This is what the weather does to Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo, black gum, etc.) on the Allegheny Front. These are old trees. Total height is perhaps 15 feet. There are other groves of tupelo on the front, another that I photographed can be seen on the wilderness page of my main web site (Navigation / Front Door / Wilderness). They grow normally until their height gets them into the wind. Then desiccation of buds and the weight of snow and ice takes over. The form of most trees on The Front is distorted beyond what is easily recognized by the severe conditions.

35mm Sigma A, Nikon 800e, Lr5, Ps CS6.