My plan is to continue with multiple exposure work and rather than focusing entirely on the tree as I have in most of my images, I will try to give a sense of its entanglement and relationships with other objects around and about. As I work trying to capture the energy in the tree’s canopy, I also make sure that the ridge of the Black Cuillin and the edge of the Red Hills are in view. This means a careful placing of the tripod as there are few viewing points where both can be captured in one image. While I normally favour using a 70-200mm lens that reduces the apparent distance between the back and front of the image, I am using a 24-70mm instead which gives more flexibility to stand close to the tree but in doing so means that the distance between the tree and the Black Cuillin appears further. I begin to think about the dynamic nature of the tree’s canopy in contrast with the permanence of the jagged basalt rock of the Cuillin. The three exposures merged together in the camera emphasise the rigidity and flexibility of the scene.
As I work, I think about the words of Nan Shepherd:
“Birch trees are least beautiful when fully clothed. Exquisite when the opening leaves just fleck them with points of green flame, or the thinning leaves turn them to a golden lace, they are loveliest of all when naked.” (Shepherd 1977 p53).
Her words are indeed true. I have spent many hours taking the lone tree in winter when its trunk and the shape and form of the canopy are exposed, in late autumn when the glints of orange and umber light up the skies, and in spring when the shoots begin to emerge from the dormancy of winter.

Collaborative Practice 42 – Alison Price, October 2022

Among Trees 16 – Alison Price, January 2021

Winter Impressions 8 – Alison Price, November 2020

The Lone Tree 1 – Alison Price, 2019

The Lone Tree 4 – Alison Price, 2019
As for today’s shoot, there is more reflection and work to be done to achieve a greater sense of entanglement in the context of the lone silver birch tree but here is an image captured today.

Practice Period 13.30 – Alison Price, May 2023
References
Shepherd, N. 1977. The Living Mountain. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
