Atlanta based photographer Diane Kirkland has been documenting Ossabaw, an island off the coast of Georgia, since the 1980s. As the state’s first heritage preserve, with no bridge or ferry access, the remote island is used only for educational and environmental purposes. Her series Live Oaks of Ossabaw is a way to preserve and interpret the natural beauty here.

Kirkland, who has visited Ossabaw five times, has always felt there was an eerie quality about the island, and she attempts to capture this in her photos. Photographed in black and white, the majestic live oaks speak to Kirkland’s personal connection to nature. Here, with no other people around, she is able to reflect on the calm and happiness felt amidst the undisturbed wilderness. “So much of our time is spent in a digitally dominated environment and reestablishing an enjoyment of the natural world is essential to our well being,” she says.

It’s easy to loose the connection with our natural surroundings. Kirkland hopes that her images show that these heritage sites are worthy of our attention and should be valued and preserved.

All images © Diane Kirkland

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