A photographer has been taking photos of trees for 16 years to remind us just how important they are — here are some of his most stunning images

Zoë EttingerApr 27, 2020, 21:33 IST

A willow tree in Tabriz, Iran.Ali Shokri Photography

Ali Shokri is an Iranian photographer who has taken professional photos of trees for the past 16 years.
His book, "The Passion of Trees," aims to show how trees are a vital part of our world.
Most of his photos were taken in northern Iran, and include beech, alder, acorn, willow, almond, and apricot trees.
"I hope 'The Passion of Trees' can be a message to people, to remind them to look with emotion toward these beautiful creatures and to take care of them," he told Insider.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Photographer Ali Shokri lives in Tabriz, a city in northwestern Iran, which he describes as "one of the most beautiful cities in Iran, with a temperate climate and beautiful nature."

It means he's in close proximity to many different types of trees — a subject he's been passionate about since he was young. "My father was in love with trees, and since I was a child I saw nature differently, much different from my friends," he told Insider.

Though he spent years photographing trees with a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, in 2003 he bought a digital camera and began photographing professionally.

His project, "The Passion of Trees," aims to show others the vital significance of the Earth's lungs. The photos are all taken in black and white, and include beech, alder, acorn, willow, almond, and apricot trees.

Take a look at some of his most powerful photos.

Read the original article on Insider

Shokri wants to illustrate our inexorable connection to nature through. "If we hurt nature, we hurt ... ourselves," he said.

A hawthorn tree in Khalkhal, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

"I am trying to say through my photographs that nature is holy. Nature is our mother," he said.

Willow trees in Tabriz, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

Shokri hopes his work will make people stop and think about trees.

Olive trees in Ahar, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography.

He wants people who see his work to recognize the "fragility and vulnerability" of trees.

Willow trees in Bostanabad, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

All the photos are taken in black and white because, "when there is no color, shapes can tell the message better," he said.

A medlar tree in Varzaqan, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

For his photographs, Shokri chose trees that he believed looked "like humans," with character in their trunks and branches, like this almond tree.

An almond tree in Marand, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

He hopes he can remind people to take care of "these beautiful creatures."

A maple tree in Masal, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

"I saw the pain in trees, so I wanted to give this message to people: If trees did not exist, our lives would be in disorder," he said.

A willow tree in Tabriz, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

He started his book, "The Passion of Trees," to show that "each tree has a story by itself, just like humans."

Beech trees in Talesh, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

In 2003, Shokri bought his first digital camera and became a professional photographer.

Maple trees in Masal, Iran. Ali Shokri Photography

Shokri's love of nature was instilled in him from a young age. "Trees were holy for us. They were life to us, since my childhood," he said.

Apricot trees in Marand, Iran. Ali Shokri.

Ali Shokri lives in Tabriz, Iran. He describes it as a beautiful city with nearby mountains, forests, waterfalls, and fields.

Ali Shokri. Ali Shokri Photography

Princess Charlotte is turning 5. Here's what 11 other members of the royal family looked like at that age.

Cookies on the Business Insider India website