Beth Moon's Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time

San Francisco-based photographer Beth Moon has a unique portfolio, and that entails the dramatic images of ancient trees captured over a period of 14 long years. These primeval specimens were found and documented in various locations, including secluded landscapes, national parks and even private estates. Featured in her book Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time; only a singular factor is common within the venerable subjects – they are all rare and imposing, with majestic varieties ranging from baobab, sequoias to yews.

Interestingly, this particular photography scope is not just limited in capturing the magnificent trees in question; it also encompassed the treatment of the resultant prints in a special manner. This pertained to the use of platinum and palladium process, thus resulting in a wide spectrum of tonal ambit within the images. The dynamic variations are evident from the dramatic alteration of black, white and gray hues that sort of accentuate the archaic yet imposing nature of the ancient specimens.

This is what Beth Moon had to say about her artistic inspiration –

Standing as the earth’s largest and oldest living monuments, I believe these symbolic trees will take on a greater significance, especially at a time when our focus is directed at finding better ways to live with the environment, celebrating the wonders of nature that have survived throughout the centuries. By feeling a larger sense of time, developing a relationship with the natural world, we carry that awareness with us as it becomes a part of who we are. I cannot imagine a better way to commemorate the lives of the world’s most dramatic trees, many which are in danger of destruction, than by exhibiting their portraits.

If interested, you can purchase the Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time in the online realm of Amazon.