PROJECTS | Wise trees

Trees matter. They are one of the Earth’s most critical lifeforms. Why then does humanity destroy over forty million of them every day?

To reconsider their essential role in our lives, we sought out historic and culturally significant trees around the world. Our work was facilitated by an assignment and two grants from the National Geographic Society. Abrams Books published “Wise Trees” in 2017, which includes not only the portraits of these remarkable trees, but also their stories of witness, survival, and inspiration.

“Wise Trees” is a compendium of environmental portraits of over 50 remarkable trees. We traveled to five continents between 2014 to 2016, to research, photograph and write about the world’s most historic and inspirational trees.  At a time when the planet was losing 40 million trees a day (and unfortunately still is), we felt compelled to reconnect humanity with the enduring role trees have played in life on earth – by photographing and telling their significant stories.

While trees can live without us, we cannot live without them.  They provide us with the oxygen we breathe, food gathered from their branches, and wood for both fuel and shelter.  For centuries they have been essential to the spiritual and cultural life of civilizations around the world.

Color photos by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel

Wise Trees is a compendium of the world’s most historic and inspirational trees.  At the time we began our project, the planet was losing 40 million trees a day (and unfortunately still is).  We felt compelled to reconnect humanity with the enduring role trees have played in life on earth, by traveling to five continents between 2014 to 2016 - to write about and make environmental portraits of over 50 remarkable trees.

While trees can live without us, we cannot live without them.  In addition to providing us with oxygen, food, fuel, and shelter - for centuries they have been essential to the spiritual and cultural life of civilizations around the world.

Photographs by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel

"THE CHILD-GIVING GINKGO" [GINKGO BILOBA] Zoshigaya Kishimojin-do Temple, Tokyo, Japan — "THE CHILD-GIVING GINKGO" [GINKGO BILOBA]
Zoshigaya Kishimojin-do Temple, Tokyo, Japan

"GION WEEPING CHERRY" [HIGAN CHERRY] Maruyama Park, Gion District, Kyoto, Japan — "GION WEEPING CHERRY" [HIGAN CHERRY]
Maruyama Park, Gion District, Kyoto, Japan

"EMANCIPATION OAK" [SOUTHERN LIVE OAK] Hampton University, Hampton, VA — "EMANCIPATION OAK" [SOUTHERN LIVE OAK]
Hampton University, Hampton, VA

"Shitala's Tree" [Sacred Neem tree] Nanghan Bir Baba Temple, Benares, India — "Shitala's Tree" [Sacred Neem tree]
Nanghan Bir Baba Temple, Benares, India

"El Arbol del Tule" [Montezuma Cypress] Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico — "El Arbol del Tule" [Montezuma Cypress]
Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico

"ANCIENTS" [GREAT BASIN BRISTLECONE PINE] Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Inyo National Forest, CA — "ANCIENTS" [GREAT BASIN BRISTLECONE PINE]
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Inyo National Forest, CA

"THE SACRED DERBY TREE" [BOAB] Derby, Kimberley Region, Australia — "THE SACRED DERBY TREE" [BOAB]
Derby, Kimberley Region, Australia

"The Bodhi Tree" [SACRED FIG / PIPAL TREE] Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, India — "The Bodhi Tree" [SACRED FIG / PIPAL TREE]
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, India

"THE WEDDING OAK" [ESCARPMENT LIVE OAK], San Saba,TX — "THE WEDDING OAK" [ESCARPMENT LIVE OAK],
San Saba,TX

Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree [Flowering Kent] Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, England — Isaac Newton’s Apple Tree [Flowering Kent]
Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, England

"LUNA" (Julia Butterfly Hill protest tree) [COAST REDWOOD] Stafford, CA

"THE DISCOVERY TREE" [GIANT SEQUOIA], Calaveras Big Trees State Park, CA — "THE DISCOVERY TREE" [GIANT SEQUOIA],
Calaveras Big Trees State Park, CA

"SHOE TREE" [UTAH JUNIPER}
Highway 395, Hallelujah Junction, CA

"PANDO" [ASPEN], Pando Clonal Colony, Fishlake National Forest, UT — "PANDO" [ASPEN], Pando Clonal Colony,
Fishlake National Forest, UT

"BUNUT BOLONG" [BANYAN], Asahduren Village, West Bali, Indonesia — "BUNUT BOLONG" [BANYAN], Asahduren Village,
West Bali, Indonesia

"THE CAMPERDOWN ELM", Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY — "THE CAMPERDOWN ELM",
Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY

"FRIENDSHIP TREES" [YOSHINO CHERRY], Tidal Basin, Washington, DC — "FRIENDSHIP TREES" [YOSHINO CHERRY],
Tidal Basin, Washington, DC

"THE LAWRENCE TREE" [PONDEROSA PINE], D. H. Lawrence Ranch, San Cristobal, NM — "THE LAWRENCE TREE" [PONDEROSA PINE],
D. H. Lawrence Ranch, San Cristobal, NM

“Wise Trees” is a compendium of environmental portraits of over 50 remarkable trees. We traveled to five continents between 2014 to 2016, to research, photograph and write about the world’s most historic and inspirational trees.  At a time when the planet was losing 40 million trees a day (and unfortunately still is), we felt compelled to reconnect humanity with the enduring role trees have played in life on earth – by photographing and telling their significant stories.

While trees can live without us, we cannot live without them.  They provide us with the oxygen we breathe, food gathered from their branches, and wood for both fuel and shelter.  For centuries they have been essential to the spiritual and cultural life of civilizations around the world.

Color photos by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel

Trees matter. They are one of the Earth’s most critical lifeforms. Why then does humanity destroy over forty million of them every day?

To reconsider their essential role in our lives, we sought out historic and culturally significant trees around the world. Our work was facilitated by an assignment and two grants from the National Geographic Society. our project Abrams Books published “Wise Trees” in 2017, which includes not only the portraits of these remarkable trees, but also their stories of witness, survival, and inspiration.

Photos by Diane Cook & Len Jenshel

PROJECTS | Wise trees

Trees matter. They are one of the Earth’s most critical lifeforms. Why then does humanity destroy over forty million of them every day?

To reconsider their essential role in our lives, we sought out historic and culturally significant trees around the world. Our work was facilitated by an assignment and two grants from the National Geographic Society. Abrams Books published “Wise Trees” in 2017, which includes not only the portraits of these remarkable trees, but also their stories of witness, survival, and inspiration.

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