Photo Alchemy
Photo AlchemyThe workbench
Collage and montageCut and rebuilt
African Art FusionWith Simon Shone
Majestic Panoramas
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Twenty eight collections, and more being added
Photo AlchemyThe workbenchCollage and montageCut and rebuiltAfrican Art FusionWith Simon Shone
Fine art tree photography by Martin Osner: Eminence and Quintessence, trees photographed as portraits and layered in the camera along the Garden Route.
The Master Tree Series was made entirely in the camera, out in the countryside near Swellendam, along the Garden Route of the Western Cape: a beautiful hidden valley and the land around it, well away from the town. For years Martin kept the valley to himself.
Each tree is treated as a portrait sitter. Martin works with multiple exposures made in the camera, several frames of the tree itself to build its structure and weight, then more frames taken from the textures around it, water, stone, fallen leaves and earth, layered over the top. Nothing is added afterwards. The texture you see is real light layered on real light.
The series has two parts. Eminence is the single tree, standing like an elder, with dignity and quiet strength. Quintessence is the tree in its landscape, small against the golden grasslands, about mood, calm and harmony.
Prints and originals from this series are sold through Osner Art Gallery, not on this site.
See prints of this seriesTap any picture to see it larger. Nine show on a phone, the whole collection is here on a larger screen.
The single tree, standing like an elder. Five works, each limited to 7 prints.
The tree in its landscape, small against the golden grass. Six works, each limited to 7 prints.
"I photographed Eminence No.2 on one of those golden late afternoons when everything aligned: the light, the silence, and the presence of the tree itself. There is something about this tree that has always felt dignified, almost regal. It stood alone in a quiet clearing, and I was immediately drawn to its structure and energy.
Using my in-camera multiple exposure technique, I layered seven frames of the tree to build depth and weight, followed by two more layers taken from the textures around it: reflections in water, fragments of stone, subtle elements of earth. The warm sky behind the tree gave the image a richness I had not planned for, but welcomed. To me, this piece speaks of majesty, wisdom and quiet strength."
Limited to 7 prints, 90 x 60 cm including the border, hand signed with a certificate of authenticity.
Eminence No.1 and No.5, Quintessence No.2, No.3, No.4 and No.6The first in the Eminence series, made while Martin was still experimenting with the method. He was loose with the alignment of the frames; usually a mistake, but here it worked. “Call it luck; I prefer to think of it as a fortunate accident.” It gives the piece a subtle cubist undertone, and the bluish green cast came from working in soft shade.
A gentle autumn afternoon, the last golden leaves still on the branches. Martin had passed this tree many times before and came back with it in mind. Its bowed shape caught the light “almost like a curtain parting on stage”, with two more exposures from fallen leaves and the forest around it.
A small cluster of trees in golden grassland. The fences and distant telephone lines were left in on purpose, to speak softly of people in the landscape, and the textures came from a nearby pool scattered with rocks and debris, layered in through multiple exposures.
Made around midday, normally not a time Martin enjoys, because the light is flat. The turning point came when he double exposed a nearby bush into the composition, which added movement and energy, before the texture frames went over the top.
One of the more low key, moody pieces: late afternoon, the mountain's shadow cooling the foreground while light still touched the grass. “Shape is everything in this kind of impressionistic art photography”, and one perfectly triangular tree in the distance anchors the whole scene.
One of Martin's favourites, made in the valley itself, close to the river. After a wet season the grass had grown thick and lush, and the trees stood softly silhouetted against the gorge behind them.
For years Martin kept the valley's location a secret. After several exhibitions, including the Aura collection, which was made in the same valley, he chose to share it. Each year he now takes a small group there on the Swellendam Art and Photography Retreat, and teaches the same in-camera techniques used to make this series.
From the film Technically Brilliant but Artistically Invisible. Martin takes his first hand colouring kit to the Kruger National Park to photograph thorn trees, and for the first time in years leaves the tripod at home, photographing with a painting in his mind. "I just love photographing trees." The link opens the film at that chapter.
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Sold through Osner Art Gallery online, shipped worldwide, and shown in person at Osner Gallery in Hout Bay.
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Online courses at the Art Photography Academy, live fine art classes on Zoom, and workshops on location.
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