Raízes

The photographic project is the outcome of more than a year of research and close to 16000 kilometers traveled in 4 months, in the which Valdir Cruz (b. Paraná. Brazil 1954) and his team journey through roads, farms, rivers and paths, many times with help of "mateiros" (foresters). The author explains that it idea of the project was not to photograph any tree, he wanted representative ones, those that had something to say. All were almost 100 years or more, and can be perceived by their dimensions and beauty. To reach them, Valdir had the help of landscaper one Renata Tilli in his research. Valdir who has lived in the United States for the last 30 years, still turns to his "roots" when choosing the subjects in his books and expositions. This time stayed almost a year in Brazil for the process of selecting which trees would be part of the book. He became a "hunter of trees", through 30 cities in Sao Paulo photographing 120 trees from 80 different species. Illustrated with over 750 color plates, this beautifully printed on high quality stock includes an essay by writer Ignácio de Loyola Brandao. The photographic work of Cruz is held by museums in Brazil, MOMA NYC and the Smithsonian among others.