Terence Lane Contemporary Landscape Photographer

Generally, an Oak will grow for about one third of its life, remain stable for another third and then decline for the last third. I have walked past this dead trunk for years, a minor waymarker yes, but reliable on many visits. One day I passed it as usual, paying no particular attention, but it formed a part of the landscape I knew and which my vision and possibly subconcious didn't alert me to any significant difference. The next day, there was a difference as I approached, as normal, a decision point, a junction.

In the first images, the trunk had fallen destroying itself upon impact. Based on activity over the past few years I will never be sure if it had gone over as a result of its own weight, forced by minute movement or tremor causing collapse or if it had been pulled or forced over. In one sense it doesn't matter. From whence it came, it thus returns - so they say . . .

Much metaphor can be attached to this event, this situation, and not necessarily sad. This images are a reflection of a life lived.

As others (birch and juvenile oaks) look on, perhaps we should celebrate . . . .