Land and Sky  
  The land and sky images in this section could well have been placed in other areas of the site, but somehow they seem to work together. They portray a connection to these two opposite yet balanced areas. In many of these images I have chosen to remove the damage man has brought to these beautiful scenes. Graffiti on rocks in national monuments, and trash in the most remote places, are just a few of the offenses I have found while taking these images.

I have chosen to preserve these places as images as we often cannot see them as they were anymore. We have run them over with signs, roads, fences, buildings and power or phone lines. I would hope that we will strive to find more ways to preserve our natural planet's beauty without doing more damage or harm.

I believe and love technology and do not fear it for its own sake. I am concerned, however, that we may begin to travel from here in the future, not just for the sake of exploration, but because we have destroyed our own wonderful home. We can explore and still have a beautiful place to come home to if we respect and take care of our inheritance.

 

  
     
     
Photograph

Golden Valor
Highway 395, Eastern Sierras, California
Strong, sometimes alone, graceful and vallant, often what we like to think our nation represents, this massive old oak off Highway 395 in the Owens River Valley seems to embody all that is good about who we are. Against all odds, harsh weather and even drought, this amazing tree stands the test of time. I’m hopeful our nation can see its way to doing the same. Having photographed this tree numerous times throught the year, this image, with its blue sky and golden field, mountain range climbing upwards is filled with metaphore.

  
     
   
  Fern Canyon
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California
After a short hike from the beach parking lot, the trek into Fern Canyon is cool and inspiring. The walls are a lush green, the tresses over the canyon filter the sun as water trickles down the plant leaves and canyon walls. As we walk up to the canyon we know that nature controls this wonderful place now that the Park service protects and preserves it for us.		  
     
   
  Island Sentinels
Haystack Rock, Canon Beach, Oregon
Coastal erosion is a fact of life, but many of us forget that tides and waves have a significant effect on our shores, as it often happens over long periods of time. These pillars at Cannon Beach in Oregon were no doubt once a part of the land mass that has been all but washed away by the forces of nature and time. It is now one of the great walking beaches on the West Coast, so much so, that it is lined with homes. Local residents vounteer to interpret and protect the rock during low tides for visitors during summer. The width of the beach at low tide is so vast, that you can walk to the largest of these remaining potrusions, Haystack Rock, to clearly see the hundreds of Tufted Puffins, Gulls and Cormorants perched on its rocky surface. Nature is still working on them, evident from the sea tunnel within Haystack		  
     
   
  Powell Storm
Lake Powell, Utah
Much controversy surrounds this amazing area, from the forceable movement of Navajo to this desert land, to the construction of the massive Glen Canyon Damn at Page, Arizona. With this lake, with more shoreline than the entire continental United States, one thing is certain, it is a place of much beauty and use by the white man that may not have occurred without the creation of the Glen Canyon Dam.		  
     
   
 

The Pinnacle
Near Monument Valley, Arizona
There is no cold fear that follows or finds you, you are the embodiment of strength reaching to the sky from a silence deep and white. You are at the top of the world where an azure sky fills you with hope and optimism.


Driving out of the fog from Monument Valley we drove over a rise, cautiously avoiding small patches of black ice covering the road I glanced into my side view mirror and show this view. To this day, Marsha says I reacted as excitedly as she has ever seen, as I pulled our Jeep over and grabbed my Mamiya 6x7 to run across to the best vantage point to capture this image. It’s one of my favoite I’ve ever taken. Church Rock is a part of the 32,000 square mile Navajo volcanic field in the four-corners area. These majestic outcroppings are in fact plugs or necks of fomer volcanos who’s surrounding land surface has been eroded away over millions of years.

  
     
   
 

Valley of the Gods
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Navajo Nation
Beautiful snow from the heavens above, pure as an angel, peaceful as a dove. Thank nature for the beauty that instills us with wonder and the tranquility that fills us with peace.


At first I was disappointed by the days of cold cloudy weather that would restrict my access to the rest of the park, and then by the grafiti etched into the rocks in the forground by foolish vandals. Well, we’re here, came all this way, why not give it a try. The 6x7 image with a warming horizon filter seemed to bring the whole experience together as I’ve never seen this place expressed before. Someday I’ll venture back here some August day and caputre the floating white clouds against the turquise sky as the warm light of sunset glows on the East and West Mitten Buttes. An image taken by many a traveler and tourist.

  
     
   
 

Plains Drifters
Buffalo Field, Wyoming
Less than 100 years ago in North America, buffalo roamed freely about the West. After becoming all but extinct as a result of being hunted, in the past 20 years ranchers have found that reviving the species for food to supply a growing population interested in less fatty red meat makes financial sense. The buffalo is slowly coming back to its habitat. This image reminds me that there was another time for this peaceful creature, who’s burdens now seem to always will be perpetually drifting uphill.

 
     
   
 

Montana Cabin Dream
Boseman, Montana
Even such quite towns as Boseman, Montanta are growing and beginning to spread out from their humble beginings. This one cabin, as alone as it appears, is only 5 miles out of town, in one of many subdivisions. Each of us wants our own little bit of paradise, and as we search for that ideal, we find others looking for theirs as well. This one doesn’t show you the 25 or more homes removed from the original photo, but the buffalo raised on the ranch next door remained in the final image.

 
     
   
 

Yellowstone River in Fall
Southern part of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The shrub oak this particular fall season was the most vivd red I’ve ever seen follwing the Yellowstone River as it winds its way south from the park. This is perhaps my favorite image taken in the park on this trip just as much for the image itself but also for the memory of such a perfect moment of light and clarity.

  
     
   
 

Sky Heaven
What dream does the world hold that can lure me from society's mold. As clear winds and clouds fill both space and time, I want to live each day as mine, looking to the heavens but with my feet planted firmly on earth.

 
     
   
 

10th at Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach, California
For the golfer who has played or dreamed of playing the fabled Pebble Beach.