Pictures of the Year 2007
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It seems that 2007 was my year to be seduced by clouds. In my travels along US Route 89 I kept finding myself under cloudy skies. I've always loved clouds but have had a hard time integrating them into photographs of the landscape, so that became my challenge for this year. Here is a collection of my favorite photographs with short descriptions of where and why they were made.
On our first trip to Glacier National Park in late August, we camped at Two Medicine Lake on the east side of the park. Looming over the lake is Rising Wolf Mountain. I got up early every morning to shoot at first light and on this particular morning, Rising Wolf was shrouded in clouds. As the sun rose higher, the clouds thinned and swirled around offering glimpses of the peak above. I felt like I was being teased and taunted as the warm rock face floated dreamlike above the cool pines on the lower slope of the mountain.
The next morning at Two Medicine the sun rose into an almost cloudless sky. The scene was perfect for my panoramic camera. The wide angle view captured Sinopah Mountain and its reflection in the nearly smooth water. The towering mass of Rising Wolf Mountain on the right is suggested but not seen.
I have begun to experiment with digital panoramic images composed from multiple frames stitched together. The photograph of Grinnell Point and Swiftcurrent Lake at sunrise was created from nine overlapping vertical frames combined in Photoshop CS3 using the much improved PhotoMerge tool. The angle of view is appropriately 180� and the perspective embraces the viewer in the scene. This photo is the only one originally shot with a digital camera. The rest were all captured on medium-format film.
As we drove south to on highway 89 to Yellowstone National Park, the weather became increasingly stormy. Many of my Yellowstone photos are dark and almost sinister with heavy cloud cover and steaming geysers. It felt like how the Earth must have looked during the formation of continents billions of years ago. My favorite photograph is this view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Inspiration Point. Clouds played a subtle role in this photograph by creating areas of light and shadow that bring out the form and texture of the canyon.
Late summer storms are a feature of the Colorado Plateau that I have always enjoyed. The day we headed for Bryce Canyon National Park started out almost clear and sunny. As we drove up Utah Route 12 from US 89, the storm seemed to chase us moving slowly toward Bryce. This photograph was made looking north from Rainbow Point. Rain can be seen on the horizon as cloud shadows dance across the foreground.
We've driven through Cameron, Arizona, on the Navajo Reservation north of Flagstaff many times. The trading post is a good place to stop for lunch and to browse through the store for Indian arts and crafts. We were on the last day of our journey down US Route 89 and Barbara suggested that we spend the night at the inn. What a great suggestion. From the balcony of our room we watched the sunset on the canyon of the Little Colorado River. The next morning, I made this photograph at sunrise with the light skipping across the river bottom and setting the cliffs on fire. The clouds added a dynamic element juxtaposed against the rocks.
The last two photographs in the collection were made in the late spring at Saguaro National Park. I had gone there to shoot the saguaro cactus in bloom but found myself under the most magnificent cloudy sky. I stopped at this viewpoint on the Cactus Forest Drive to photograph the Sonoran Desert and the Rincon Mountains. The highlights and shadows from the clouds created a composition that leads the viewer into the scene and conveys the enormity of the space.
The second photo from Saguaro is a more intimate view with the cactus and rocks warmed by the light of the setting sun. Here you can feel the rugged, almost inhospitable texture often encountered in the desert.
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US Route 89 Fine Art Prints
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The eight photographs above are available as fine art photographic prints. These prints are a Limited Edition of 50 in
all sizes plus five artist's proofs. The prints may be ordered individually through the gallery on Panoramic Nature Photography.
Fine art photography collectors can also subscribe in advance to build a portfolio
over the three year duration of the project. For details about
subscribing, download An Invitation to Fine Art Collectors in pdf format. |
Support the "Slow Road" Movement:
Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society
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 You love driving the two-lane highways that keep you close to the edge of the road so you can see the land at a leisurely pace. You think nothing of stopping along the way to admire the view and smell the fresh air. You seek out unique places to eat where the special of the day depends on what's in season at the nearby farm. You already appreciate the opportunities offered by a journey on US Route 89.
You are not alone in your passion for a trip on a "slow road." There are many others like you. Together we can spread the word of the joys of leisurely travel. Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society and you'll receive an official membership certificate and button to attest to your belief in the "slow road" movement.
General Membership: $5
Benefits:
� Membership Certificate
� Membership Badge
� Email Newsletter
� Invitations to all project events
Download the Membership Brochure in pdf format |
