This photo was taken during a camping trip to the Juniper Woods, in the Jebel Akhdar mountains of Oman. This area is a high-altitude plateau, situated about 2,200 m above sea level. As such, it sees a bit more average rainfall than the rest of the country, which in turn supports a higher-than-normal density of trees.
While visiting the area, it is possible to see olive trees, bristlecone pines, and junipers. Some of the trees have grown to become quite large and centuries old. This plateau has many nice places to camp under the shade of these large trees, and that is always my preferred option. The region has become a sort of tourist hub, with much cooler temperatures all year round; hence, it is especially popular in the summer. In the wintertime it can become quite cold at night, with temperatures dropping near freezing. However, on this occasion I was there during early spring, with very nice mild weather.
After setting up camp, I went for a walk around the area, trying to find interesting trees as photographic subjects. The mountain landscape is quite beautiful, and I soon found this tree, which was full of character; its main trunk and branches were carved by texture and lines, a testament to the harsh climate. As the sun was setting behind me, the light was fading fast, with parts of the mountain already under the shade. I wanted to compose close to the ground, framing the branches as reaching for the sky and leading the viewer towards the mountain in the background. Later, I converted the Raw file to black and white, to enhance the textures and mood of the moment.
