Honey Horn

I visited the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn yesterday and found some beautiful oak trees near the parking area beside Discovery House.  These trees must be very old because no living thing could develop all that character in a short time.  In fact, these trees reminded me of the Ents which I met in reading Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings.  As I was setting up to photograph them, a fellow human veered from his path toward his waiting car to ask “What do you see?”  I told him of my fascination with the trees, wondering about their age, and he agreed that these oaks must be ancient.  He remembered that once there was a sign estimating their ages, but it had been removed.  “Too bad,” he sighed.  “Wouldn’t you love to have one of these in your yard at home?”  The image above is a composite of five different exposures produced with Photomatix Pro software so that the range of exposure is expanded in what is called “high dynamic range” (HDR) photography.

It might be nice to live among oaks like these, but I’m not sure I’d want the responsibility that goes with keeping them healthy and well-groomed.  I’m happy to share these beauties and to enjoy them here where they are protected and cared for by the museum staff.  The image at the left is also HDR, produced with the same software but processed to give a “painterly” look which gives the trees a dreamy appearance which I like.  Makes me want to have a seat at that table with a cup of coffee and a good book to while away the morning under the limbs of these big old oaks.  Will you join me?