For those who’ve followed my work over the last year, you can probably guess that I’m filled with anticipation as to what tomorrow will bring.  It’s a certainty that I’ll be out before first light somewhere in Zion National Park.  Temperatures will be in the low 30’s, the valleys and towering sandstone cliffs will be shrouded in low lying clouds and fog.  Inevitably the storm will begin to break around mid-morning, the highest elevations and peaks of Zion will have a fresh coat of snow, each revealing itself in countless iterations as the sun warms the earth and the clouds begin to break.  The stillness, sights and smells of the high desert in moments like these are among the very best.

Eye of the Beholder

In anticipation of tomorrow, I’m reminded of what has been and how fortunate I was in 2023.  Did everything go as I would have liked?  A resounding no! Did I recognize and take advantage of all of the opportunities that presented themselves? Unfortunately, I did not.  However, I was left with some amazing new experiences, new friendships, strengthened existing relationships, and opportunities to learn and grow both personally and as a landscape/nature photographer.

Photographically my images have become more thoughtfully composed, increasingly simpler with nuances and meaning that the casual observer is likely to completely overlook.  That’s ok however because they mean a great deal more to me personally now than what they ever did and that in itself is enough.  There were many moments standing behind my camera that left lasting memories.  Some of the most notable experiences of the year include first visits to Maui, White Sands National Park, and Canyon de Chelly.  A wonderfully wet winter in the high desert that left snow covered red rock canyons, valleys, and mountain tops.  In the aftermath, Spring brought an exceedingly rare showing of waterfalls and a profusion of high desert blooms of all sorts. Shorter periods of time in Teton National Park and Eastern Idaho provided fascinating views of the Teton Range.  I made my annual trip to central Montana, a swing up to the Beartooth Pass and invested a significant amount of time preparing for my solo exhibit in Bozeman.  July brought a special trip to see an Ansel Adams exhibit in San Francisco and shoot at Point Reyes National Seashore which was absolutely fantastic.  Autumn proved to be somewhat frustrating photographically, but the saving grace was a trip to Western Montana and up to Glacier National Park where I finally managed to witness the vibrant yellows of the Larch trees in Autumn.  Finally, the year was capped off with a series of Georgia O’Keeffe inspired images from the badlands of Southern Utah and a equally satisfying trip to Death Valley National Park to witness and capture its unique beauty and to have a look at the temporary Lake Manly created by the autumn floods.

Signs of Life In hindsight a wonderful year.  So, in the end what came of all of it?  Deeper more meaningful experiences and relationships with people and places that I love.  I learned a lot during my photography exhibit, created two new landscape photography books that I’m deeply satisfied with, secured new gallery representation in Southern Utah at Gallery 873 and an opportunity to carry all of it forward into 2024!

Best wishes to you in the new year!

Oasis

The exhibit challenges viewers to think differently about art.  Suggesting that landscape/nature  photography is as much of an art form as any other artistic pursuit.  Each of the 12 images I carefully selected have elements that I consider my most thoughtfully created photographs.  Each carries significant meaning to me in some way, contains an underlying message, and is a representation of how grateful I am to be able to create and share my photographs.  If just a handful of viewers walk away with a greater appreciation of landscape photography as an art form then I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to achieve with the exhibit.

Autumn is my favorite time of year and I look forward to creating more images, spending some time with family and friends, as well as getting back on the river to get some fly fishing in at some of the places I enjoy the most.  Happy autumn and until next time, I hope you get out there and enjoy some of it yourself!

My Season

Hillsides covered in wildflowers, snow capped mountains, beautiful early summer thunderstorms leaving in their wake valleys full of fog and low lying clouds, vibrantly emerging grain fields creating patchworks of interesting colors, shapes and textures….all the ingredients for potential images.  Despite the abundance of an unusually wet May and June and all that it’s offered, I’ve drawn a significant blank photographically.  My annual trip to central Montana, shut out.  A couple of days on the Beartooth Pass, nothing.  Multiple drives to my favorite locations much closer to home, no go.  Despite the lack of images to show for the effort and a certain degree of frustration that’s come with it, the last 6 weeks have reinforced that it’s ultimately not about the images themselves.  I’ve experienced the places that I’ve come to love in different ways and in different conditions.  I’ve taken the time to see new places that have always peaked my curiosity but I’ve never gone to before.  These things in and of themselves have turned out to be rewarding in their own right.  To be certain, I’ll continue to put myself out there looking for new experiences with the confidence that the images will come in due time.  Ironically, the one image that I’ve created was literally made from the back deck of my house…which is just fine by me!

A Pretty Picture

I was fortunate to be able to point my camera at some of what nature provided. With some success, I came away with what I believe are some of my most compelling and artistic images to date.  With that came other opportunities. Including representation at a local gallery, new acquaintances and plenty of artistic inspiration along the way.  All of which I’m thankful for.

Signs of Life Monetizing my creative pursuits in Utah more formally however has raised important questions.  Questions about motivations and why I choose to spend my time on photography the way I do.  Ultimately it comes down to having a creative outlet that keeps my mind and body active.  That presents problems and forces new and unique solutions.  It puts me in places at moments where sometimes the beauty of what I’m witnessing cannot adequately be explained or described with words. It also offers personal challenges from navigating a mud choked dirt road miles from the closest help to confronting the silence (and sometimes painful loneliness) of the deserts.  If the images I create adequately convey these concepts and tell these and other stories I consider them a success and I feel a deep sense of accomplishment.  In the event they come alive to someone else (beyond a cursory, “oh that’s a pretty picture”) or they resonate in some way that’s entirely different than the intended purpose then that’s a bonus.  To think that someone would see the beauty of an image, appreciate it enough to part with a sum of money I suppose is quite rewarding in and of itself.  In the final analysis however, it has very little to do with the importance of photography to me personally.

So as I digest what I’ve taken from my time this season in the high deserts I point myself north.  To new experiences, opportunities, immersions in nature and spending time with the people and places that I love.  See you soon Montana!

Despite taking a camera body and a couple of lenses, this however was not a serious photography trip.  We saw some extraordinarily beautiful places that were off the beaten track and well away from the tourist traps that drive me absolutely crazy.  From a photography perspective, when I stopped to take the time to photograph a subject it was decidedly not of the obligatory beach scene with the fiery sunset...far from it.  Yes, Maui beach scenes at sunset are worthy of the experience, for me though it's just better to watch and take it all in.  My eye seemed to be attracted to the smaller details.  A beautifully curved palm, contours left in the sand as the water washed over a beach and retreated, the colorful rainbow eucalyptus trees of the tropical rainforest.

My favorite experience was an overnight trip to Hana on the Hana Highway.  We stopped along the way at small beaches, arboretums, quaint villages, tropical rain forests, and tasty food trucks.  The highlight was a morning spent at Waianapanapa State Park.  A gorgeous park with a small black sand beach set again a rugged coastline of lava and palm trees.  Of course, there was a fantastic trail that wound through the lava overlooking the ocean that was just too beautiful to resist.  The day we were there the surf was extremely high and we experienced huge waves crashing against the lava and blow holes that dramatically shot the surf up in some cases 50 to 70 feet.  I could have sat there for hours and just watched...the photographic possibilities were so seductive!

Back to reality as I sit in my living room watching a light snow fall on the redrock that surrounds me.  An unusually wet winter in the high deserts of Southern Utah persists.  More snow and cold coming which offers up its own photographic possibilities.  Mahalo!

The Ancient

This image sat for two and a half years in my catalog largely forgotten.  It’s a Bristlecone Pine and this species (Great Basin BCP) are among the oldest living trees in the world, some estimates suggest that they’ve survived 4,800 years. Only found at specific altitudes and regions they are quite extraordinary given their proclivity to survive in harsh conditions and in poor soil.

I love the gnarled shape, weathering, and structure of the tree.  I used an infrared camera to make the image which picks up infrared light bouncing off any of the vegetation on the tree.  If you look closely the pine needles are rendered white when the infrared file is converted to black and white.  A treatment that I felt correctly added drama to the image and helps tell the story of survival albeit tenuous.

TToV (Temples and Towers of the Virgin, Zion NP)

Certainly not a secret to anyone who’s been to Zion.  This area is one of the first and most iconic scenes you see after entering Zion.  I’m constantly trying to create images that are unique and this one was no exception.  The image was made at the end of 2019.  I’d been watching one of only a couple of storms that moved through southern Utah that winter.    I had scouted this vantage point which required a hike and scramble around one of Zions soaring red rock cliffs on the opposite side of the valley.  I arrived before sunrise and made the hike in the dark on a snow covered trail.  After getting off trail a couple of times having lost my way, I finally made it to my spot.  I set up and watched as the fully enveloped mountain range would successively emerge and then get consumed by the low storm clouds that had set into the valley overnight.  As the storm broke later in the morning, I’d have these intriguing glimpses of the Towers.

This image again sat in my catalog largely unnoticed for about two years before I noticed it.  The snow covered mountains and dramatic clouds are really what makes this image sing and it was by accident in doing some post processing of the image file did I realize that I might have something.  This image turned out to be one that I’m most proud of and hangs in my house in southern UT.

I’ve been at this seriously for almost 10 years.  It’s only in the last four years that I’ve been making images that I really feel represent what I’d like to express in my photography.  In that time I’ve averaged about 15,000 images per year. Perhaps that’s a bit excessive but I’m getting better at focusing my efforts and being more thoughtful with my compositions.  Maybe even a bit more confident and creative that will result in fewer images. Either way, for now I’m sure I still have one or two in my archives waiting to be discovered!  Until next time - so long!

First, after completing a 3rd photography book in December (A 2022 Retrospective), I’ve begun a new book focusing on images of the high deserts of Southern Utah and beyond.  My first for S. UT so I’m really excited and so far pleased with the design, layout and initial image selections.  There will be limited text but I’m considering inserting some quotes from some of my favorite artists, photographers, etc. to serve as section breaks.  I also have another book concept that I’m going to start in spring and pair up with my solo exhibit in September 2023 in Bozeman, MT.  Playing with themes but I really want to focus on photography as an art form.  Title of the book and exhibit might be something like, “More Than a Pretty Picture”.  This one would have a bit more text including an introduction, foreword and potentially some text at the start of each section. Plenty to think through on this one.  I love the creative side to the book making process!

Artist Residencies.  I’m in the process of submitting applications for two opportunities in Montana later this year.  First, I’m most excited about an opportunity for a two week residency at the American Prairie Reserve.  Offered by Western Montana Creative Initiative who’s goals is to strengthen the creative capacity of (greater) Western Montana and foster dialogue and experiences that are culturally vibrant, healthy, and intellectually vigorous. A two week commitment in October on the Preserve.  Such an amazing and inspiring place!  A place that I’ve always wanted to spend time getting to know the rhythms of the prairie and the intimate corners that offer so much beauty that go largely unnoticed.  I can’t help but think my late mother Virginia is watching over me on this one given that it’s the region in MT she grew up in.  The other opportunity I’m working through is offered by the College of Humanities at the University of Utah in the Centennial Valley of Montana.  This is also big beautiful country.  Located in southwest Montana, it would be such a delight!

Finally, I’m very pleased with the new gallery relationship I’ve established with Cherie Stoddard at Gallery 873 in the Kayenta Arts Village in Ivins, UT (my home in S UT)! Cherie has a wonderful gallery and is very supportive of all forms of art including photography.  Looking forward to sharing some of my work publicly and becoming part of the thriving arts community literally in my own back yard!

Until next time…

I rarely go into these conditions having any preconceived notions about what I want to capture.  The vast majority of the images that I create are opportunistic, spontaneous, and reflect some feeling or emotion I was experiencing at the time.

Blessing in Disguise

Increasingly my compositions have narrowed and have become more reflective of feelings I had at the time.  Here's to another storm...preferably before the new year!

On to WhovilleUntracked washes in Zion after a good snowstorm always leaves interesting landscapes. Experiencing these quiet times and translating them into something thats personally meaningful is often the goal.