Big old trees, from Mitch Epstein:
For photographer Mitch Epstein, the phenomenal resilience, scale, and lengthy lifespans of trees form the basis of his ongoing series Old Growth. From the world’s most voluminous sequoias to the most ancient weathered and gnarled bristlecone pines—which can live more than 4,000 years—he captures remarkable stalwarts around the U.S.
Starting in 2017, Epstein traveled the country in search of the oldest known trees, like bigleaf maples, eastern white pines, cedars, and bald cypresses. Sequoias and bristlecones, for example, are known as relict species, or relics, have survived from an earlier period when they were much more widespread. Epstein creates a crucial record of the trees as their ever-shrinking habitats are increasingly threatened amid the climate crisis.
“Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California” (2021)
“Maple Glade, Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington” (2017)
“Congress Trail, Sequoia National Park, California” (2021)
“Bigleaf Maple, Olympic National Park, Washington” (2021)
“Sequoia National Park, California” (2022)
“Sitka Spruce (Tree of Life), Olympic National Park, Washington” (2021)
“Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California” (2022)
“Coastal Redwood (Boy Scout Tree), Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California” (2022)
“Bald Cypress, Black River, Cape Fear, North Carolina” (2023)
[All images © Mitch Epstein]
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