To center or not to center that is the question

Walter_Pall

Here my big 'gasoline station juniper'. It is an ordinary garden shrub, Juniperus 'Pfitzeriana' from the J. chinensis family, a sort that grows in every other garden here and also around gasoline stations.

Anway, it is rather developed by now and it's time for the Gingko Show and also for the JAL or BCI world contest or whatever it is called.

I have tried to make rather professional photographs of this tree today. The first one is slightly off center on the table, the second one is centered.

We have heard a few strong opinions about this recently. Here a poll now. After a couple of days I will say what my favorite is, how I will position the tree at the big show and for the contest.

Attached Images

	Dsc_0851v.jpg (66.8 KB, 254 views)
	Dsc_0853v.jpg (68.6 KB, 247 views)

__________________
best regards
Walter Pall
http://walter-pall.de
I don't design bonsai, I design trees.
Tradition is not the custody of ashes but the propagation of fire.
NEW: The endless bonsai diary
http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/

Advertisement

pootsie

Walter:

Although I prefer the form of the second one as far as placement, somehow the color of the first photo is much richer, making the first photo overall more appealing regardless of the pot position.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

agraham

Walter,

This is a dificult decision.First of all...all i see is the magnificant tree.The way it is displayed is very secondary to me.And then...when i look at the smaller pictures side by side i have a very definite opinion on the placement,but when i look at them individually i am much less sure....DAMNIT!,are you trying to make us think..or what? I'm not voting yet~L~.

thanks for the project,

andy

Aaron_K

Hi Walter,

For me, I prefer the tree slightly off centre view. It seems to accentuate the deadwood on the left hand side of the tree, and creates an exit point for the eye, to the composition of tree, pot and stand.

Others quite possibly will see things differently.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Little_John

The off centered version seems to flow better. The one that is centered seems a bit jarring. As always...a magnicificant tree regardless how it is displayed.

Thanks for posting this. I look forward to knowing how you will position this tree for the show.

__________________
Hobby?! It's more like a bad habit.

mike_p

Walter, as I see it, the tree is primary and the pot and display table are only there to assist in making the best presentation. There is no "rule" (that ugly word again) saying that a tree should always be centered in the pot, so why should there be a rule saying the pot should be centered on the table? Of course I say this having had no training or education in artistic principles, so take it with a grain of salt. I vote for #1.
One furthur observation. I've found over the years that most bonsai in club shows are displayed on tables either too small or barely large enough. That being the case, off-center placement would give a precarious feeling to the display. If the table is of proper size, the display may, in some cases, be enhanced by placing the pot somewhat off center. So often it depends on the visual center of the tree/pot combination and how they relate to the display table.

Regards

Mike

__________________
Nature is perfect.
Man's attempts to improve nature,
Are imperfect.
MP@BBB Studio

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way
Gautama Buddha

agraham

I've studied these particular displays for some time now and still don't have a definitive answer.The first one(slightly off center) seems better balanced.The tree base appears to be placed in relation to the stand at the same proportions as it is placed in the pot. ,but....it is so "slightly" off center on the stand that if one is aware of "convention",it almost looks like it is there by mistake.If the stand was slightly larger,the tree could be moved even more off center and be a definite statement.

just thinking "outloud"

andy

zube

Walter, I prefer the first image. The offset seems to balance out the deadwood nicely to me. (this may be the same as having old gardeners critique your trees however)
Take care,
zube

__________________
Sorry doesn't put thumbs back on the hand, Marge.
H. Simpson

Bone-sigh

I vote for the off-center placement...for the same reasons that many of the others have stated. To sum it up, I think the tree and stand flow better this way.

Best Always,
Ryan

__________________
"If God meant for us to run around naked, we would have been born that way!"

----a Quote from my uncle's fridge