Bonsai Dome - National Arboretum - Washington D.C.
This display is simply incredible. You can wander through several large buildings and find stunning artistic creations around every bend. I had no idea experts could craft so many different types of trees into tiny works of timeless, natural art. The oldest tree in the museum’s collection is a Japanese White Pine that has been in training as a “living sculpture” since 1625!
Enjoy this quote from the National Arboretum website:
“The miniature masterpieces that we call bonsai and penjing are the pinnacle of gardening skill, and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum has one of the largest collections of these timeless trees in North America. The Japanese art of bonsai, and its precursor, the Chinese art of penjing, are rooted in the traditions of Asian culture. The placement of branches, styling, and the pot all convey deep symbolism and reverence for nature.
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum began when Japanese bonsai enthusiasts in the Nippon Bonsai Association donated 53 bonsai and 6 viewing stones to the people of the United States to commemorate the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. The collection has grown steadily with the addition of pieces from American bonsai masters and penjing from China. Today, 3 pavilions house about 150 plants.”
Here are my image captures of some of my favorite Bonsais. I used some Nik filters and favorite recipes to get the effects you see here. I wanted to feature these beauties with an older look to symbolize their age and artistic nature. I also burned the edges and added clarity and contrast to enhance the shadows and enhance the interesting light. These are not HDR images, rather Camera Raw, Photoshop and Nik enhancements that have a simliar effect to HDR (High Dynamic Range).
Bonsai Sculpture - National Arboretum - Washington D.C. - Caryn Esplin
Bonsai Spears - National Arboretum - Washington D.C. - Caryn Esplin
Bonsai Dome - National Arboretum - Washington D.C. - Caryn Esplin
As always, fantastic photos. I really like the backgrounds as well.
Thanks, Brent. I wanted to bring out the texture in the stucko wall behind the trees for contrast, so I am glad you noticed. The trees were amazing! There were several buildings filled all kinds of them. Have a great week!
Oh these are beautiful. The top one is my favorite and I love how you used the stucko on the wall to give contrast and make it pop. I also love how the newer growth of the three is captured with the different colors of green. Love it!
Thanks, Rebecca. The Arboretum was a fun place to go, and there were so many awesome little bonsai trees to choose from. I just had to narrow it down to three of them!
I really love the lighting on these! Makes it look very creative! And the texture in the background gives the trees a better sense of size… I think they are really neat! I’m sure a some macros of this would be some awesome photos! Could you imagine?? It would seem as if you were actually there! NICE WORK!! Keep inspiring!
I took dozens of shots of different trees, but it was the lighting on these that made them stand out. Plus the shapes were unique too. That lighting piece is the key element, as you well know! Thanks for the comments, Dustin. I do appreciate it. 🙂