TreeGirl - FAQs

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FAQs

Are you the woman in the photos?

Yes. My newest series, The Big Island Series, also has another model.

Do you take the photos?

Sometimes I take the photo of myself with a timer, sometimes I have an assistant push the shutter after I’ve set up the shot, and other times I collaborate with other photographers. By collaboration, I mean that we both set up the shot, and take equal credit for the creation. Each photograph is copywrited accordingly. I also consider the work to be a collaboration with the trees and other natural elements.

Do you take photos of other people?

Yes! See The Big Island Series and the TreeBoy Series. I also have many photos that are not on the website.

Do you take photos of men?

Yes! See the TreeBoy Series.

How long have you been "making love with trees"?

My first experimental photographs were double exposures of myself with trees. Then, the first time I posed naked with a tree, it was in an Australian rainforest in 1995. The trees were so alive, they looked like they were dancing, and I just had to wrap myself around them. I felt both adventerous and safe because I was in another world. The world of intimacy with nature opened up to me; it was a pure, sensual experience. I have been taking "naked tree pictures" ever since. Aesthetically, I treat each photograph as a portrait of the tree or place, with myself added in, with the goal of blending in. My creative encounters with the Earth are special and sacred to me; they are an intimate conversation, a dance. Every tree, every organism, even every rock, has a story to tell. I truly believe the natural world wants to communicate with us humans, if we’d only listen.

How do I “make love” with the more-than-human world?

It starts with a shift in believing that the creatures of the Earth would rather we love them, be friends with them, and interact with them with honor and respect, rather than ignore, abuse, and destroy them. It is not just humans who make love. The universe creates beautiful organisms, beyond our ability or understanding. Who is to say there isn’t love involved? “Birds do it, bees do it”... dolphins, elephants and slugs, as well as many other organisms, more-than-human beings have been documented “making love”. Art is a form of connection and communication with spirit. Creating art can be like sharing a gift, sharing love.

Why are you naked? Do you have to be naked?

No, I don’t feel its necessary to be naked to take the photographs. One can “make love” with their clothes on. However, humans are the only species that wear clothes. We do that for different reasons- decoration, protection, warmth, boundaries, and communication. When we are naked in nature however, we might be communicating to the trees and other creatures that we are one of them, we remember this primal relationship. I encourage you to take the risk to be naked if it feels right to you, and you feel safe in the situation. When we are present in the natural world, we are being witnessed by and are witnessing other beings of the Earth reciprocally. It is a humbling experience. We are not being judged on whether we are beautiful or not; in fact, we may feel more a part of nature. The human body is beautiful. All human bodies are beautiful. Your human body is beautiful.

(Disclaimer: TreeGirl is not reseponsible for any physical injury, police arrest or relationship problems that my occur as a result of your love making with the Earth.)

Have you ever been seen naked in public or gotten in trouble?

My interactions with trees are sometimes brief, unfortunately, if there are people around. The best photoshoot is private and not rushed. However, often the most beautiful and dynamic trees are right on a trail. Yes, I have been seen a few times, in city and state parks, but as of yet I have not gotten “in trouble”. If I am seen, it usually just throws unsuspecting people off and they just keep walking. I hope that it will make them think, and inspire them to do the same. Nudity is a choice. I encourage you to use your best judgement.

(Disclaimer: TreeGirl is not responsible for any physical injury, police arrest or relationship problems that occur as a result of your love making with the Earth.)

Aren’t there other potential dangers from being naked in nature?

Yes, there most certainly are. Bark can be extremely hard and ouchy. I’ve been bitten by ants in rotting trees, sat in a pool of mosquito larve, and even sucked on by leeches, but so far have successfully avoided poison oak. I also avoid climbing higher on a tree than I think is safe, especially when alone. It is extremely important to not damage plant life or fragile soils when making contact with the natural world. Watch out for bees and wasps (they can also have nests in the ground). Danger happens when one is not listening, being present and aware or also from sheer ignorance. Remember, the photo is not about YOU (“hey Mom, look at me! I’m naked in a tree!), its about a new relationship with another being. For me, I take the risks into consideration and use my best judgement and use my intuition. I encourage you to do the same. If a tree doesn’t want to communicate with me at that time, it will let you know. If you aren't listening, the natural world and spirits of a place may give you some more clues. Always ask the beings and spirits of a place- is this safe for me, can I be here? If you do not ask permission and are not welcome, you may find yourself in a little bit of danger. If you are breaking branches in your process, its not a good sign. No photo or treehug is worth a broken bone or a nasty scar. Be safe. Ask for protection. Bring a friend and first aid kit. Give thanks and an offering in exchange.

(Disclaimer: TreeGirl is not responsible for any physical injury, police arrest, or relationship problems that occur as a result of your love making with the Earth.)

Can you share any tricks to make it easier when doing a photoshoot?

There are tricks to staying comfortable during a shoot, and making it easier- a small ladder; flipflops and a sarong for quick changes; use a small article of clothing, like a sock to sit on, (unseen by the camera) between your soft skin and the hard bark or cold stone; remember to take off all jewelry. I fid eyes closed and a little authentic smile brighten up an awkward face.

Why trees?

Oh, it could be anything you make love with, really... of course, you have to be careful with poison oak (or as some like to call it, “sacred oak”), and other poisonous and prickly species. (Although the Agave is one of the most sensual plants I know! and tempts me everytime! I have always felt connected with trees, and are increasingly more and more in love with them. Trees are amazing beings, and do so much to keep the Earth alive. To put trees in perspective, the Ginkgo tree has survived relatively unmodified on this Earth for 200 million years! They have witnessed a lot; they have a lot to say; they have stories to tell, wisdom and love to give. They are great huggers too. Trees can be great dance partners- strong, flexible, handsome or beautiful, even sexy. As Georgia O’Keefe said, “Trees are some of my favorite people!” For me, there is an ineffable connection with trees that makes me gasp in delight when I see them, like seeing an old, dear friend. My photographs with trees are a kind of collaborative meditation with individual personalities, and the Tree People as a whole.

What is your favorite species of tree?

I love all trees, and are drawn to many species of my Northern California bioregion: oaks, redwoods, sequoias (in the Sierra Nevadas), madrones, and manzanitas (technically shrubs). On other contenents I love English beeches, scribbly gums, figs/banyans and it is my dream to be with the baobabs in Madagascar some day.

Do you really think that this kind of artwork stop the clear cutting of forests around the world?

There are many corporations who are clear-cutting the planet, and U.S. Forest Service is one of the most responsible, as is Weyerhaeuser, MAXXAM, and Sierra Pacific Industries. (To read more about this, read Strangely Like War: The Global Assult on Forests by Derrick Jensen and George Daffan. www.derrickjensen.org .

Will artwork stop them? Probably not. However, we still have to do it. Art is communication. Visual images in the media have powerful influence over what people think and believe (both truth and lies)

People generally come to the defense of their lover or loved ones, when in danger of being killed. If we as a collective human species would truly see the whole Earth as our lover, we would fight for her, and each other We need to put ourselves back in creative collaboration with nature, in reciprocal partnership, so the destruction will end, and the healing can begin.

Are you one of those “tree activists” who sits in trees?

I wish! I am a tree activist and an Earth Activist. However, I have not had the privilege to dedicate my time to tree sitting. There are many, many good people and organizations working to protect and restore the remaining forests, and all ecosystems. We should thank them. A lot. That is currently not my life’s work, and so you will not find a Links page with a list of great organizations to donate your money to. (Although you should do that too.)

Things aren’t that bad, are they?

Well, actually, yes, they are. Currently, the Earth is being decimated. Industrial civilization is at war with the natural world, and she and all indigenous peoples are being annihilated at an alarming rate, at this very moment. I don’t have to convince you; there are hundreds of books written about this subject, and thousands of peoples working against the destruction. I believe that there is nothing any of us should be doing with our lives except stopping those who control the destruction, and help to restore and heal the Earth.

But the Earth will be fine, it’s the humans we have to save, right?

Well, actually, no. Re-read what I wrote above. I am not interested in saving or maintaining industrial civilization, not do I think technology will save "us".

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