I make tree portraits. What began as a simple exercise in creating a series of photographs of a subject that attracted me emotionally has unexpectedly become a calling and a life’s work. I was born and raised in Louisiana. After photographing and researching live oaks over several years, I began to realize their intimate connection to the cultures and people of the region where they grow. I found that every old oak has a story to tell, a story of the place where they grow and the people and events that passed around them. Over 40-plus years, my relationship with and observation of live oak trees has led to the creation of six books, numerous magazine articles, exhibits, and multiple commissioned projects.

My images take the form of black-and-white film and digital photographs printed on archival cotton-rag paper or canvas and often are hand-painted with oil paints. My work is grounded in the belief that if an oak, or any tree, can be seen as a unique individual, a living thing with a history and personality, it becomes harder to minimize its significance and easier to recognize its value. In today’s world, this is a crucial step toward protecting an elder oak from thoughtless and senseless removal.