Old Man of the Bosque, Rio Grande Bosque, Albuquerque (Infrared)

While walking along the river one day, I suddenly realized our magnificent cottonwoods are as unique individually as we humans! Suddenly I began seeing them in a whole new way. Some were young and sprightly; some had scars from storms or disease; but this one was a patriarch that had lived on despite everything. He was the example—an elder statesman of the river forest showing the way for all the younger guys to follow!