My approach to the landscape of America’s West is intentionally intimate and personal, characterized by serenity and quiet moments. I want my viewers to feel as though they are discovering these places for themselves, experiencing the effect of the sublime, and connecting with the earth in a new way. Among the beauty and light, these images portrays an ever-present sense of brooding darkness, of mystery and even melancholy. It They lend themselves to the idea that while the value of being able to explore a location such as this is inherently clear, the reality is that their future is not. Underfunding and the threat of pollution is rapidly encroaching upon these scenes and others, a fact that begs the question of whether these natural wonders will continue to exist as seen and why it’s important to protect them through conservation efforts.
The United States has one of the most impressive and expansive national park systems in the world. Its creation and existence is woven into the country's cultural fabric and is representative of an appreciation for the natural world and the lands that sustain us. In an age where my generation faces extraordinary pressure to protect our natural resources like never before, I’ve developed a strong interest to explore these natural treasures in the western United States.
While the origin of my desire to document these parks lay firmly rooted in some of the national park system’s most epic formations and expansive vistas, my approach to the landscape is intentionally intimate and personal, characterized by low vantage points, narrow compositions and quiet moments. I chose this approach because I wanted viewers to feel that they are discovering these lands for themselves, experiencing the effect of the sublime.
Among the beauty and light, there is also an ever-present sense of brooding darkness. While mysterious and at times even melancholy the series lends itself to the idea that while the value of these parks is inherently clear, their future is not. Underfunding and the threat of pollution is rapidly encroaching upon many of these landscapes, a fact that begs the question of whether these areas will continue to exist as seen and why its important to protect them.