Featured Artist Chris Palm

Photographer Chris Palm draws awareness to the world’s vanishing tropical forests through his TreeTalk series. Learn more about this project by visiting his website.

 

 

I’ve been making photographs most of my life. I was was drawn to the magic I saw in harnessing a chemical reaction powered by the sun as images would emerge on paper developing in the wet bath. Back in those days, there was a certain indisputable truth spoken through the language of photography. Somewhere in the transition to digital, seeing is no longer believing. We have become numb to the most remarkable of imagery.

 

 

For years I focused on travel and street photography captured on my journeys around the world. Social media provided a immediate platform to bring viewers with me wherever I was traveling.

 

 

After circumventing the globe several times with camera in check, I began focused more on standing still. I wanted to explore overlooked subject mater that would be important to archive for the future. Tropical forests and trees in Ecuador have been the focus of much of this work.

 

 

TreeTalk is a portfolio of images from deep within the Choco Forest of Ecuador. Unfortunately, only about 1% of this system still remains on the equator. In the not too distant future, will we have any wild forests left?

 

 

Forest photos require some translation to make them visually interesting. I like to work a lot with perspectives to try transport the viewer into the forest. Occasionally I even employ some parlor tricks from the old stereo grams to create three dimensional trees that appear to move about. With the tropical portfolio, I like to print face mount to acrylic as I feel it provides the greatest depth and helps bring the trees to life.

 

 

I never imagined taking photos of a forest could be so political. In 2016, when I began developing the concept of TreeTalk, there was significant resistance in the United States to art that explored environmental topics. Climate change or anything related to the need for environmental conservation was met with resistance from a very vocal, abusive and organized minority.

 

 

From threats of violence to cyber attacks and social media trolls, it felt like every attempt was made to shut down my forest art from Ecuador. Interestingly enough, at the same time, almost 90% of oil being pumped out of Ecuador was headed to California.

 

 

In addition to forest photography, I have started design work printing silk scarves. Proceeds from these go to fund a small bio incubator I manage on the coast of Ecuador. It explores alternative economic models and provides alternatives to deforestation. We are currently exploring silk and vanilla as two commercial lines that could be developed to provide employment while maintaining traditional cultural ways of life.

 

Chris Palm invites you to follow him on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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