The Richmond Park Field Camera is a unique creation, one that seamlessly merges photography, craftsmanship, and ecology into a single artistic vision. Designed and built by Max A Rush, this extraordinary camera is made from the very trees it was intended to photograph—ancient oaks from Richmond Park. With meticulous craftsmanship, Rush transformed the wood from these centuries-old trees into a photographic instrument capable of capturing stunningly detailed images of the natural world. The project is not merely about photography; it is about paying homage to the long and intricate life cycles of trees, the biodiversity they support, and the very essence of light itself.

The wood used to build the Richmond Park Field Camera comes from several ancient oaks in the park, including one particularly magnificent specimen still standing near Richmond Gate. Each piece of this wood tells a story—of seasons passing, insects burrowing, fungi growing, and the slow, inevitable decay that returns these great trees to the soil. The wood bears visible marks of these natural processes, such as the dark streaks created by fungi and the delicate traces left by wood-boring insects. In crafting the camera, Rush did not attempt to erase these marks but rather embraced them as part of the camera’s identity, turning it into a physical record of the life, death, and rebirth of Richmond Park’s trees.

Light is a fundamental force in both nature and photography. For hundreds of years, the trees Rush photographs have been absorbing sunlight through their leaves, using it to build new layers of wood in an ongoing cycle of growth. That same light, which fuels the trees’ existence, also plays a central role in photography itself. Every image captured by the Richmond Park Field Camera is formed by the very same sunlight that has sustained these trees for centuries, creating a poetic connection between subject and medium.

This camera is not only unique in its material composition but also in its technical capabilities. It is one of the highest-resolution digital cameras in the world for landscape photography, producing immense 200-megapixel images. The level of detail in each photograph is so extreme that individual leaves, insects, lichens, and fungi can be examined up close, revealing the intricate web of life that thrives within and around these ancient trees. Each image is not just a portrait of a tree but a detailed survey of its surrounding ecosystem. By zooming in on small sections of these images, Rush can uncover tiny yet crucial details—birds nesting in the bark, insects moving through the foliage, or the subtle textures of decaying wood.

Beyond capturing the immediate flora and fauna, the Richmond Park Field Camera also serves as a tool for exploring broader natural phenomena. Some of Rush’s images feature not only the trees themselves but also celestial elements such as the moon, with its craters and lava seas, or the sun, adorned with sunspots. Atmospheric optics occasionally appear in his photographs, revealing complex interactions between light and the Earth’s atmosphere. In this way, the project becomes a comprehensive study of natural history, bridging the micro and the macro, the terrestrial and the celestial.

Rush hopes that his work will inspire a deeper appreciation for nature, particularly the slow, often invisible processes that shape the environment over centuries. Richmond Park is a much-loved part of London, but through his project Circle of Light, he encourages viewers to see it through fresh eyes—as a living, breathing landscape filled with history and interconnected life. The project is a celebration of the union between art and science, expressed through the symbolic title Circle of Light, which references both the circular nature of the concept and the shape of the sun itself.

The photographs produced with the Richmond Park Field Camera are not purely documentary; they are carefully composed to honor the beauty and grandeur of these ancient trees. The microclimate of Richmond Park often creates dramatic lighting conditions—morning mist, golden sunsets, and diffused light through shifting clouds—offering endless opportunities to showcase the trees in their best light. Among the many subjects of Rush’s project, one tree holds special significance: a 500-year-old oak that provided some of the wood used to construct the camera itself. This venerable tree will feature prominently in the series, alongside many others that represent the park’s diverse habitats and changing seasons.

The camera itself is a masterpiece of craftsmanship, built using traditional woodworking techniques and hand tools. Rush worked with pieces of ancient English oak and even incorporated part of a cherry tree that once grew near Richmond Gate, with all materials obtained with the permission of The Royal Parks. The front and back frames of the camera are made from oak wood darkened by the “beefsteak” fungus (Fistulina hepatica), a highly sought-after variety known as English brown oak. The focusing rails come from the Conduit Oak, a 400–500-year-old tree still standing in Richmond Park, while the focusing knobs were crafted from a fallen branch of the same tree, showcasing the intricate patterns left behind by fungi as the wood began to decay.

The camera’s design follows the principles of traditional large-format photography while incorporating modern digital technology. It features a sliding back, also designed by Rush, which allows a full-frame mirrorless camera sensor to make multiple overlapping exposures covering the 6x7cm format. These exposures are then combined into a single digital negative, resulting in incredibly high-resolution images that retain the tactile quality of large-format photography.

Since its completion, the Richmond Park Field Camera has become an integral part of Rush’s photographic projects, with its potential only beginning to be realized. He envisions a future exhibition that will present each tree portrait as a large central image, surrounded by magnified details highlighting the hidden ecosystems within the tree. These could include close-ups of rare insects, delicate fungi, or even glimpses of the moon and sun captured in the same frame. This approach will provide viewers with a comprehensive perspective, blending the artistry of photography with the depth of scientific observation.

The project has already garnered attention, despite Rush’s initial focus on refining the camera rather than promoting the work. Early recognition came in the form of a feature on ITV News and an article in Brixton Buzz, a local South London magazine. However, the project gained even greater visibility when Rush was awarded International Garden Photographer of the Year 2025 for a photograph taken with the Richmond Park Field Camera. This prestigious recognition has propelled Circle of Light into the public eye far sooner than anticipated. The award-winning image, taken in Brockwell Park, captures a mesmerizing interplay of sunlight and water droplets, demonstrating the camera’s ability to depict plants in vivid detail while simultaneously recording atmospheric effects. The photograph is now on display at Kew Gardens, close to the birthplace of the camera, and will be featured in exhibitions across the UK.

The Richmond Park Field Camera stands as a testament to the power of photography to bridge time, nature, and human craftsmanship. Once, an oak tree stood in Richmond Park, growing steadily through centuries of sunlight and changing seasons. In its final years, it returned to the earth, its branches decomposing and enriching the soil. Yet a small part of it was saved—transformed into an instrument that now collects and describes light, continuing its connection to the land where it once grew. In the hands of Max A Rush, this camera does more than document Richmond Park; it reveals the hidden stories of its trees, the creatures they shelter, and the passage of time itself.

To explore more of Max A Rush’s work and his groundbreaking Circle of Light project, visit his website at https://www.maxarush.com/