I make tree portraits. In 1985 I began a series of images of Southern live oaks in my native Louisiana. What began as technical exercise and a focused study of a single subject, has become a life's work – to draw attention to the cultural, historical, and ecological importance of Louisiana’s oldest live oaks and the human stories connected with them. Each time one of these old trees is lost, the human history connected with it is also lost.

In the years following hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005), my focus has been to collect a series of images of the oldest and most historically notable live oaks in my home state of Louisiana paired with stories of their background and human history.

Through these photographs I point out the unique character of each old tree and to emphasize its role in creating a distinct local personality and sense of place. If an old oak can be seen as an individual and an integral part of a personal or local history, it becomes easier to attach value to it, and harder to minimize its significance if threatened or lost. In our current culture this is a crucial step towards preservation of these important giants.

Over the years, the oaks have introduced me to several larger issues of preservation and conservation. Today, I support the work of groups and organizations that study, care for, and promote the protection of oaks and other historic trees. I donate my time and my prints to support their causes—to gain attention for the importance of trees in our lives, not just as decoration, but as an essential part of a physical, cultural, and spiritual environment that supports the well-being of the planet.