[Shane] Japanese Black Pine 1

[Dario]

I like the second one...the gap between trunks is smallest, and in the first pic the lower part of the cascading trunk seems to continue on from where the trunk leaves the soil, creating a long straight line.
Cheers, Dario.

[Neli]

I like the middle one as front best, but might consider twisting the vertical part of the trunk a bit more to create interesting jin.

[Shane]

Thanks dansai, Neli. The second photo was my original front, I guess I should stick with it unless I can correct that line dansai pointed out or put more movement in the tail.
p.s. dansai, congrats on your new born.

[Neli]

You need to see now pines and junipers are styled in Japan....I was shocked. If you just look at the final result you would never know that the lowest primary branch is actually continuation of the trunk line. Let me look for some pictures for you.
Before Oyakata massacred it:

Japan 002 (550x413).jpg

And after initial styling. Still has a lot to grow. Notice the traditional triangle of the crown?

Japan 016 (550x413).jpg

This is another juniper I styled: See how the trunk continues as the first branch? Most of them are like that.

Japan 051 (550x412).jpg

[Shane]

Thanks for your enthusiasm, Neli.

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

[Shane]

I have decided upon the front with the trunk in front. Progress has been just shortening candles and needles.

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

[Shane]

And some other angles.

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

[Shane]

Bought a Lorraine Simpson pot for this tree. And realised my youngest has been tugging on the cascade (she fessed up), so it now droops well below where it used to be...
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[Shane]

Haven't worked on this tree again until today; and it was the last tree I got time to work on today. Decided it was time to see what's under the wire, raffia and sparky tape. Unfortunately, as soon as I removed the heavy wire, the whip lost its shape. I will fix this up later. The upper part I uncovered has scarred a lot. I think the tree is brittle there and I'll need to be careful. I won't bother with raffia next time me thinks.

[kcpoole]

It doubt that it is thick enough to need tape and raffia. I woud just be wiring it again and leaving it on for 2 years.

Ken

[EJZ]

Great change.Good work

[EdwardH]

Good development from the long stick that you started with. Don't you love it when your kids help daddy to 'fix' his trees?

[Shane]

Thanks for all the encouragement folks!

Typical of my personality, I decided I didn't like the earlier style and decided to rebend this Japanese black pine into a totally different cascade, including another change in the front. On 5th September, I did this and potted it into a moon shaped pot I made years ago, for which I had never found quite the right tree. It is now one of my wife's favourites, and I'm rather partial to it too.

shane_jbp1_sep2014final[1].jpg

shane_jbp1_sep2014stand[1].jpg

I've kept a lot of needles right at the tip of the tail, because I found that doing so encourages further candles and branching. The future is all about refinement now, and growing some of the left branches a bit longer.

shane_jbp1_sep2104ruler[1].jpg

shane_jbp1_sep2014left[1].jpg

shane_jbp1_sep2014oh[1].jpg

shane_jbp1_sep2014potdetail[1].jpg

Thank you to Steven for hosting this competition. I've had a lot of fun, and the competition conditions have forced me to work on these trees, when I might otherwise have left them in preference of others. Best wishes to all in the competition. Now I've posted the last of my photos, I can go look at all of yours!

[Rory]

realised my youngest has been tugging on the cascade (she fessed up), so it now droops well below where it used to be...

hahaha, I have a similar problem with my 6 year old son who loves to water the bonsai sometimes only a day after I've watered them , thus over watering, but you can't get angry, considering he's showing an interest and trying to help.

I'll bet every time this poor tree sees you coming at it, it is probably thinking "@&$% , not again!" You have certainly grabbed this tree by the horns.

[Shane]

Thanks BB. A friend asked what the tree did to deserve this. My reply: it didn't say the safe word.