Attempting to Rate the Beauty of the American Landscape
The Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon Afterglow by Richard Lewis 2015
New England
View Towards Mt. Monadnock by Richard Lewis 2015
In the last couple of weeks we were on a whirlwind tour, first in Arizona and then in New England. As a photographer, I am often perplexed, awed, inspired and completely overwhelmed at the diversity of our American landscape.
During our travels, I got to stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon at sunset and thought how good it would be to live nearby and be able to photograph this area on a regular basis. A week later, we were in New England as the Fall colors of the trees were at their best and thought, how can I ever leave this?
Where would you like to be?
A note on photography and patience. When we arrived at this viewpoint of the Grand Canyon, there were a few other photographers there. We all watched and shot a mediocre sunset and then they left. To really photograph the landscape at its best, an understanding of the natural forces in the landscape is critical. I saw that the conditions were right for an afterglow. This happens after the sun goes down and reflects up through the clouds causing a soft light that literally makes the landscape glow. I like to call it Sunset II. When the above scene happened, which was far more beautiful than the actual sunset, I was the only photographer there to capture it.
I live in Arizona, but I spent over twenty years on the east coast. The landscape here in Arizona enchants me, but I wouldn’t mind being somewhere cooler in the summer! It’s also been a long time since I’ve seen the fall colors in person; I do miss that.
It is a perplexing thing to pick a place to live when you’ve been around the country. I agree with you that the landscape in Arizona is big, diverse and enchanting. However, having spent most of my life in the Northeast, the lush forests and the fall colors in those forests are enchanting in their own way.
Both photographs are beautiful. The after glow is stunning, isn’t it? I think it’s a wonderful gift and luxury to live somewhere breathtaking and have the means to travel to other inspiring locations. When we left Argyll two years ago to move to America, I knew as I drove through the glen, past the lochs, through the mountain pass, that I would likely never live somewhere that beautiful again. I am, however, enjoying exploring America from my new home base.
Thanks Laura. Afterglow is quite a magical thing and I always cherish when I get to see it. Kind of like a Rainbow. We may be getting to see those lochs and glens of your native land next year as we are looking at Scotland very seriously. You come from a beautiful place.
Ooooh! I do hope you make it to Scotland. Yes I’m biased but it really is a wonderful country rich in history, culture and scenery. If you go, I look forward to seeing whether you visit some of my favourite places and, of course, to the photos you take. Afterglow is, incidentally, something I’ve only ever seen in Scotland so far. Maybe you will capture it on camera there too. I’ve seen the aurora borealis a few times from the north and west of Scotland too. It’s quite odd to have witnessed the northern lights from one’s own garden. I’m withering now so in summary: yes! Go to Scotland!
I love the Grand Canyon, every changing a million photographs a mintute, I’d love to get to the north Rim.
The Grand Canyon is an ever changing place. We only went there for one quick visit because we plan to go back and spend more time at the north rim. Far less crowded and better scenery too.
New England for me; but I agree entirely about the Grand Canyon and the afterglow.
Thanks Derrick. I tend to favor both places but experiencing them within a week of each other makes it even more confusing as to which one I like the best. Both have their strengths and very few weaknesses.
Both are very beautiful… partly due to nature and partly due to your awesome photography skills. We see a lot of after glow here in the mountains… you were smart to stay! If I had to pick where to live it woul be near the Grand Canyon… It rains a lot in New England… even more than NJ.
Thanks Denise. I really appreciate a compliment from a photographer whose mad skills I respect greatly. It was an unusual trip for us to go to 2 such diverse places, but I’m glad we did because it really gave a perspective on our great American landscape. By the way, I’m working on a new post called “Aspens vs. Birches”
Monument Valley.
That is a place that is on our list.
These pictures are so beautiful and looks 3D. Do other people tell you that also?
Sent from Ina’s iPad. Desire sets our compass, real life steers our course.
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I think my favorite place I ever photographed was Bodie State Park, an old mining town way up high in the Sierras, just east of Yosemite in California. It’s billed as “the best preserved ghost town in the West”. Got there as it opened to avoid the crowds, caught my first glimpse of the place, and turned to tell my not-yet-wife that she had to pull me out of there after two hours. If she hadn’t, I’d still be there 5 1/2 years later, taking picture after picture, the most sleep deprived person that you ever saw.
I loved the Grand Canyon, but I hated taking pictures there. I wasn’t happy with any of my shots, even if they looked good, I felt they paled in comparison to the, for lack of a better word, grandeur of the place.