Bigleaf mapleOlympic National Park, Washington, 2021

Photo: Yancey Richardson Gallery and Steidl Verlag

Trees hundreds or thousands of years old are more than just majestic and mysterious specimens. “Pristine forests do the hard work of sequestering carbon,” explains acclaimed fine art photographer Mitch Epstein about the creation of his latest series. “The wilderness we have left deserves protection, but we also need to recognize that it does tremendous work.” Shot with an 8×10 camera, the project took Epstein off the beaten path in every way. He’d go kayaking to capture the bald cypress trees of North Carolina’s Black River or climbing to heights above the tree line of old-growth bristlecone pine forests in California. (Pictured is a bigleaf maple in Washington’s Olympic National Park.) Along the way, he’d also delve into research, studying underground fungal networks and root systems and other dendrological frontiers. The resulting photographs are expressive, enigmatic and awe-inspiring, forming a powerful reflection on resilience in the face of climate catastrophe. Highlights of the series will be featured in Epstein’s upcoming solo exhibition, “Old Growth,” at New York’s Yancey Richardson Gallery, with an accompanying video and sound installation and a forthcoming book (Steidl). “The larger arc of my work has made clear our impact on everything global,” says the artist. “With this series, I could draw attention to something vulnerable.” On view September 5-October 19; yanceyrichardson.com