AusBonsai

I can appreciate both versions but what I find particularly fascinating about the current design of trees of this magnitude is that someone has had the skills to keep it in A+ condition while building immense density in those branches . That takes a HUGE amount of skill to keep the Silhouette full while allowing enough air and light in to keep every bud healthy.
In regards to the trunk it really is a gem given its movement and sheer girth.

how many of us are going to be able to see our trees after 80 years

One thing that is very interesting is how little trunk has thickened in a lifetime. A reminder that trunk and branch thickening is proportional to photosynthetic area (leaves/needles); a stick in a bonsai pot that gets constantly pruned will be a stick for a very very long time.

Cheers,
Symon

I appreciate both pics for what they are. The first shows the naturalistic approach of the pre 60's whilst the second pic shows the more stylized form that wins medals nowadays. Times change, fashions change, opinions change. Have you ever heard of Sadiki Bolt? Thought not, but you are probably familiar with his brother Usain who won a stack of medals. You win medals and the crowd starts to follow the "winning formula" until the next "big thing" comes along and then the crowd follows that new "winning formula". Winning medals and fame have the same impact in bonsai. I'd love to see this tree in another 30 years and see how the owner has developed it.

treeman wrote: ↑October 3rd, 2019, 10:01 am I prefer it 80 years ago. Then it looked like a tree, now it looks like a million other pagodas. Shows the styling follows the zombie-like, robotic, unimaginative group think. With a trunk like that, this is a disservice to the tree. BOOH!

Always enjoy your comments Mike, just calling a spade a spade.