As a kid, I climbed trees close to my home and fell down more often than I could count, always bravely sticking with the “boys-don't-cry” mantra. Trees were an intrinsic part of the world I knew, the world I loved; they were buddies, friends, confidants... 

It blew my juvenile mind to think that some of the larger trees near my home had been there for dozens or even hundreds of years, all the time standing patiently in the same spot, observing the world around them. The things they must have seen, the stories they could tell if only I understood their seemingly silent language...

To this day, it pains me to know we often think of trees as a “raw material” or, worse, a “renewable energy source,” rather than the living beings that they are. I get it, and this is not an environmentalist website, but I do believe that trees deserve a lot more appreciation than we typically give them. 

Unfortunately, I'm not good at what is often referred to as “woodland photography.” There are photographers out there that are fantastic at making sense of the chaos of a dense forest, skillfully and convincingly isolating the one subject that matters most. I'm not that guy, at least not where I currently stand on my journey as a photographer, anyway. 

Instead, I feel drawn to simplicity, to clarity, to “clean” scenes that allow for individual trees (or groups of trees) to shine. Either way, it's my take on an hommage to the realm of one of the most fascinating life forms our world has to offer...

All of the images below were taken on a January 2023 trip to the island of Hokkaido. Before you need to ask: No, I don't think it's essential to travel to Japan if you want to photograph lone trees in pristine snow. On the other hand, from an inspiration perspective, it doesn't hurt to be immersed in a culture that appreciates the presence of life in all aspects of nature and strives for balance and harmony...