News
April 4th 2022
aPhotoEditor: The Daily Edit
Heidi: Why is this project important to you and what got you started?
Brian: After seeing old growth/big trees in the PNW of the US and Vancouver Island I couldn’t stop doing research into why the forests of the east coast US were nothing like the west.
April 28th, 2021
In Search of the Elders and Betters: Honoring Our Oldest Trees with Brian Kelley
From the 1600s to the present day, nearly 90% of the original forests of the continental United States have been logged…
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November 17th, 2020
How America’s Largest Japanese Pagoda Tree Came to Martha’s Vineyard
New short film by Gathering Growth documents the unlikely journey from a seedling's voyage in 1837 to National Champion in 2020…
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April 28th, 2020
Video: Discovering the World’s Largest Pine Tree
In just a few minutes this touching new film captures the story of California-based Big Tree Hunter Carl Casey and his discovery of a new Champion Sugar Pine in California—the largest known pine tree in the world…
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April 24th, 2020
Meet California’s Best Big-Tree Hunter
In 1940, the American Forestry Association launched a campaign to locate the largest specimens of American trees. Since then, big-tree enthusiasts like Californian Carl Casey have been on the lookout for what’s defined as champion trees…
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May 28th, 2019 - Jun 3rd, 2019
ICP Projected:
Gathering Growth
In 2017, Brian Kelley began the Gathering Growth Archive, partnering with the nonprofit American Forests to create a photographic record of the National Register of Champion Trees in the United States…
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March 21st, 2019
Our Champion Tree Archivist Brian Kelley Gives an Update
American Forests is sharing an update from Brian Kelley, the Champion Tree Archivist. Brian has photographed and recorded almost 70 Champion Trees on the National Register…
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December 4th, 2018
Photographing Champion Trees with Brian Kelley
This week you're in for a treat as we talk with photographer Brian Kelley about his work photographing champion trees of North America…
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July 19th, 2018
Champion Tree Trek: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
On July 1, 2018, I left my home in New York City and headed west toward Los Angeles with nothing but a camera and a dream…
June 2nd, 2018
Introducing Brian Kelley, Champion Tree Archivist
American Forests is proud to introduce Brian Kelley, our new Champion Tree Archivist! Brian is a photographer from Brooklyn, N.Y., who made a name for himself as a commercial photographer for brands such as Adidas and Nike…
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April 26th, 2018
The Quiet Glory of Chronicling America’s Champion Trees
Not every National Champion tree is an exhibitionist. Awarded by the nonprofit conservation organization American Forests, the accolade goes to the biggest and most majestic…
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February 23rd, 2018
Gathering Growth with Brian Kelley — Documenting the Champion Trees
Photography can mean a lot of different things today. Is it more ephemeral and about capturing the trivial parts of life? Is it about something more artful and considered? Is it about documenting and providing memories that will certainly outlive us?
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December 13th, 2017
#TheCreatorClass: “Gathering Growth” with Brian Kelley
A great portrait of photographer Brian Kelley. In addition to offering an introduction to Kelley’s commercial work, #TheCreatorClass follows the Brooklyn-based photographer to Vancouver Island to learn about one of his ongoing passion projects…
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June 6th, 2018
Master the Summer: Nurture Your Passion
Photographer Brian Kelley is surrounding himself with giants. Summer is high season for the high performer. It’s when work, travel, and personal passions collide. But figuring out how to fit it all in isn’t always easy…
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