)… urmm.. rhytidome (yes.. i copy and paste) just in case i got the spelling wrong.. hehehhee
thanks for sharing your secret stash Chris
Got to say that my first impression was that of some slinky, coiling snake making a surprise appearance and then it looked like a shed skin, neither of which emotes a particularly ‘pretty’ feeling. Finally I recognized it for bark and then your wonderfully informed description added a level of fascination. A wonderful example of how words complete our images. Great post as usual!
Great Christopher, most time we don’t see the details in our life. Wonderfull DOF and the bokeh is amazing
stunning! and I get to learn a new word also. what a treat. thank you Christopher.
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Fantastic details, Love it
very nice
Incredible delicacy. Soft lines and magical. A blur of great beauty. I love this photo …