Without trees, I will be lost.
I will be a totally different kind of person.
沒有樹，我會迷失，也不會是現在的我。
Australian giant-tree photographer Steven Pearce speaks in the documentary “The island and the trees”.
While traversing the rolling, layered mountains and wading across a rushing stream, the mountain path was enveloped in a cold, damp mist. After a two-day trek, Taiwan’s tallest giant tree, the “Heaven Sword of the Da’an River,” finally came into view for the filming team. Pearce set up the suspension system, pulled the camera strap, and amidst the sound of clicking shutters, captured a life-sized photograph of the giant tree that towered majestically in the midst.
From Photographer to "Tree Lover"
"I used to think of myself as a photographer, but now I’m simply someone who loves trees." On an overcast afternoon in 2026, having traveled from the remote wilderness into the bustling city, Pearce — photographer and head of The Tree Projects (樹計畫) — sat down for an interview with the Environmental Information Center (環境資訊中心) at a café.
In 2017, Pearce was invited to Taiwan to photograph the "Three Sisters" Taiwania trees in Qilan; the resulting life-sized portrait of these giant trees—the first of its kind in Taiwan—revealed a perspective that few people would ever see in their lifetimes. Whether viewed from the ground looking up or from a height looking down, the perspective on the tree resulted in either distortion or a view of only a limited portion. Pearce hoisted the camera to the treetops and then slowly lowered it to the base, capturing the tree from countless eye-level angles and stitching them together to create a "life-size portrait" of the giant tree. Photos like these can stir the soul without a single word.
When it comes to photographing trees, Pearce says it’s all about the experience and the theme. Spend time around the tree; get to know it and understand what makes it unique. The time and effort invested in tree climbing—along with the sweat shed and the fear felt while suspended in the branches—are all part of the fun; the spectacular life-sized photos are simply an extension of those wonderful moments.
Even after photographing countless world-class giant trees, Pearce can still enjoy small interactions with trees while strolling through Taipei. He would wonder to himself: How many branches does this tree have? How can I climb to the tips of the branches? How should I thread the rope through the canopy to reach those spots? He would silently give thanks for the benefits provided by the roadside trees—the shade that offered relief from the heat, and the oxygen that they produced. He said that if you have the chance, you can climb a tree—even if it’s just five to ten meters off the ground—and it will offer a completely different perspective.
It’s surprising that a professional tree climber like him would take an interest in urban street trees; we asked, "Aren't the branches too thin?" He quickly retorted, "No, no—they are very strong!"
"Don’t judge a tree," he emphasized. A tree stands tall for fifty years; even if it eventually falls due to disease or is toppled by a typhoon, what should remain in one's memory is the contribution it made over those fifty years, not the moment it fell.
Let's All Climb Trees Together
"From age 7 to 78, I believe everyone can climb trees." Pearce, who founded a tree-climbing club in Tasmania, Australia, earnestly remarked that the difference simply comes down to what an individual expects from tree climbing and how quickly they wish to progress. "But the tree has been growing for centuries—what's the rush?"
He said that when first climbing a tree, feelings of exertion, tension, and fear are common; yet the moment one reaches the top, everything settles into a calm state—the mind relaxes, the cares of daily life fade away, and nothing remains but the tree and the flying squirrels darting about nearby.
"Don't overthink it—just go climb!" This is the advice Pearce gives to those who want to climb trees but hesitate to take the first step.
He modestly said that he was still learning; only recently has he gained the confidence to take on the responsibility of lead climber—breaking the trail and setting the ropes—for certain trees. Some trees are easy to climb, yet he constantly ponders how to use simpler gear to make the ascent even easier—and therein lies the fun: "Every tree is a little puzzle.”
The Beauty of Waiting
Pearce was not a pioneer of life-size tree photography; he was preceded by James Balog of the Earth Vision Institute (地球願景研究所) and Michael Nichols of National Geographic (國家地理). Although Pearce had climbed giant trees back then, he had very little experience doing so. Inspired by the work of his two predecessors, he devised a plan to capture a similar image; he then enlisted tree-climbing experts and, braving harsh weather conditions marked by strong winds and rain, succeeded in taking his first life-sized photograph of a giant tree.
“Yeah, it’s ambitious, but that’s just how I live," he said with a smile. "I want to shoot—I just want to shoot. I get an idea, I go for it, and I solve problems as they come up."
Pearce once wrote to two senior photographers. Nicholas told him, "You can’t simply take a good photograph; you must create an image that endures." He took these words to heart, yet he didn’t fully grasp their meaning. And so, he patiently waited to secure the best photographs.
Pearce recalls the days he spent waiting by the tree with his camera equipment—a period spanning eight months. He had envisioned the perfect weather—it was May, the Australian winter, which promised the dampness, low-hanging clouds, and swirling mists he desired—yet that scene never materialized.
He constantly studied the weather and headed to the shooting location to try his luck whenever the opportunity arose. To photograph the trees at dawn, he would get up in the dark at 3:00 a.m., drive to the location, and then hike to the shooting spot; however, conditions were often unfavorable, leaving him with nothing to do but brew a cup of coffee and keep waiting beside the trees. He endured this long wait no fewer than thirty-five times, but fortunately, the results made it all worthwhile.
Pearce said that is one of his favorite photos; it still hangs on the wall at home, and every time he sees it, it brings back memories of that time. He was deeply grateful to that tree for giving him the chance to spend so much time in the beautiful forest—simply staying there quietly, listening to the birdsong, and watching the changing weather. Looking back now, those moments are a priceless treasure.
Unlocking the Door to Explore Trees
It was the perfect weather for photographing the life-sized tree; Pearce was adamant: "It has to be a rainy day—damp, cold, and misty." Humans love sunny weather, but trees love moisture, rain, and fog; "try thinking like a tree," he says.
As a photographer, Pearce infuses his images with a sense of "presence"—the birds in the trees and the people climbing them are all integral parts of the work. He smiled and said that even if AI could produce an identical photograph, the giant tree deeply imprinted in his mind was the one that truly existed.
Under climate change, news about wildfires burning forests is common, but Pearce rarely takes photos of this kind. He admits that seeing trees burned to the ground with blackened branches lying on the ground in person is really sad and heartbreaking. He hopes that his motivation for taking photos comes from love and enjoyment.
Pearce found more ways to support the forest, and he also helped train scientists in Africa with a tree-climbing program, opening up exploration journeys for more people.
Pearce is most proud that his images need no words—a life-sized photo can capture the towering giant trees in their entirety. He really enjoys the audience's reaction when they see the life-sized photos for the first time; they’re usually amazed, curious, and start asking questions, trying to learn more. He says this is a chance to plant the seed of caring for the environment, and he doesn’t even need to push for it. Whether it’s the tall trees or the tiny person next to the giant trees, when the audience starts asking, “Wow! What are they doing on the tree?” or “What is this?”—that’s exactly the point of a life-sized photo.
Translated by Joey Adams; Proofread by Vita Liu (劉祐君).
*Note: This article has been translated between Chinese and English. Proper names and pinyin spellings are provided for reference only.
