Brunch with Battutah
600-year-old linden tree
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 18 March 2008 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
This ancient tree in the courtyard of St. Matthew's Church in Cigel, Slovakia is mostly hollow. Tomorrow I'll climb inside to see what's there.
@pLusOne: I'll try not to. Thanks.
@dpm: I will be. thanks.
Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom
trees can be such fascinating subjects as you've proven here. Their appearance gives them such a unique history it makes them almost human. Nice shot.
18 Mar 2008 6:34am
@Rhys: That's a great comment. Thank you, Rhys.
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
I love old tree's - if only they could talk and tell us all of there amazing stories of days gone by! This one looks particularly interesting...can't wait to see what you find on the inside...
18 Mar 2008 6:50am
@Mandy Provan: I agree. Perhaps we just have to learn to communicate with them. A great comment. Thank you, Mandy.
@Saeed: Thank you, Saeed.
GJC from Kyoto, Japan
I like the composition which juxtaposes the church tower and the tree. Both are lovely, though they give a very different feel. Nice shot.
18 Mar 2008 7:35am
@GJC: Many thanks. And I like your analysis.
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Majestic. That is the perfect word for that tree.
18 Mar 2008 8:27am
@Ana Lúcia: Yes. It is. thanks so much, Ana Lúcia.
@lidia: Yes, I'm sure it knows many stories. thank you, Lidia.
Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa
What a big old tree! While you are inside, ask him a question... then keep quite for a second or so, and see 'what comes up' in your mind! Done this before and it works!
18 Mar 2008 9:11am
@Ina: What great advice. I must try that. A kind of telepathy. Many thanks, Ina.
givethemhell from Germany
I also think, like Ina, that the old tree might communicate with you. I wonder what it is going to tell you.
18 Mar 2008 9:17am
@givethemhell: Thank you, Eva. It begins to sound like the start of a wonderful story.
Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom
Fascinating. I marvel at old trees like this . . and think of all they’ve ‘seen’ over those centuries. You must ask it questions, yes.
18 Mar 2008 9:33am
@Ronnie 2¢: Thank you, Ronnie. I shall take your advice.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
I love trees soooo much, they're a real source of comfort to me and this photo is exquisite :)
ps How do you make time to visit everyone when there is so many beautiful blogs to visit? how do you choose? I'm asking everyone today lol
18 Mar 2008 9:35am
@Lorraine: Thanks so much. Lorraine. I have my photog friends who I regularly visit and you are at the top of that list. Apart from that I just scan the thumbnails until I see something that catches my eye. It's usually some unusual design, different portrait or bright colors that attract me.
Betty from New Jersey, United States
Wonderful shot, Michael. 600 years! Imagine what it has seen in all that time!
18 Mar 2008 9:36am
@Betty: Yes, I wonder what memories would dominate - pleasant or painful. Many thanks, Betty.
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
Not a very handsome fellow, but, certainly full of character! Your composition, here, is, as usual, stellar. You've managed to frame the shot to give the viewer some perspective as to the magnificent size of the wise, old tree. Beautiful, Michael.
18 Mar 2008 9:43am
@Ron: Many thanks, Ron. The framing was a bit of a problem in that I was blocked by a fence and steep drop from moving further backward to get more of the tree in.
Sujit Sudhi from Hyderabad, India
Great close up shot of the tree. great texture and colours. Nice perspective.
18 Mar 2008 10:46am
@Sujit Sudhi: Many thanks, Sujit.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Wow, this is some tree. It is a much larger tree than those I saw in Israel on a visit there -- many of the olive trees were very old and had hollow middles also, like this linden. Not nearly as large.
18 Mar 2008 10:55am
@Viewfinder: Thanks so much, VF. The old olive trees sound fascinating.
dilip from Mumbai, India
old trees any day are a photographer's delight ... !!! ... and i like the way u hv composed the image ... great shot ... !!! ... :) ...
18 Mar 2008 11:12am
@dilip: Thank you so much.
@Teresa Durães: Thank you, Teresa.
vu@granby - Wolfgang from Granby, Quebec, Canada
Very nice detail, and I like especially that we still can see a little of the church behind the tree!
18 Mar 2008 12:34pm
@vu@granby - Wolfgang: Thank you, Wolfgang. I appreciate that.
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Beautiful textures and light in this shot Michael, this is a huge tree it must be very old! I'm looking forward to seeing inside tomorrow.
18 Mar 2008 12:43pm
@MaryB: Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your positive comment.
@Reza: Thank you, Reza.
@Daroru: Very.
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
very impressive tree and very good image
18 Mar 2008 4:08pm
@yiannis krikis: Many thanks, Yiannis.
@Elisa: Thank you, Elisa.
@alla: Yes it is. thanks, Alla.
vu@granby from Granby, Québec, Canada
Very impressive and massive that old linden tree. Watch your steps when you will climb inside!
vu@granby - Gilles Martineau
18 Mar 2008 6:35pm
@vu@granby: Thank you, Gilles. I'll try to be careful.
@Craig: Yes, it is. thank you, Craig.
e. from New York, NY, United States
Wow, that's a beautiful capture of how old the tree.
18 Mar 2008 8:45pm
@e.: Thank you so much, e.
@Eduarda: Thank you, Eduarda
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Very impressive capture. You found a great angle. Be careful when climbing!
18 Mar 2008 9:08pm
@standley: Thank You, Standley.
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Quite the monstrocity that you have captured. Is this the same tree you featured not too long ago with a woman who stood behind it? If I'm not mistaken it was subject to being cut down? :-(
18 Mar 2008 9:46pm
@Steven: Yes, it is the same. We haven't heard anything more recently about cutting it down. Hope not. thank you, Steven.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
This tree is just amazing. To see it in total view would be interesting as well :-)
18 Mar 2008 10:03pm
@MadScientist: I will try to post that sometime. thank you, MS.
QUIM from Portugal
Great, great shot!
I thank you for ther visit and your comment you have made to my photoblog
QUIM-Lisboa, Portugal
18 Mar 2008 11:20pm
@QUIM: And thank you for your comment.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
That is a beautiful tree. It is a complex looking piece of vegetation.
18 Mar 2008 11:42pm
@Michael Rawluk: A nice way to describe it. thank you, Michael.
Oswegan from Lake Oswego, United States
It almost looks like it was several trees that grew together.
19 Mar 2008 12:08am
@Oswegan: It has offshoots I guess. Thank you, O.
Rags from Plano, United States
i can't wait to see what you find when you climb inside.
19 Mar 2008 12:43am
@Rags: Thank you, Rags.
@amy: Thank you so much, Amy.
tyan from Singapore, Singapore
great angle!I like it!Cant wait to see whats inside..please be careful!:)
19 Mar 2008 1:55am
@tyan: I'll try to be. thank you.
@Pavla: Thank you, Pavla for you generous comment.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
Most interesting and also attractive tree! I had no idea that linden trees can live so long!
You found a good position for a glimpse at the insides, the texture is smooth and not that old on the trunk, but the various formations attest to the age. I look forward to more shots of this wise multicentenarian.
20 Mar 2008 12:40pm
@Japanalia: Such an excellent comment. thank you, Gabriela.
@Porcsin: Yes, thank you, Porcsin.
Pentax Optio A30
1/50 second
F/8.0
ISO 64
38 mm (35mm equiv.)