Need help with direction for this largish trident maple

[matlea]

Oops meant to copy Josh's reply and then reply.... I've seen it done where you cut a wedge so that you can still hollow out a bit... Haven't tried it as I don't have a trunk that thick to chop....

[kcpoole]

pic #4.
Take of the top of the straight trunk at the branch to the right. Cut that one the about the same distance up or a little lower.
cut the right trunk just below the junction on the left trunk.

Remove all other trunks ( i cannot really see them) so cannot see if they will work or not.
Result is a twin trunk maple

These ones of walter Pall might be a help for inspiration too.
https://www.walter-pall.de/Bonsai%20Gall ... index.html
https://www.walter-pall.de/Bonsai%20Gall ... index.html

or maybe my own Liquidambar here (although it is nowhere as good as walters', nor as big) viewtopic.php?f=129&t=13727#p143423

Ken

Ken, I don't know, is it just me or do you not think the branches on these trees (your links) are very rough and disorganized? The kind of trees the Japanese use as examples to cut most off and start again? There are countless examples of this in BT. I think there are better places to look for inspiration don't you?

Well no actually I do not. I much prefer my trees to be more realist and natural than what the Japanese tend to do.
I also do not like the Manicured to within an inch of life, and enlarged nebari on many Japanese deciduous trees either.

I find Walters trees stunning and very inspiring.

Ken

[treeman]

Well no actually I do not. I much prefer my trees to be more realist and natural than what the Japanese tend to do.

Well that's exactly my point. To get that natural look you need to invest a great deal of time in very detailed work. It is a bit of a paradox but the more good work you put into a tree, the less evidence of it you see. Why do the trees (at least some) in your examples look to me (I stress-maybe not to others) like they have been pruned with hedge shears.
They are hardly ''realist"

[kcpoole]

Well no actually I do not. I much prefer my trees to be more realist and natural than what the Japanese tend to do.

Why do the trees (at least some) in your examples look to me (I stress-maybe not to others) like they have been pruned with hedge shears.
They are hardly ''realist"

Maybe because a lot of Walters trees are pruned with hedge shears Google his pruning methinks an you will find some interesting methods to say the least.

I find them exceptionally realistic. To me they represent how trees grow in natural environments with minimal interference.
I happen to like that in my trees, and you may not but hey thats OK

Ken

[Josh]

Some very interesting discussions going on here. Firstly thank you Ken for those links. I love Walters trees and find him very talented. Personally I agree you that his trees look realistic/natural. If I can get this tree to look anything like Walters trees I'll be happy.
Treeman, I also understand where you're coming from. At our show one of our members had a trident (twin trunk) with great ramification and each branch was carefully placed. It looked more like a large park tree with the nice rounded canopy. There was an element of each branch being placed perfectly but it was probably my favourite tree at the show. If mine ends up anything like that I'll still be happy.
I believe both styles are amazing but in there own right. This is partly what I like about bonsai is same tree but slightly different style or development and both are liked by different people. This tree will tell me where it wants to go on time.
I do appreciate the comments and discussion as it makes me think about the way I will develope the tree.

Josh.