Good thoughts Al.
Of course no one here in their right mind would think that any tree in nature (with a few possible exceptions) could pull off the same natural beauty in a bonsai pot on a smaller scale with a totally different perspective, without modifications.
You first mentioned hurricane styled trees by saying, "
BTW, I have not even vented about hurricane styled trees yet. We'll save that for when the thread slows down." In your
misinformation thread in reference to a freshly collected tree I posted in "
Wild Collecting 102." Which brings up a interesting point. The tree I showed was freshly collected, un-styled in any way, no wire and no branches removed at all. Jack pines on the sandy barrens here often grow in this style for some reason, all the branches arching toward one direction, trunk bent and showing signs of struggle. We do not have constant winds, hurricanes, or coastal storms but the Jacks seem to react anyhow, lol. They look quite wonderful in the environment they live in, but of course look silly once in a pot as most un-styled trees will. However I believe they make good stock for bunjin, cascades, and windswept styles.
Raw material, a blank canvas, a fresh granite block, are all the start of every piece of art ever created. Calling a fresh piece of stock styled or somehow inadequate because of the way it grew would be the same as calling a blank white piece of canvas in front of a painter poorly painted and condemning it for being too white. We all start with raw stock and throughout time, shape it into something that is pleasing to the eye in the confines of a bonsai pot.
I would dare to say that a well styled bonsai if taken back up to natural scale and planted where it was collected would seem as out of place as the reverse that you showed above.
In closing, we as artists take the raw stock and by careful thought make it look like an idealized tree in nature. An artist could tell the story of the tree you posted as an example in a much better way. Our bonsai tell the story better because we take away what is not part of the story and embellish the parts that are. We use less to say more. Our trees must resemble real trees or else they would not be bonsai, but yet we stretch the boundaries and use illusion to tell the tale. No Al, a tree as is in nature can not past the test in a bonsai pot but it certainly can be a guidepost.
Will