‘Fernbank Forest’ Showcases Atlanta’s Tree Canopy During A Period Of Restoration

Atlanta is known as the “city in the forest” due to its vast vegetation and tree coverage. “Fernbank Forest” is a photographic interpretation of Atlanta’s celebrated old-growth forest. The book was created by Atlanta-based photographer Peter Essick. The 65-acre forest managed by the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is known as the best example of an urban forest in the Piedmont region of the Southeast.

Essick has been named one of the 40 most influential nature photographers in the world by Outdoor Photography Magazine UK. His photographs have been in Time magazine’s “Great Images of the 20th Century” and in 100 Best Photographs of National Geographic.

Essick created a Kickstarter campaign in order to help bring the “Fernbank Forest” book to life. He wanted to publish a photo book that focuses on the natural beauty of the flora and fauna of Atlanta’s urban forest. The work was commissioned by the Fernbank Museum in order to document the forest during a period of restoration. Since many people haven’t explored the outdoors or gone to public spaces during COVID-19, the forest has been less trafficked. Additionally, the book contains two essays: one by Janisse Ray about the forest, and the other by Emily Harrison, who was an environmentalist and worked tirelessly to save the forest over 80 years ago.