About the Historic Trees Project
The Historic Trees Project is my effort to research and document historic trees of the United States. What makes a tree historic is, of course, a subjective judgment. Every tree has its own history of time and events, seasons and storms. I am arbitrarily choosing trees that are "historic" by virtue of their relation to human history. These trees have witnessed important events in the history of our nation or are linked directly to an important historic figure. I am interested in exploring the connection between nature and people, tree and person. By focusing on the relationship between one tree and one community, I wish to draw attention to the interdependency between man and nature.
This project is a natural outgrowth of long-time personal and photographic interests. Ever since I tagged behind my father on walks through arboreta and forests I have had a love of trees and nature. Equally interesting to me is American history and its visible influence on the land. I enjoy connecting historic events, values, legislation and figures to the resulting characteristics of urban and rural landscapes.
The connection between people and trees is an important aspect of this project. I am interested in showing how people relate to familiar natural environments. I am interested in illustrating the various ways we relate to our familiar natural environments. In early American history large stately trees were noted landmarks in the cultural landscape: People gathered beneath certain oaks or important events happened under magnificent trees to lend events even greater majesty. Today, these same trees, when they survive, seem cut off from their own dignity like elderly orphans in a landscape dominated by automobiles and climate controlled buildings. While many of these trees are left to happily fend for themselves others have their roots paved over. The result is a photographic inventory of the peculiar manner our society interacts with these emissaries of the natural world and nature itself.
Much of my effort on this project is spent just discovering the trees. I have found a number of books about famous and historic trees and current references on the World Wide Web. When I learn about a historic tree I make contact with the present owners and interested parties to gather more information about how the tree is memorialized, cared for, etc., and to gain permission to photograph the tree. These contacts often lead to my broader understanding of how the tree plays a role in people's lives. When I finally visit a historic tree I photograph it thoroughly (and hopefully artfully) throughout the changing light of the day. To date I have photographed over 75 historic tree sites in 24 states. I also document any evidence of human interaction with the trees (i.e.. monuments, visitors, maintenance, etc.). Whenever possible I photograph the people who care for or are in some way connected to these trees.
I use large and medium format cameras to shoot transparency, color negative or black and white negative films. I print black and white images in a traditional darkroom. Color images are scanned, manipulated in Photoshop and printed as large color coupler prints or archival ink jet prints.
I have been working on this project since 1998. My goal for the project remains the same as when I conceived of it. I hope to one day publish a book that tells the stories of these trees and uses these stories as a metaphor for the nature and meaning of History. I look forward to working with a writer and designer on the book.
I would like to thank arts funding groups who have helped me to underwrite the funding of work on the Historic Trees Project. In particular, I would like to thank the McKnight Foundation and the Jerome Foundation.
Is there a historic tree that you know of that you would like to see photographed and preserved? I'd love to hear from you! Email me through the contact page.
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Jeff Krueger |
© Copyright 2004 Jeff Krueger Photography. All rights reserved