The bare, skeleton-like branches of deciduous trees in winter always lower my mood. They appear cold and menacing. The series of images in today's post demonstrate what I see - bony hands threatening to reach down and grab me. But photography can elevate that image into something approaching (or achieving) artistic expression.

Adjusting the background color doesn't remove the threat posed by the black branches, but does transform the series into an interesting gallery. I find some colors soften the threat I feel (blue) while others emphasize it (orange). Why that is represents a puzzle to ponder.