Washington DC-based portrait photographer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stephenvoss.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Stephen Voss</a> started photographing bonsai in 2014, as a personal side project. One of the US National Arboretum's most spectacular bonsai, this Japanese white pine survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It was presented to the US from the Japanese government in 1976, as a symbol of peace. "It's astonishing how long these trees live," says Voss. "Every single day for 400 years, there has been someone caring for this tree. These people make this their life's work and then they pass it on to someone else." (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Japanese White Pine, in training since 1625 —
Washington DC-based portrait photographer Stephen Voss started photographing bonsai in 2014, as a personal side project. One of the US National Arboretum's most spectacular bonsai, this Japanese white pine survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It was presented to the US from the Japanese government in 1976, as a symbol of peace. "It's astonishing how long these trees live," says Voss. "Every single day for 400 years, there has been someone caring for this tree. These people make this their life's work and then they pass it on to someone else." (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
Voss made nearly 80 trips to the US National Arboretum over a two-year period and the project evolved into a fine art book entitled "<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F0692585168%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">In Training</a>," which refers to the art of training a bonsai. Voss captured abstract and emotive images of nearly 75 trees from the Arboretum's collection. (Credit: Stephen Voss)<br />
Sargent Juniper, in training since 1905 —
Voss made nearly 80 trips to the US National Arboretum over a two-year period and the project evolved into a fine art book entitled "In Training," which refers to the art of training a bonsai. Voss captured abstract and emotive images of nearly 75 trees from the Arboretum's collection. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
"I wanted nothing superfluous in these images. I sought to strip away everything until I reached the essence of the tree, the beautiful curve abstracted into this interesting, textured form," Voss says. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Toringo Crabapple, in training since 1905 —
"I wanted nothing superfluous in these images. I sought to strip away everything until I reached the essence of the tree, the beautiful curve abstracted into this interesting, textured form," Voss says. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
An example of a uniquely American approach to bonsai, Voss says this California juniper has a wild yet refined look that's beautiful and raw. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
California Juniper, in training since 1985 —
An example of a uniquely American approach to bonsai, Voss says this California juniper has a wild yet refined look that's beautiful and raw. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
One of the smallest and most delicate trees at the US National Arboretum, this Crape Myrtle represents an "appreciation of the stark, simple beauty of bonsai -- without artifice or pretension," says Voss. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Crape Myrtle, in training since 2010 —
One of the smallest and most delicate trees at the US National Arboretum, this Crape Myrtle represents an "appreciation of the stark, simple beauty of bonsai -- without artifice or pretension," says Voss. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
Voss says he thinks the tree's leafless body and dramatic form reminds him of a tree growing on a rock along a coastline, battered by the wind. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Chinese Elm, training date unknown —
Voss says he thinks the tree's leafless body and dramatic form reminds him of a tree growing on a rock along a coastline, battered by the wind. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
"The Drummond's red maple had just begun to show leaves when I photographed it," explains Voss. "This is a tree in transition, beginning to lose the bareness of its winter appearance, but not yet fully showing its springtime look. I think the end result feels like a watercolor painting and I love the abstraction of the leaves, these little spots of color amongst the trunks." (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Drummond's Red Maple, in training since 1974 —
"The Drummond's red maple had just begun to show leaves when I photographed it," explains Voss. "This is a tree in transition, beginning to lose the bareness of its winter appearance, but not yet fully showing its springtime look. I think the end result feels like a watercolor painting and I love the abstraction of the leaves, these little spots of color amongst the trunks." (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
Voss wanted to share the spirit and unique characteristics of each tree he photographed, as well as the sense of peace he felt while alone with them. "I wanted to explore the substance of the trees, the essential elements that made each one feel sacred and vital," he recalls. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Cedar Elm, in training since 1981 —
Voss wanted to share the spirit and unique characteristics of each tree he photographed, as well as the sense of peace he felt while alone with them. "I wanted to explore the substance of the trees, the essential elements that made each one feel sacred and vital," he recalls. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
Gracing the cover of "In Training," this Japanese black pine serendipitously mimics the shape of Japan. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Japanese Black Pine, training date unknown —
Gracing the cover of "In Training," this Japanese black pine serendipitously mimics the shape of Japan. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss
He captured this smooth-leaved elm while it was indoors. "I was really taken by the light that day which came in through the skylights and felt diffuse and crisp at the same time, rendering the tree more like an old painting than a photograph," says Voss. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Smooth-leaved Elm, in training since 1982 —
He captured this smooth-leaved elm while it was indoors. "I was really taken by the light that day which came in through the skylights and felt diffuse and crisp at the same time, rendering the tree more like an old painting than a photograph," says Voss. (Credit: Stephen Voss)
Stephen Voss