Dating back hundreds or thousands of years, old-growth trees are more than just specimens of majesty and mystery. “Untouched forests are doing the heavy lifting in terms of carbon sequestration,” explains the celebrated fine art photographer Mitch Epstein, reflecting on the genesis of his latest series. “What wilderness we have left deserves to be protected, but we also have to take stock of the fact that it is doing an enormous job.” Shot using an 8 x 10 camera, the project took Epstein off the beaten path in every sense, kayaking to capture the bald cypresses of North Carolina’s Black River or climbing to altitudes above the treeline of California’s Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. (Shown is a Bigleaf maple in Washington’s Olympic National Park.) Along the way, he also immersed himself in research, studying underground fungal networks and root systems, among other dendrological frontiers. Expressive, enigmatic, and awe-inspiring, the resulting photographs form a powerful rumination on resilience in the face of climate catastrophe. Highlights from the series debut in Epstein’s upcoming solo show, “Old Growth” at New York’s Yancey Richardson gallery, with an accompanying video-and-sound installation and upcoming book (Steidl). “The larger arc of my work has made clear our impact on everything global,” says the artist. “This series is something I could do to call attention to something vulnerable.” On view September 5 through October 19; yanceyrichardson.com
