Stuart Franklin: Traces

From an intense career as a photojournalist (covering major events such as the 1985 Heysel Stadium Disaster and the massacre in Tiananmen Square), to stunning reportages for the National Geographic and a three-year stint as president of Magnum Photos: Stuart Franklin (b. 1956 in London) is as multi-faceted as he is accomplished. In addition to his achievements as a photographer, he also holds a first-class degree in Geography from Oxford University – a testament to his long-standing fascination with the natural sciences and the natural world at large. 

Following on from his second monograph, The Life of Trees (published in 1999), Franklin once again lets trees take centre-stage in his work, intertwining them with the theme of memory. He maintains that landscapes can only be experienced subjectively: responses, interpretations and associations are personal and unique to each observer. 

In Traces, the photographer explores this subjective gaze with a focus on trees – taking us on a journey from the walnut forests of Kyrgyzstan to the twisting tree-roots of Angkor Wat, and from Italy’s ancient olive trees to some of the oldest trees in England and Wales.

The exhibition is on view at Leica Gallery Vienna until 24 February 2024.