Stephen Levitas
July 2026 - Tree man descending
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About the Image(s)
Tree Man Descending
I have a lot of tall trees on my 1/5 acre of suburban land, a few oaks and many tulip poplars, the latter very tall and one very close to the house. This one had a dead limb overhanging the house. It was only a matter of time before it would fall on the house and knock a hole in the roof. So, I called my tree man. He came over and climbed the tree. He brought down the big limb under his guidance to prevent it from touching the house.
I took a lot of shots with my long telephoto lens, and I will see if any of them are suitable for our group. Then I went out back to see my man bring down the limb. I only got a few shots of the descent, and this is the best, as it shows the entire limb and the man guiding it away from touching the house. The real experience was much more dramatic, watching the descent in motion. Unfortunately, his face does not show.
9 comments posted
An interesting photo. I downloaded it and played with it but really couldn't come up with anything that I thought was worth sharing.
Did you know that tulip poplars are actually magnolias and are one of the most primitive flowering plants? Note how the seed pods resemble pine cones. Posted: 07/12/2026 15:36:47
Did you know that tulip poplars are actually magnolias and are one of the most primitive flowering plants? Note how the seed pods resemble pine cones. Posted: 07/12/2026 15:36:47
Ed, thank you for trying. I definitely did not get the best shot. Had to grab it on a moment. It would have been better with my serious camera and fill flash.
So interesting about my trees. Thanks. Posted: 07/12/2026 18:26:12
So interesting about my trees. Thanks. Posted: 07/12/2026 18:26:12
Tulip trees are quite common in GB but mostly in parks and large gardens, not in small house gardens, partly because they are so vigorous and they have brittle branches, so are easily damaged in high winds, so are a danger near housing. I'm surprised you say you have several! I'd have been out there with my camera too, but its always difficult to get a good action shot . A hand or arm always seems to get in the way.
Although the texture of the trunk is well shown, it is also a bit grey so I felt that it needed a bit more contrast within the photo, so the detail could be kept on the underside of the wayward branch but would let the trunk go darker. Looking up is also a problem because the sky goes too bright. Posted: 07/13/2026 11:54:08
Although the texture of the trunk is well shown, it is also a bit grey so I felt that it needed a bit more contrast within the photo, so the detail could be kept on the underside of the wayward branch but would let the trunk go darker. Looking up is also a problem because the sky goes too bright. Posted: 07/13/2026 11:54:08
Thanks for the comments, Diana.
When we bought our house 50 years ago, we were charmed by the plot of land with many mature trees, and the fireplace alight in the living room, by a clever real estate agent. We had no idea what type of trees they were. We still have five tulip poplars and a couple of oaks. I just planted five new trees to replace a few that we lost over the years. We also have two dogwoods, one pink and one white. AND we planted a Christmas tree with a root ball 30 years ago, and now it is 40 feet high. Posted: 07/15/2026 06:34:37
When we bought our house 50 years ago, we were charmed by the plot of land with many mature trees, and the fireplace alight in the living room, by a clever real estate agent. We had no idea what type of trees they were. We still have five tulip poplars and a couple of oaks. I just planted five new trees to replace a few that we lost over the years. We also have two dogwoods, one pink and one white. AND we planted a Christmas tree with a root ball 30 years ago, and now it is 40 feet high. Posted: 07/15/2026 06:34:37
You captured a good action shot and I like the crop. Your conversion to mono is very good in that you opened up the shadows.
Tulip trees are native in my area. My next door neighbor has a very large Tulip tree just across the property line from my house. It is next to their driveway, but since we live on a slope, it is next to an about 4 foot wall on my side. It did have a large dead branch on my side for awhile, but it was so rotten that it got saturated with water and fell during relatively light wind. It hit my driveway so hard that pieces of it went 15 feet from where it landed.
I really hate the tree because of all of the flower petals, and then seeds from it. Since it is an area with very little dirt around it, just concrete it gets dry every summer and drops a lot of leafs all summer long. If it was my yard that it was on, I would cut it down. The tree is southwest of and close to their house, and strong storms in the area have winds from the southwest. Posted: 07/14/2026 21:00:08
Tulip trees are native in my area. My next door neighbor has a very large Tulip tree just across the property line from my house. It is next to their driveway, but since we live on a slope, it is next to an about 4 foot wall on my side. It did have a large dead branch on my side for awhile, but it was so rotten that it got saturated with water and fell during relatively light wind. It hit my driveway so hard that pieces of it went 15 feet from where it landed.
I really hate the tree because of all of the flower petals, and then seeds from it. Since it is an area with very little dirt around it, just concrete it gets dry every summer and drops a lot of leafs all summer long. If it was my yard that it was on, I would cut it down. The tree is southwest of and close to their house, and strong storms in the area have winds from the southwest. Posted: 07/14/2026 21:00:08
Thank you for the comment, Tom.
I well understand you may not like a tree next door. I had the same problem with my neighbors complaining about danger from my trees. On one side, the neighbor offered to pay half the cost of taking down a failing tree near his property line, and I accepted his offer.
Out by the street, my biggest oak was leaning suspiciously and dropping a large limb every year or so. Another neighbor, warned by a third neighbor, called the county arborist, who came and measured the distance from the center of the street to the tree. It was within two inches of the right of way distance of 25 feet. So the county took it down at their expense. Ironically, a few weeks later, a tree on neighbor 3's property fell on neighbor 2's house! Fortunately, it did little damage, but neighbor 3 had to hire a crane to lift it off the property of neighbor 2.
None of my trees have every harmed any neighbor property, except to drop their leaves in the fall. Posted: 07/15/2026 06:42:45
I well understand you may not like a tree next door. I had the same problem with my neighbors complaining about danger from my trees. On one side, the neighbor offered to pay half the cost of taking down a failing tree near his property line, and I accepted his offer.
Out by the street, my biggest oak was leaning suspiciously and dropping a large limb every year or so. Another neighbor, warned by a third neighbor, called the county arborist, who came and measured the distance from the center of the street to the tree. It was within two inches of the right of way distance of 25 feet. So the county took it down at their expense. Ironically, a few weeks later, a tree on neighbor 3's property fell on neighbor 2's house! Fortunately, it did little damage, but neighbor 3 had to hire a crane to lift it off the property of neighbor 2.
None of my trees have every harmed any neighbor property, except to drop their leaves in the fall. Posted: 07/15/2026 06:42:45
Trees are an important discussion point at the moment with our heatwave, since trees in urban areas cool the area, but residents get cross with the leaves falling and also the roots pushing up pavements (sidewalks to you). I find them difficult because I don't walk well but I am very much in favour of trees and bushes in urban areas. They are proven to be good for mental health. Our small garden is an oasis of flourishing vegetation between two rather barren back gardens, though with only one mature tree beside the pavement in the front, which does drop blossom and leaves for a short period of time in the year. Posted: 07/15/2026 07:47:29
This is the tree in question. It is really big and tall. My house is on the left. Posted: 07/15/2026 13:39:40
Wow, yes, it is really tall, but very very healthy. I have only one of my seven big trees that is flourishing like that. Posted: 07/15/2026 23:13:42