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Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Always Wear Eye Protection”
When Operating This Machine
My dad started to clear the tree that fell yesterday, donning some grubby clothes and breaking out the backhoe and chainsaw, much like the last time a tree fell while we were in town.
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 95 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old and Trusty Friend
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 290 mm — 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Offer of Help
Today's agenda was for the removal of the biggest parts of the trunk, which is a one-man job (if the one man has a chainsaw and backhoe), so Anthony and I were relegated to observer. It's just as well, because Anthony was wearing the shirt he made with Aunt Natalie last year, and I wouldn't want to see it get sap or whatnot on it. I'm sure there will be plenty to help with once the big stuff is out of the way, and Anthony is hoping that it'll turn into an opportunity to use the tractor that he got to drive a bit last year.
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 170 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
First Cut
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 78 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bringing In the Heavy Artillery
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Slight Nudge
to roll the uncut area to an accessible position
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 500 mm — 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Smooth as Butter
a good chainsaw is worth its weight in gold
There's absolutely nothing particularly interesting about the shot above, but for some reason it's one of my favorites.
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 290 mm — 1/800 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Still a Blur
at 1/800th a second
The way the trunk settled as it was cut called for a second, shallow cut near the first, and when the trunk rolled free, a piece of the wedge from between the two broke off, and made the layers of the ring structure all the more apparent...
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 116 mm — 1/320 sec, f/6.3, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tree Wedge
13 years in the making
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 58 mm — 1/1250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Oh Well
educational opportunity eclipsed by pretend-cake play
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/400 sec, f/10, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Roll'er In
Before hauling the big trunk off, we noticed a little frog hopping around in the bucket of backhoe, so I chased it out and gave it to Anthony to hold, but it didn't stay held long...
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/500 sec, f/10, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tickly
Anthony giggles as a little frog squirms its way loose
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/320 sec, f/10, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Off She Goes
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/320 sec, f/8, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
dumping the log out of the way
Under Anthony's Approving Gaze
Wow, I miss the US. It is wonderful to see Anthony with his Grandfather. These will become childhood memories and will be anchors of happiness in an otherwise turbulent sea of life.
I did not know your parents had such a large home. Beautiful. I will think of taking the kids to Wisconsin in the summer – we have been going during Christmas – it is fun but different. Have fun and love to Anthony and you and regards to your parents.
That tree looks like a dead ringer for -> Ailanthus Altissima / Tree of Heaven. That bark pattern and those ‘tropical’ looking leaves is what makes me think that.
If so, that was a pretty big specimen for that kind of tree. Did it smell like ‘funky peanuts’ when your father cut the wood/leaves? If so then that’s Tree of Heaven. Loved / Hated by many in the U.S.
I’ve often remarked at the photos I’ve seen of Japan that every place looks the same. (I wouldn’t know a street in Kagoshima from a street in Himeji etc.) I guess the same could be said for the U.S.A. Looking at your photos that could be anywhere from Ohio to Maine all the way down to North Florida.
P.S. The cake shot is hilarious. -> It really shows a kid’s perspective on things.
My ability to identify stops at “tree”, but Mom says that while she’s familiar with Ailanthus Altissima, she’s sure this is a sumac. I didn’t notice any smell from the wood, but she says she can’t stand the smell of it. She does wood carving, but won’t use that kind of wood due to the smell. —Jeffrey
Ah.. wondered if there were sizable chunks of the trunk that were usable/not-rotted for wood projects. Seemed a shame to dump a log that size into the brush! There were quite a few wood artist types where I grew up in Wisconsin that would love to make all sorts of furniture and lawn ornaments out of it with chainsaws to the smallest carving chisel. But if it smells that bad she may just be glad to see it fall 😉