The Oldest, Most Outstanding Supermodels Of The Natural World

In our culture (as superficial as it may be), we are conditioned into thinking that the younger the model, the better it is -- this applies to human beings, cars and all manner of consumer culture objects.

That is why I find it particularly refreshing that photographer Rachel Sussman embraces the beauty of things found in our global landscape that are venturing on an ancient, or should I say "wizened," state.

For years now, she has traveled all over the world, working closely with biologists to identify the oldest living organisms known to mankind -- and by that, I mean those that are a minimum of 2,000 years old and up.

Sponsored by the Brooklyn Arts Council, Sussman is now attempting to raise funds for an expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula where she can immortalize 5,000-year-old moss on film -- hey, don't chuckle to yourself...to each his own!

Take a look at some of her photographs and maybe you, too, will recognize the beauty of living entities that existed long before we were a twinkle in our parents' eyes.

This Jomon sugi japanese cedar (above) is an astounding 7,000 years old, but doesn't look a day over 6,000.

This curious looking Chilean mound -- a long term resident of the Atacama Desert -- is believed to be up to 3,000 years old.

In comparison, this Patagonian Cypress (also hailing from Chile) is a spring chicken at 2,200 years of age -- isn't it mind-blowing that trees can be in their mid-TWO THOUSANDS???

This sunland baobab from South Africa's Limpopo Province is a solid 2,000 years old...the youngest pup in the collection.

Do you think this is an admirable pursuit or would you rather gaze at sassy little saplings instead?