“Many of the trees I have photographed have survived because they are out of reach of civilization; on mountainsides, private estates, or on protected land,” writes photographer Beth Moon on her website.
“Certain species exist only in a few isolated areas of the world. For example; there are 6 species of spectacular baobabs, found only on the island of Madagascar. Sadly, the baobab is now one of the three most endangered species on the island.”
Moon has spent more than a decade traveling the world photographing some of the planet’s oldest trees. Many of these trees are far out of reach for the average human. They’re on protected lands and even private estates.
She chose to take on this project because of their age, size, and their significance to the Earth’s history.
Trees are often viewed as having a singular purpose: to create oxygen for us. But it’s so much more than that. Sure, they act like the lungs of the Earth, but they also provide shelter, food, shade, and beauty to this world as well. Moon sums it up well:
“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.”
