The Tree

Description

Anyone who has been to Killbear is likely aware of “The Tree”. Some have called it the most photographed tree in Ontario, and I can certainly see why. It is the perfect example of a windswept pine shaped by the elements, and over time it has truly become the symbol of the park.

To take this image, I drove two and a half hours from home to Killbear, stayed out on the rocks until about 2:00 AM, and timed the shoot with the new moon cycle so the sky would be as dark as possible. I had to wait until the core of the Milky Way rose and aligned perfectly right over the silhouette of the branches. After dozens of test shots in the pitch black to get the composition dialed in, everything finally came together. This photo really encompasses why I got into photography. Years ago, I would stand on these exact rocks looking up at the stars full of awe, which pushed me to buy my first professional camera and lens so I could learn how to capture that feeling.

When I look back at this image, I still get that same feeling of awe and amazement that I first got many years ago.