Adam Gerlach
Traces of Light
Gnarled tree trunks illuminated in the darkness take on otherworldly qualities and seem to glow from within in the series Traces of Light. The series focuses primarily on the Tea Trees that surround the urban Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA and the Bristlecone Pine Trees in the Inyo National Forest, CA. These trees come alive at night with qualities that are hidden during the day. To bring out the nocturnal character of the trees I paint light across the surface during long exposures that often last several minutes. Through this process, the trees emit a luminance that balances out the darker shadows that surround them. Isolated yet surrounded by the black background of night, the ancient structure of the trees shows itself in preternatural and sometimes fantastical ways. These images call into focus the details and specificities of each distinct tree, which are enhanced and amplified by the photographic process. Traces of Light asks the viewer to appreciate the extraordinary and to slow down and notice the inherent beauty of the natural forms.
