Abstract
This article examines photographic representations of the karri trees of Southwestern
Australia from colonial-era to contemporary times. In the context of the emerging
field of plant ethics, I argue that photography is a vital medium for understanding and
fostering ethical attitudes towards botanical life and, more specifically, towards old-growth
trees. Whereas the earliest Australian images of karris focused on either the aesthetic or
utilitarian value of the trees, contemporary photographers, exemplified by John Austin,
demonstrate an acute concern for the ethical treatment of karri forests in the face of intense
industrial pressures.
Australia from colonial-era to contemporary times. In the context of the emerging
field of plant ethics, I argue that photography is a vital medium for understanding and
fostering ethical attitudes towards botanical life and, more specifically, towards old-growth
trees. Whereas the earliest Australian images of karris focused on either the aesthetic or
utilitarian value of the trees, contemporary photographers, exemplified by John Austin,
demonstrate an acute concern for the ethical treatment of karri forests in the face of intense
industrial pressures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 61-83 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Journal of the European Association for Studies of Australia |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |