Giant Willow Oak
This is an attempt to sense the turning of the Earth; a desire to deepen my perception of time. It is also a surrender to a deep attraction I felt for a singular tree, one of the oldest and largest in my region.
I imagine that a tree, rooted in place, experiences time through the movement of sunlight specific to its position on the planet. With my camera I began to follow the light as it fell upon the tree. I found myself circling the tree, counterclockwise – just as the Earth rotates counterclockwise in a counterclockwise revolution around the sun. I became a satellite orbiting the tree, tethered through awe and reverence.
Days turned into seasons turned into years. Sustained attention is an act of optimism, a belief that something will be revealed. My awareness of passing time grew more nuanced, measured through subtle variations in color, growth, and decay. I intuitively knew the path of the sun and how the quality of light changed over the year. Fragrances, bird song, and the presence of insects shifted with the weather. Animals passed through. It was never the same tree.