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Ancient Trees: Woman Spends 14 Years Photographing World’s Oldest Trees
Julija Nėjė BoredPanda staff
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Beth Moon, a photographer based in San Francisco, has been searching for the world’s oldest trees for the past 14 years. She has traveled all around the globe to capture the most magnificent trees that grow in remote locations and look as old as the world itself.
“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” writes Moon in her artist statement.
Sixty of Beth Moon’s duotone photos were published in a book titled “Ancient Trees: Portraits Of Time”. Here you can have a sneak preview of the book, full of strangest and most magnificent trees ever.
More info: bethmoon.com | abbeville.com (h/t: colossal)
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I joined Bored Panda as an image editor back in 2014, during its early stages. It's been quite a journey since then! Over time, I transitioned through different roles until I eventually became the Content Lead. In this position, I now oversee the creation of the viral content published here on Bored Panda. While my primary focus lies in raising awareness about important social issues like gender and race equality, as well as mental health topics, I also enjoy sharing lighter content, such as memes, cat images and intriguing world curiosities. Outside of work, you'll likely find me engaged in one of five activities: planning a vacation, browsing thrift stores, experimenting in the kitchen, watching movies, or spending quality time with my two cats.
Read less » Julija Nėjė
Author, BoredPanda staff
I joined Bored Panda as an image editor back in 2014, during its early stages. It's been quite a journey since then! Over time, I transitioned through different roles until I eventually became the Content Lead. In this position, I now oversee the creation of the viral content published here on Bored Panda. While my primary focus lies in raising awareness about important social issues like gender and race equality, as well as mental health topics, I also enjoy sharing lighter content, such as memes, cat images and intriguing world curiosities. Outside of work, you'll likely find me engaged in one of five activities: planning a vacation, browsing thrift stores, experimenting in the kitchen, watching movies, or spending quality time with my two cats.
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What do you think ?
ChantalePerron 9 years ago
On that one, i disagree about the black and white choice. Trees are magnificent in their colors, they express so much more of their life!
AliceSwartz 9 years ago
Black & white better highlights the textures, which is mostly what makes them interesting.
Load More Replies...
LauraDavis 9 years ago
Though I love color photos, black and white photos show texture in such magnificent depth and detail.
DrewDavidson 9 years ago
My father took photography classes from Ansel Adams in Yosemite during the summers when he was younger. He's only 67 now.
CoryCasella 9 years ago
Doubtful, MPhillips. If they were 100, thatd be 1914 bday. Civil War ended in 1865. Assuming even a 15 yo served, thatd be a 64 yo fathering
MeredithPhillips 9 years ago
Ansel Adams died April 22, 1984 cbgray71. That's only 31 years ago.
LesWestfallJr. 9 years ago
Its not the shooting method, it's the chosen archival platinum printing process of the old masters that creates the tones. ala Ansel Adams.
LloydWilliams 9 years ago
As I looked at the pictures, I was thinking of some other artist with this style and you brought it back to my memory, Ansel Adams. Thanks!
LouisBaldovino 9 years ago
It's her medium to choose as an artist to show what she sees. B&W if you know how to "see" it brings out so much more depth, ancient wisdom.
AliceLaPierre 9 years ago
These are NOT black and white photos. They are duotones. They are not Photoshopped. Duotone is an artistic choice -- her choice.
ChaliqODonnell 9 years ago
Thank you. I have never heard of duotone. Is it digital, how does it work?
LMd 9 years ago
I *love* the infra-red (this isn't black and white) - it makes the trees look other-worldly.
EllenClary 9 years ago
Sorry, but these are platinum contact prints. http://www.bethmoon.com/Process3.html
AndyPhillips 9 years ago
Sorry but not infra red, but red filter and slow B&W film. Infra red would give a fuzzy, grainy look. Quite the opposite to these images.
KimberlyD'Brass 9 years ago
I was thinking the same thing. I wish the prints were in colour. Their magnificence would have been felt a lot more.
KikiNelson 9 years ago
These aren't "overcooked" in Photoshop. These are Platinum prints, which are rare and wonderful and difficult to do.
WilliamSinclair 9 years ago
You are not seeing what is there. You are only seeing what you are missing and missing what you are seeing.
MichelleGoldsmith 9 years ago
Agreed, I prefer colour. However, the duotone does emphasize the tree structures, which are magnificent. As said before, artist's choice...
DipanjanMitra 9 years ago
a well balanced composition (considering all aspects), always look good in either color or b/w.
VictoriaPitt 9 years ago
Maybe she did it just to give all the different photos a cohesive feel…?
TracySparkhead 9 years ago
She is entitled to her opinion- maybe she'd rather see less detail & enjoy all the colours of the trees & blue skies beyond- it's her choice
EdwardForest 9 years ago
I also think the choice of black and white better represents the age of the trees as well gives you a really good feel for there textures. I do agree in many cases Color is the best choice when it comes to photographing almost everything in nature however in this case I believe the character of each tree would not have been as well represented. I thoroughly enjoyed all the examples that were shown and intend on looking for this book not only to enjoy the photo's but to also use them as excellent examples of differing textures for some of my own drawings.
JamesCurtis-Smith 9 years ago
Guessing the reason is they may not all be taken in the colour spectrum anyway - some (the ones with white leaves) may be infrared
Tim Harris 9 years ago
Color. http://shechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/angel-tree-0.jpg?w=920&h=588 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElRIwQj37RU/T_2w8us64-I/AAAAAAAAA
ConnieDoughman 9 years ago
Some detail & beauty can be more easily seen in black and white. That is not to say everything should be in b and w or color either.
Louis Baldovino 9 years ago
https://www.google.com/search?q=ancient+trees+images&espv=2&biw=1120&bih=578&tbm=isch&imgil=XA
KennethAdler 9 years ago
Color pictures of trees are a dime a dozen and definately do not convey the magical quality and emotion of these time imorial giant beings.
SebastianErasmy 9 years ago
that's your opinion, Kenneth. I like them more with color and wish we could see the originals. Thanks for the link, Louis.
Smores 9 years ago
Go to http://www.bethmoon.com/TouchWood01.html, she has the names under the photos and then you can Google the locale.
Load More Replies...
HubertJaniszewski 9 years ago
I agree. I would also love to know the species of photographed trees .
AmandaD.Austwick 9 years ago
That's the only part that I wish too, is the location and name of the tree. I recognize 1 tree, but no more.
EmilyJacob 9 years ago
I recognize a couple of them from Angkor Wat in Cambodia - I think the temple is called Ta Prohm, but I may be mistaken about that.
AbdirahmanA.Osman 9 years ago
Most of the trees I see is from Socotra Island, an Ex Somali Island that is now under Yemen Control. This island is a home of the most extinct trees and animals in the world. Google Socotra and you will see it.
BrettNorth 8 years ago
I am glad we can't, I don't want a person damaging one for the glory of their ego, religion or their general crass selfish arrogant stupidity.
Molkisha美安歌 9 years ago
The point of them being in black and white is to express their age. They are as old as time, so b&w gives them thus atmosphere. Big like!
ChantalePerron 9 years ago
On that one, i disagree about the black and white choice. Trees are magnificent in their colors, they express so much more of their life!
AliceSwartz 9 years ago
Black & white better highlights the textures, which is mostly what makes them interesting.
Load More Replies... LauraDavis 9 years ago
Though I love color photos, black and white photos show texture in such magnificent depth and detail.
DrewDavidson 9 years ago
My father took photography classes from Ansel Adams in Yosemite during the summers when he was younger. He's only 67 now.
CoryCasella 9 years ago
Doubtful, MPhillips. If they were 100, thatd be 1914 bday. Civil War ended in 1865. Assuming even a 15 yo served, thatd be a 64 yo fathering
MeredithPhillips 9 years ago
Ansel Adams died April 22, 1984 cbgray71. That's only 31 years ago.
LesWestfallJr. 9 years ago
Its not the shooting method, it's the chosen archival platinum printing process of the old masters that creates the tones. ala Ansel Adams.
LloydWilliams 9 years ago
As I looked at the pictures, I was thinking of some other artist with this style and you brought it back to my memory, Ansel Adams. Thanks!
LouisBaldovino 9 years ago
It's her medium to choose as an artist to show what she sees. B&W if you know how to "see" it brings out so much more depth, ancient wisdom.
AliceLaPierre 9 years ago
These are NOT black and white photos. They are duotones. They are not Photoshopped. Duotone is an artistic choice -- her choice.
ChaliqODonnell 9 years ago
Thank you. I have never heard of duotone. Is it digital, how does it work?
LMd 9 years ago
I *love* the infra-red (this isn't black and white) - it makes the trees look other-worldly.
EllenClary 9 years ago
Sorry, but these are platinum contact prints. http://www.bethmoon.com/Process3.html
AndyPhillips 9 years ago
Sorry but not infra red, but red filter and slow B&W film. Infra red would give a fuzzy, grainy look. Quite the opposite to these images.
KimberlyD'Brass 9 years ago
I was thinking the same thing. I wish the prints were in colour. Their magnificence would have been felt a lot more.
KikiNelson 9 years ago
These aren't "overcooked" in Photoshop. These are Platinum prints, which are rare and wonderful and difficult to do.
WilliamSinclair 9 years ago
You are not seeing what is there. You are only seeing what you are missing and missing what you are seeing.
MichelleGoldsmith 9 years ago
Agreed, I prefer colour. However, the duotone does emphasize the tree structures, which are magnificent. As said before, artist's choice...
DipanjanMitra 9 years ago
a well balanced composition (considering all aspects), always look good in either color or b/w.
VictoriaPitt 9 years ago
Maybe she did it just to give all the different photos a cohesive feel…?
TracySparkhead 9 years ago
She is entitled to her opinion- maybe she'd rather see less detail & enjoy all the colours of the trees & blue skies beyond- it's her choice
EdwardForest 9 years ago
I also think the choice of black and white better represents the age of the trees as well gives you a really good feel for there textures. I do agree in many cases Color is the best choice when it comes to photographing almost everything in nature however in this case I believe the character of each tree would not have been as well represented. I thoroughly enjoyed all the examples that were shown and intend on looking for this book not only to enjoy the photo's but to also use them as excellent examples of differing textures for some of my own drawings.
JamesCurtis-Smith 9 years ago
Guessing the reason is they may not all be taken in the colour spectrum anyway - some (the ones with white leaves) may be infrared
Tim Harris 9 years ago
Color. http://shechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/angel-tree-0.jpg?w=920&h=588 http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ElRIwQj37RU/T_2w8us64-I/AAAAAAAAA
ConnieDoughman 9 years ago
Some detail & beauty can be more easily seen in black and white. That is not to say everything should be in b and w or color either.
Louis Baldovino 9 years ago
https://www.google.com/search?q=ancient+trees+images&espv=2&biw=1120&bih=578&tbm=isch&imgil=XA
KennethAdler 9 years ago
Color pictures of trees are a dime a dozen and definately do not convey the magical quality and emotion of these time imorial giant beings.
SebastianErasmy 9 years ago
that's your opinion, Kenneth. I like them more with color and wish we could see the originals. Thanks for the link, Louis.
Smores 9 years ago
Go to http://www.bethmoon.com/TouchWood01.html, she has the names under the photos and then you can Google the locale.
Load More Replies... HubertJaniszewski 9 years ago
I agree. I would also love to know the species of photographed trees .
AmandaD.Austwick 9 years ago
That's the only part that I wish too, is the location and name of the tree. I recognize 1 tree, but no more.
EmilyJacob 9 years ago
I recognize a couple of them from Angkor Wat in Cambodia - I think the temple is called Ta Prohm, but I may be mistaken about that.
AbdirahmanA.Osman 9 years ago
Most of the trees I see is from Socotra Island, an Ex Somali Island that is now under Yemen Control. This island is a home of the most extinct trees and animals in the world. Google Socotra and you will see it.
BrettNorth 8 years ago
I am glad we can't, I don't want a person damaging one for the glory of their ego, religion or their general crass selfish arrogant stupidity.
Molkisha美安歌 9 years ago
The point of them being in black and white is to express their age. They are as old as time, so b&w gives them thus atmosphere. Big like!
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