Capture Kern County Photo Contest - Breckenridge Pastorale 2

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Breckenridge Pastorale 2 - The Trees

Martin Varga and I stopped on Breckenridge Road on the way down, finding a beautiful immersive late afternoon fall illumination.

I used my 105 mm f/2.5 Auto-Nikkor and D40 to capture this shot, an array of trees beautifully outlined against the sky and hillside awash with sidelight from the bright and transcendent rays of the sun soon to set.

I choose to render this in black and white because it communicates both the warmth and texture clearly..

The color version excelled for the warmth but lack clarity. This monochrome hopefully will give you the clarity without losing the warmth.

I also think the b/w reveals the directionality of the lighting more convincingly, and thus the shadows come across with increased dimensionality.

Wayne Wong
commented 5 months ago

David, thanks for the kind words! This shot definitely cries out for a bb/w rendering. It has an orange filter look to me...orange was my favorite filter shooting outdoors when film was king.

This shot definitely grows stronger each time I look at it!
David Clendenen
commented 5 months ago

Wayne, I think this is my favorite B&W on CKC! It has a serene feeling that I really enjoy. You know how I like trees.... and this one conveys there elegant strength so well. Love it!
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Charlie, Campus Crusade for Christ was active during my years at UC Berkeley, where we had to defend the faith in the Sproul Plaza area, a great opportunity to study apologetics and interact with student from all over the world. We got challenged by student of all backgrounds, and people were not satisfied with easy answers or traditional thinking. I loved that part, and so it prepared me for all kinds of stuff that got thrown at me, literally and figuratively. In that time the full range of campus activism was present, and I got the chance to interact with them, from revolutionaries to ruling class elites, from Che Guevara types, Black Panthers, Anarchists, Socialists, Nililists, Hare Krishnas, Hindus, Black Muslims, etc. It was quite an intellectually stimulating time as well as a living laboratory in class warfare, revolutionary and socialist methods, and all manner of -isms.

Sproul Plaza was Mars Hill for me, and I was fortunate to make through alive and well, no doubt through the prayers of others, for one cannot stand alone in such circumstances.

Coming to Bakersfield was such a welcome relief from the constant strife of the times.....good place to refresh and re-equip myself for future challenges. My deployment at Berkeley trained me rigorously from an academic an political environment at the cutting edge, aka bleeding edge of what was to come in dealing with ideologues and apparatchiks.
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Charlie, I should add that the emphasis on Bible study was another attraction, and i became well-grounded in the Word at that time. It was a great time for me, for it prepared me for taking on the responsibilities as husband and father, as well as a missions orientation worldwide. It was also in the mid-seventies that Bible stores began opening up, like Berean, which was then downtown near the PG&E building. Many more resources became available, and I had the time then to soak it all up. The Navigators Bible Memory Verses were also very helpful, and to this day they stick with me.
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Charlie, I came to Fruitvale because one of my staff members attended there, so I decide to give it a try. I liked Milt Cole's preaching and enjoyed the Sunday School lessons, and small home groups.
Charles Holmes
commented 6 months ago

Hi Wayne, Thank You for the information and the invitation the Glorious Christmas production at Canyon Hills Church. I have heard some rave reviews of Christmas Programs at the church over the years.

I would be interested to know how you came to Fruitvale. Our connection to the church is an interesting one but not surprising. In those days the Christian youth in Bakersfield were pretty close, most of the churches had youth groups but the community had very strong Younglife, Youth for Christ and Campus Crusade for Christ organizations. Many of the leaders for those organizations were from the Fruitvale congregation. So most of the Christian Youth in Bakersfield had a connection to Fruitvale. There were several strong churches in town of different denominations the entire Christian community seemed very close at that time.

Wayne your first question is going to take a bit more consideration. Lots of food for thought.
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Charlie, when you get a moment, would appreciate a comment on the Spiritual Birthplace of America post...my oldest daughter has been to the chapel across from Ground Zero on Wall St., and her friend who lives on Staten Island confirmed the key role of Convoy of Hope during Hurricane Sandy. The connection between these two recent events with my personal history at the same chapel and Canyon Hills which birthed the Convoy of Hope organization through co-founder Dave Donaldson, born in Concord, CA, where my brother lived about the same time period is just unmistakable.

Your link with me through Fruitvale is also a clear connection that cannot be overlooked. BTW you should come to the Glorious Christmas production at Canyon Hills and shoot the flying angels...order online while prices are lower at

http://canyonhills.com/glorious-christmas
Wayne Wong
commented 6 months ago

Thanks, Charlie, it does have a peculiar attraction...
Charles Holmes
commented 6 months ago

The photograph is addictive Wayne, I can't take my eyes away from it. The black and white presentation really made it special.