Trees captivate us as they are grounded in the earth yet reach toward the sky, embodying both time and space. Photographer Barbara Bosworth has dedicated her work since 1991 to capturing America's "champion" trees—those recognized as the largest of their species by the National Register of Big Trees, maintained by American Forests. Her journey has taken her along highways and back roads, through forests and clear-cut areas, sometimes accompanied by local enthusiasts, sometimes alone, to document trees notable for both their size and endurance. Bosworth discovers champion trees in diverse settings: backyards, fields, and parks, often juxtaposed with urban developments or clear-cut land. Her photographs reveal not only the trees' grandeur but also their role as indicators of a changing landscape. For instance, a yellow poplar thrives near a suburban housing development, while a western red cedar survives alone in a clear-cut area, preserved due to its status as the largest of its kind. Through her lens, Bosworth captures the elegance and dignity of trees, showcasing the green ash at a crossroads, the blooming common pear, and the Florida strangler fig with its intricate roots. Using an 8 x 10 camera, she presents both the vastness of the largest species and the hidden victories of smaller ones. While some trees are replaced in the Register due to illness or discovery of larger specimens, Bosworth's 70 photographs serve as a te
