The Celestial Mulga - Limited Edition of 10 Photograph

This photograph was taken at night with a medium format camera, using film. I illuminated the tree with my own lighting technique. There is no use of a photographic flash. It was a time exposure for an hour, thus it has recorded the path of the stars. It was taken in the arid zone/desert of far western NSW, Australia. By illuminating these trees at night I am venerating or honouring them. I was inspired after witnessing trees that were venerated (with the use of various forms of decoration) in India - particularly when I discovered that venerated trees are protected, as they are considered sacred, making this practice an interesting environmental phenomenon. I choose to use photography as these trees are real, not imagined. I aim to change the perception of a real tree by venerating it with light. I hope the viewer will feel a sense of sacredness of the tree, or at least something alive, special or magical.