One of the most unforgettable spiritual awakenings etched in memory happened in 1998. Coalescing upon walking to the edge of the South Rim at Grand Canyon Village and seeing the view below for the first time. The confirmation of my existence in the universe was completed. Up to that point, I off-handedly viewed existence as a virtual possibility. Generally speaking, I believe that being there, seeing a view of nature on this scale is bound to have many people wonder about their place in the world—or universe.
This two-dimensional representation does not do justice to the three-dimensional actuality. Depending on where you are in the park, the opposite rim (South/North) can be anywhere up to 18 miles/29.9 kilometers away.
On a return trip years later, I arrived a few hours before sunset (below). The dramatic relationship of scale—humanity in nature makes crystal clear that we are figuratively big in mind.
If you enjoy looking over the edge of a cliff, you’re welcome to it! Another reminder of the scale of humanity in nature (below).
This day, I woke before sunrise to capture this silhouette view (above). Positioned on Mather Point lookout with many others (below).
Whether photographed in black & white or color, the landscape remains awe-inspiring. The waterway below is the Colorado River.
When photographing landscapes, I rarely anticipate when a place will look “it's best.” Also, not one to plan out a search for the calendar-type pretty picture—a little snow, amazing storm clouds and voila! That’s not the way I visually approach the genre. I observe what’s in front of me at the time and allow the view to tell its own story. All the creeks, cracks and crevices that make it what it is.
What is the value of looking at rocks, some might wonder. The same values—if not more than watching a movie, television/streaming, or reading books. Being out there is the living part. As we go about living day-in day-out, it can be easy to forget that we live on a planet.
Grand Canyon Vibes contains just a few of the many photographs I’ve not been able to share in a visual story format with a wide audience until now. I hope it offers you some joy and positive vibes.
As always, I thank you for reading this newsletter through.
Til next time…
Kenneth