CALIFORNIA FOREST PROJECT

A pioneering and comprehensive photographic survey of California’s unique and diverse forest ecologies.

OBJECTIVES

The California Forest Project, founded and created by photographer Stefan Thuilot, seeks to raise public awareness of California's distinct and abundant forest biodiversity through large format, high-resolution photography. The Project is a series of tens of thousands of photographs I have taken from 2017 to the present , highlighting all 25 California forest ecosystems.

These images capture a record of Heritage forests with minimal alterations and forests that have been influenced by global warming and human activities throughout the state.

I believe that photography stands as a potent tool to portray the changing landscapes that threaten its legacy.

The series serves several important purposes:

Constructs an extensive photographic database that will be accessible to researchers and preservationists, forming a foundation for others to build upon.
Functions at the intersection of art and science, cultivating a dynamic approach to the art of nature photography.

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PROCESS

Through the innovative application of cutting-edge photographic technology, I methodically capture the multifaceted spectrum of forest environments and ecologies that make up California's extraordinary landscapes. These expansive photographs envelop viewers in the magnificence of forest vistas, invoking a sense of the sublime.

The extraordinary level of details of these photos mirrors the intricate complexity inherent in these forests. My goal is to encourage viewers to engage in contemplation at a leisurely pace and to direct their attention towards the less conspicuous elements that are often easily missed.

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REPEAT PHOTOGRAPHY

In the late 1960s, forest ecologists began to photograph forest evolution over time. Scientists revisited locations and rephotographed scenes from the same viewpoints to document ecological changes. At the time, technology was less advanced. Despite interesting studies, the project eventually ended.

Modern technologies now greatly enhance these efforts. Photos possess significantly higher resolution and color accuracy, complemented by GPS data, allowing for the simultaneous study of multiple forests and regions without the risk of disorientation and not being able to locate previous scenes.

These results yield photos that are identical in terms of position, lighting, and color. What sets them apart is the passage of time and the accompanying evolution of growth, or in some cases, devastation and subsequent regeneration.

My aim is to revisit and rephotograph not only the dramatic transformations within the 800 previously recorded scenes, but also the subtle shifts that unveil the myriad hidden miracles inherent to forests.

REPEAT PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

THE PHOTOS

The typical photo resolution measures around 20,000 by 50,000 pixels, equivalent to a print size of approximately 7 feet by 14 feet, a size that exceeds the capabilities of current printers. The photo series is designed to remain relevant and flexible, capable of adapting to emerging technological advancements in the future.

Each of the 18 rectangular grids shown above corresponds to a 50mm focal lens 70-megapixel photo exposure. These individual photos are then meticulously blended into a unified image, capturing an extensive 180-degree view of the scene before the viewer, presenting a complete forest landscape. The post-processing work, which includes color correction, contrast and lighting adjustments, demands a considerable amount of time, often necessitating up to 3 hours of dedicated computer work for each image.

The yellow rectangle symbolizes the standard focal lens of a mobile phone camera, while the orange rectangle represents a cropped section of the main image, as depicted on the right side.

LOCATIONS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

California is renowned as an unrivaled biodiversity hotspot in the United States, with numerous forests and trees that stand out as global champions in terms of their size, age, height, and variety. While The Forest Project's primary aim is to provide comprehensive coverage of the diverse range of forests, five specific regions compelled me to return many times to study them in depth.

In the north lies the mesmerizing rainforests of the redwoods, with its unspoiled and magnificent groves.

Inland is the Russian Wilderness north of the Trinity Mountains, a rugged high-country area that harbors the most diverse collection of conifer trees on the planet.

Situated in the southeastern corner of the Bay Area, Henry Coe State Park embodies the arid fringe of the Central Valley perfectly, with its mixed oak forests and rugged ghost like pine trees.

At Calaveras State Park, there are two expansive and lush ancient Sequoia Groves, where the northern one serves as prime examples of proper forest fire management. Unfortunately, the immensely overgrown southern grove faces a significant threat, potentially to experience devastating fires similar to what we witnessed in Sequoia National Park in 2021.

Sequoia National Park offers a sparser, drier environment, home to the broadest, oldest, and tallest Sequoia trees. Here, I've dedicated extensive efforts to document remote groves pre- and post-fires.

Please click regions below for gallery

REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK

RUSSIAN WILDERNESS

HENRY COE STATE PARK

CALAVERAS BIG TREES STATE PARK

SEQUOIA KINGS CANYON NP

CV

Stefan Thuilot is a German born photographer located in Berkeley, California.

He earned a diploma in fine art in the Netherlands, where he specialized in photography and sculpture. He also holds a master's degree in landscape architecture from UC Berkeley.

Stefan Thuilot’s career has centered on landscapes, as both a photographer and designer and founder of Thuilot Associates, a firm established in 2006, specializing in designing parks, residential communities, campuses alongside other project types.

His recent photographic work is primarily centered around the "California Forest Project," which is set to debut with exhibitions and lectures.

He also embarks on four yearly solo treks through the granite-rich Emigrant Wilderness, seeking to capture remote granite domes and ancient solitary trees. These images are printed into large-scale photos, serving as iconic representations of time and resilience.