The free-standing, somewhat strange deadwood on the left is both intriguing and disturbing. On balance, I think it’s a genuine eye-catcher that adds interest to the planting, even though the main tree would be excellent by itself. The original shot included a stand that seemed too large and distracting, so I cropped it out. Base-of-the-trunk level shots are usually the best way to photograph bonsai, but if they slip down just a little lower, they can over-emphasis stands and pots. The full photo with the stand is below, so you can be the judge.
Robert is at it again
The photos are posted on Robert Steven’s facebook page. They’re from the Malaysia Bonsai & Stone International Exhibition 2012. Robert was a featured bonsai artist and judge and though I don’t know how the judging went, the result of his demo was excellent. We’ll feature it and some more photos from the Exhibition soon. Meanwhile you can check it out for yourself.
Artist, teacher, author and friend to countless people
I just went through some of Robert Steven’s facebook pages and was astounded at how many birthday greetings he got. It seems that Robert has hundreds, if not thousands, of devoted friends and students. Which reminds me; Happy Birthday Robert! (just a little late…).
I can see why this photo is shot from below the base of the trunk; it provides a good look at the movement inside the tree, which is a net plus, even though the pot seems a little outsized from this angle.
Here’s the original shot of the tree at the top of the post.
I like the picture on the stand. It gives a much better over-all appearance
Being a novice, is this a photo of deadwood with a tree planted behind it ?
Hi Michael,
I don’t think it’s a photo of deadwood with a tree planted behind it, though it is possible that the tree is a Phoenix graft.
If you look closely, you’ll see that there a live vein attached to right side of the deadwood. If the deadwood and the live vein are both part of the same trunk, then it’s not a Phoenix graft. If, however, the live vein and the deadwood are from two different trees and were put together by human hands, then it is a Phoenix graft.
Thanks for the regards, Wayne.
Hi Michael, this is Baeckea, a new icon of Malaysia bonsai. The deadwood is real.
I personally don’t like the deadwood so much, it biases and distracts the main tree, and it also gives difficulty to set a good overall composition. In this composition, the main tree become to center, there are more empty space on the left side, which gives a contradicting viewing flow compare to the tree movement…
this tree could be called “the muse”, the far left part of the deadwood looks to me like a sculptural representation of a naked female body.
it is distracting indeed, but also so unusual that, if the tree was mine, i would find very hard to get rid of it despite the fact that the tree would be more readable without it. thou i would use a longer slab (1.5 time longer) to extend the composition to the right.