The echo of a fallen giant

by Frank Schröter Photography

A long, dead tree trunk lies across a patch of light-coloured sandstone. Its broken branches jut out in various directions, giving a sense of the tree’s former grandeur. Light traces the light-coloured wood fibres, rough fracture lines and dark shadows. In the softly rendered background, low shrubs stand against a reddish rocky outcrop. This landscape photograph combines a powerful horizontal form with the subtle traces of natural weathering.

The trunk stretches across almost the entire width of the image. Some branches point upwards, whilst others lie close to the ground. Between them, small gaps open up, offering views of the light-coloured rock. On the left-hand side, short, sturdy fragments stand close together; towards the right, the branches become slimmer and more widely spaced. Small green plants add a touch of life to the arid surroundings. The photograph has been individually developed and retouched. The contrast between the rough wood, the smooth ground and the blurred distance is crucial to its impact. The landscape format gives the sweeping shape room to unfold whilst also leaving space above the trunk. As a wall hanging, the motif combines earthy colours with a clearly defined natural structure. Depending on the viewing distance, either the individual wood fibres or the rhythm of the branches come to the fore.