Tree: A New Vision of the American Forest

by Jim Balog, David Friend (Foreword)

The format's more modest, but the visual splendor is as huge as ever. This miniature Tree offers James Balog's groundbreaking portraits in a smaller but equally beautiful format, with three gatefolds. Makes a great gift!


Acclaimed photographer James Balog's groundbreaking tree portraits now come in a miniature but equally gifty format. This new edition preserves the sense of awe found in the original book, with stunning looks at North America's most superlative trees--the old, the massive, the tall--in whatever landscape they remain. Immense portraits of sequoias and redwoods as no human has ever viewed them are captured in thousands of tiny frames as the photographer rappels down a neighboring tree. We see thoughtful portrayals of trees that have survived by sheer hardiness or luck, standing poised on the edge of northern wilderness, isolated on a golf course, or pardoned by the mark of a forward-thinking logger. Three gatefolds display Balog's signature multi-image works. With accompanying essays by the photographer, this pictographic volume truly delivers a new vision of American trees.

"James Balog photographed 92 superlative specimens in novel ways...But it [is] his full-length images of the big guys...that required every bit of Mr. Balog's ingenuity."-- The New York Times

"Here comes the sap-a-razzi! James Balog goes to dizzying heights to take stunning photos of trees."-- People magazine

Genres: Nature

182 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2005

Reviews

[Scott Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is more of a photography book than one to read, but each tree species does have an essay of sorts to go with it and the photographs speak volumes about each of the trees he went to photograph. There are some very strong environmentalist overtones in the essays of this book. I can understand that with as close as the photographer came to the subjects and some of the loss Balog saw during the taking of the pictures and the writing of the book. I too love trees and would hope they were taken care of, but trees are mortal also and they can and do die. When you are looking at the oldest, largest, tallest trees, many of them will be at the far edge of their lifetimes. Well, maybe not the bristlecone pines or the quaking aspens, they almost do live forever.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A visual delight, especially for an arborist like me. The accompanying text adds to the wonderment.

[Curtis Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this. Heavy with photo essays of grand champion trees and obscure, fascinating facts about trees.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

These photos are among the best I have ever seen. Balog takes a lot of different views and really achieves his goal of making us look at trees differently. The little essays that go with them are very informative--now I know why leaves fall off in autumn!--and perfectly complement the photos. I would recommend this to anyone.

[Mark Lacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great pictures of champion North American trees, many of them photo-montages taken while rappelling down the side of a nearby tree. Some of the photos are fold-outs and give a great sense of the scale of the tree, especially when you can see tiny little human figures in the picture. I was especially glad to see the Angel Oak depicted, as well as another live oak at Middleton Place in SC.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Balog's clever way of photographing one of the most beautiful creations of nature brings the immensity and grandeur of our arboreal companions into perspective. His explanation of his technique for orchestrating these images is fascinating and a bit frightening.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome photography and a completely different way of thinking about trees as art, very cool to look at

[Stephanie Teek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with photos of famous trees across the US and a short history of them.