Tree Story

 

Trees have a special place in my photographic quest. Challenging and unpredictable subjects by nature, on every occasion they offer a new pathway to creativity with their graphic and aesthetic appearance, enhanced by impassive, imperturbable and deeply mysterious characters.

I am always surprised by the ability of trees to cling to life, to reinvent and to constantly project themselves into the future in order to be part of a harmonious community of fellow living creatures. Trees communicate, help each other, educate, suffer and are fully social beings.

Each tree is also an incredible miracle of nature, capable by capturing CO₂ and H₂O to create oxygen. My fascination for trees lead me to viewing them not just as natural objects but as symbols laden with meaning—trees representing life’s continuity. Through my lens, these elements are not static but are expressive characters in the larger story of our environment

Trees and forests are much more than just suppliers of timber ; they are essential to help keep our planet and our souls healthy. Trees and forests are purveyors of the air we breathe, of the water we drink, of habitats for indigenous tribes and wildlife, and the ecological, economic, social and health benefits they provide are priceless. Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet, holding around 80% of terrestrial animals, plants and insects. However, wide-scale deforestation continues at an alarming rate.

Understanding and preserving the world's forests is key to our survival, and we still have everything to discover from trees...

Here, from African rainforests to a multitude of places all across Europe, is a small sample of the diversity of these living symbols which will endure for generations to come, and which, as the French botanist Francis Hallé reminds us, offer us this wonderful gift "the one of absolute alterity as a formidable means not to concern about our own little ego and our fellow men exclusively."