The New Zealand Tree Project is set to unveil this year
With a range of forests in New Zealand, four people are recreating a 41m rimu tree as a portrait. The launch of the project is scheduled for later this year.
The New Zealand Tree Project is set to be unveiled later this year. The project aims to create a major portrait of a rimu tree by stitching together various photos taken from a specialised camera rig that runs the entire length of the tree.
Project coordinator Catherine Kirby says the project involves processing and editing 120,000 photographs.
Editor Steven Pearce is part of four-person team that includes epiphyte specialist Jen Sanger and arborist Andrew Harrison.
The project will tour museums around the country.
Catherine says that National Geographic portraits published in 2009 and 2012 inspired the project.
“We have very, very different forests in New Zealand, and they’re beautiful in their own right. So I wanted to share what we had, and also see if we can put together a team who would do well in communicating the messages that go with something like these, obvious appreciation, and conservation.”
The subject tree is a 41m tall rimu in Pureora forest. “It’s a big picture, quite literally. It’s a big picture. A celebration of how awesome our trees are, and I didn’t even realise until I saw the draft of the big tree portrait how stunning and beautiful these trees are. I’m already a converted tree hugger, and to see that and still be blown away was really special.
“Now, it’s all about celebrating that by sharing with the world by starting locally, and hopefully going much wider.”
