Large Hornbeam

I think its filling in nicely. the more i look at real trees in nature, the more i realise that branch patterns are not always coherent but the overall image is quite important. quite often branches dont even follow the natural growth pattern, one branch will have angles and bends while the one next to it is curling or growing downwards etc etc, the more this tree fills in and gets twiggier, the less obvious the minor flaws will be.

In the 'gap' on the right hand side, you appear to have a back branch, the twigs of which have been wired horizontally.

I think if you bend them upwards a bit, at the point the branch splits into two, then that will go some way towards filling in the gap (in the 2-d photo at least, real life may look different).

Agreed with Tom, that back branch is somewhat in conflict with the heavy one below it.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Regarding the back branch, you would not believe how many different positions those poor twigs were forced to adopt in my attempts to fill that gap and I still couldn't get it looking quite right. Truth is I think that before I do anything else with them I'll let it grow a little more.

On a different note though it's interesting how a photo focuses the mind isn't it. I have this tree standing where I can see it from the kitchen window. It looks great in the garden while I'm doing the washing up but as soon as I take a photo of it all I can see are the defects.

Still, without constructive criticism it would be impossible to progress.

Regards

Richard

The defects are very minor mate, the tree looks great from this image, it cuts a stately and imposing figure, can see why its one of your favourites
Lets us see it again in spring leaf.

Nice I like the style you're going for. Always reminds me of this video:

Thanks Klosi, that's a very flattering comparison.

Regards

Richard

Great video, wonderful tree. Love seeing what Arthur is working on. Thanks John