Founder Jack Gescheidt answers commonly asked questions:
What is The TreeSpirit Project? Why is it a “Project?” Who is Jack Gescheidt? How long has Jack been doing this? How long has he been a photographer?
Jack—that’s me—is a professional photographer since 1987. I was born and raised in New York City and upstate NY, but now live in the San Francisco Bay area, since 1996. Read more about Jack.
I began The TreeSpirit Project, or “TreeSpirit” for short, in 2003. This is my name for this collection of photographs of humans communing with trees—and equally important—the experiences participants have while making them. Read participant Testimonials.
I’ve also learned this dramatic but also vulnerable artwork can be used to draw attention to trees and our environment which sustains us. Read TreeSpirit’s mission.
TreeSpirit continues to be my labor of love: challenging, exhilarating and a continual learning process for me in more ways than I ever imagined.
What gave you the idea?
I was inspired by one remarkable coast live oak tree, “The Grandmother Tree,” likely over 250 years old, in the woods of Marin County in 2003. Read a longer account.
How do you find your participants? Why don’t you call them models?
"Granddaughter," one of the first photographs
The very first people were friends who’d been in naked in-line skating photos I made years earlier. Then I found many more eager participants in a dance group, The Moving Center School, I dance with (recreationally, therapeutically; not professionally) in Marin County.
Within a year, people found ME, learning about TreeSpirit in the news, on the web, and by word of mouth. Now thousands of people view the large collection of photographs on this website, and ask to join the TreeSpirit email list to be notified of future photos near them. (See the sidebar column to the right.)
I use the term participant because they’re ALL volunteers, not paid models. And people don’t pose in the typical sense; they are amazingly genuine. Hundreds of people have enjoyed the safe, exciting experience of being part of a TreeSpirit photograph. Each receives a copy of the photograph he or she is in. Of course professional models are welcome, as are self-identified naturists (who instantly seem to understand what I’m up to), but the majority of participants are ordinary people who come for the fun of it, many bravely posing nude for the first time.
"High on Cypress" excerpt
Why are the people naked? (Isn’t this really just to get attention?)
Many other reasons for the nudity came first—before I knew TreeSpirit would get ANY media attention:
• People are MUCH more “present” in the meditative sense of this word; meaning they’re not thinking about the past (e.g., regretting or worrying) or the future (e.g., planning or worrying);
• Therefore people feel more alive, sensitive and vulnerable, and pay greater attention to their surroundings and their feelings, and therefore move more freely and genuinely;
• Naked people are harmless to trees and other species. We humans often do harm in groups, but not when stripped of our habitual, protective layers of clothing, tools and technology.
• People appear more timeless when stripped of the cultural and historical cues clothing provide. A photograph could be taken 5 years ago, or 50.
• People are more unified as a grouping of humanity, rather than seen as the individual personalities to which we are all so attached. This is especially true in large group TreeSpirit photos;
• And, yes, naked people ARE attention-getting. I strive to achieve one goal of the TreeSpirit Project: to spread a message of our interdependence with nature, and the critical role trees play in our lives. If I could achieve this goal with people dressed in seersucker shirts and OshKosh overalls, I’d shop for them tomorrow.
Do the people climb the trees naked, or climb up and then undress?
This varies, depending upon the tree, the climber, the air temperature, how public the location is, and the duration of the shoot. If it’s warm and the tree is smooth-barked or easy to climb—a “walk-in” or “walk-up” tree—a participant might enjoy being clothing-free the entire time. If it’s cold or the tree is abrasive or requires strenuous climbing, then clothing may be kept on until we’re ready to shoot. In urban settings, or in the cold, we typically do a “dressed rehearsal” first, then people stay out of frame, disrobe, then step back in.
Why trees?
Like so many people, I’ve always loved being outdoors; at the ocean, in a silent desert, in the mountains. But I feel the strongest attraction for and the most “at home” in woods and forests. The inspiration for TreeSpirit photographs came from an oak tree, and for now it feels right to stay focused on trees. The more attention I give them, the more I see in them, or perhaps more accurately, the more I feel for them in their presence. (I believe this is how attention works; what I give attention to expands in my awareness.) From a different perspective, it doesn’t matter what my entry point into appreciating and glorifying nature is since all of nature is interconnected. WE people are nature too, of course, and we enter a territory where the meaning of words falls away (or fail me, anyway).
How long is a typical photo shoot?
This also varies tremendously, and depends on the location, air temperature, whether we have a permit, and the number of participants. Some photographs have taken as little as 15 minutes (with only 90 seconds unclothed); others up to 5 hours with a 10-mile round-trip hike to the location. Some photos are made languorously in remote, private settings; others feels stressful with authorities looming.
Do you get permits for your photographs?
Oftentimes not. State and national parks have rules against nudity, yet nudity is not technically illegal in most places. “Lewd” or “indecent” behavior IS. This subtle yet profound distinction is often lost on permit-issuing authorities, esp. in city, state and national parks. They have little incentive to grant non-commercial (i.e., art photography) permits, and every incentive not to. The issues surrounding nudity in American could fill this website (and may merit expanding and expounding upon in the future).
Have you ever been arrested?
working it out with Park Rangers
No. I’ve had authorities (usually police and park rangers) on the scene on many occasions. I’ve been detained and ticketed for photography without a permit, and for assembly without a permit, but never arrested, nor ever ticketed for nudity or “indecency.” Even though I may peacefully challenge some rules and regulations, and insist on my American’s rights of freedom of assembly and speech (which can include making an artwork), I respect police as people doing an important, often difficult job. The same cop I might wish wasn’t at my TreeSpirit location one day could save my life in another situation that night.
Asking permission or requesting permits is a delicate and complex issue. I may decide it’s wisest to play by the rules. I may decide to challenge a local ordinance against unauthorized public assembly or public nudity. In these situations I do no physical harm to trees or people or property. I consider the respectful, nonviolent practices of two of my heroes, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi, as beacon examples for my behavior.
How do you find your trees?
At first I found trees where I live in the San Francisco Bay area. Now, TreeSpirit’smany friends around the country, and the world, tell me about specific trees to consider for future photographs. The internet and digital cameras and camcorders make tree-finding and location scouting a thousand-fold easier than in years past.
I also offer a “reward” to anyone who finds a tree I end up making a TreeSpirit photograph with: a fine art print from that event as a thank you.
And if someone knows of an environmental hotspot where staging a TreeSpirit photo might help, I welcome the suggestion, here.
Do you choreograph the photos, tell participants what to do?
Although I always have some idea of what I want to do, I welcome creative input from the participants who are having a great time. I often guide people, or make subtle adjustments that work for my camera’s position. I consider the process collaborative. This is how serendipity and synchronicity, can work magic—and often has for TreeSpirit. Being less controlling also encourages people to play, which is especially fun outside, and something we all do instinctively as children.
A lot of the people in the photos seem very fit. Is this a requirement? Do you want certain body types, or physical conditioning, or modeling experience?
With rare exception, ABSOLUTELY NOT. In fact I welcome and appreciate and PREFER bodies of different sizes, shapes, ages, color and physical ability. My only real requirement is that you enjoy trees and have a desire to participate. Look carefully at the group photos in particular and you’ll find many bodies that aren’t particularly muscular or curvaceous, two common associations with our culture’s narrow conception of beauty.
I find all people beautiful when they are emotionally connected to the trees—and in the joy of life in the moment. This is what so often moves me to exclaim, “How beautiful!” or somesuch during a photo. And of course muscular and curvaceous bodies of both genders are beautiful too! I enjoy celebrating the human body and the human spirit in relation to nature in all conceivable varieties.
Do you have to be able to climb a tree to participate?
Usually not. I let people know in advance if a particular photo necessitates climbing, a strenuous hike, if a site is wheelchair accessible, and so on. Each photo and site is unique.
How long do you plan on making TreeSpirit photographs?
I honestly don’t know. I’m not much of a planner, really; never have been. As long as I’m excited to do so, I’d guess. Often the idea for a new photograph comes in an instant, but may takes months or even years to create…and I have so many new ideas. Perhaps, like an artist in any medium, I’ll simply lose the inspiration or, with luck, be inspired to do something else.
I see most TreeSpirit photographs are Black & White, but some are color. How do you choose? Which do you prefer?
I love B&W photography and was taught it first, by my parents, Rae Russel and Alfred Gescheidt, themselves both professional photographers. They both shot both color and B&W too. I use both and consider them different, powerful tools to work and play with. If I want to emphasize line and form and shape, as with the image “Granddaughter”, I may choose B&W. If the color of a scene feels especially powerful, I may choose color, as I did for the photograph “Hilltop Worship”.
Is there a TreeSpirit movie or coffee table book in the works?
Yes, there’s a TreeSpirit movie now in development: “Out On A Limb” is the working title of Navyo Ericsen’s and Reverberance Media’s documentary film about the making of TreeSpirit photographs and the volunteer participants. Exciting stuff: TAKE A LOOK!
A book of TreeSpirit photographs, and the story behind their making, is a natural but not yet hatched. Publisher or agent inquiries are welcome. Email Jack.
How do you pay for TreeSpirit? Who is financing The TreeSpirit Project?
TreeSpirit time, travel and expenses are paid for in several ways: with my other professional photography income (see JackPhoto.com), the generous support of friends and fans who believe in the Project; sales of TreeSpirit fine art prints from the website gallery; conventional art galleries, and items like posters and calendars in the TreeSpirit website store. All proceeds from these sales goes to supporting The TreeSpirit Project artwork and mission.
TreeSpirit’s slogan says, “A celebration of our interdependence with nature” — doesn’t this imply that people and nature are two separate things?
It sure does—and this puzzle merely reveals the limitation of language. We are are all a PART of nature; nature means everything. If you know a better way to convey this reality within the limitations of language, please write me how…
In the meantime, I’ll keep making photographs and hosting experiences in nature which invite people (and me) into the exhilirating fun beyond words, talk, and even thought. The Persian poet Rumi, aka Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī, (translated by Coleman Barks) put it beautifully:
There is a way between voice and presence
where information flows.In disciplined silence it opens.
With wandering talk it closes.