Desolate
by Steve Levinson

Steve's inspiring images of expressive details from some of Yellowstone's beautiful and intricate designs are superb and breathtaking. With a true artist's eye, he has isolated and captured spectacular formations that are rich in both detail and an impressive range of saturated colors and imaginative shapes and patterns. I would love to comment further on each of these lovely prints, but I chose Desolate instead, because it is equally enthralling as the others, with the added interest that it has a story to tell on a larger stage. Certainly, nature is for reverence, and this image has both a magical and mysterious presence, as though time has stopped, and this is how we would like to experience the scene forever. Beauty, life and death are all expressed eloquently and poignantly. The vertical format is a visionary touch, and in the print, the viewer is aware of a dramatic backdrop of an impressive mountain panorama, visible under majestic, dark cloud formations. Under this canopy, there is a delicate strata of sugar-coated balconies and fluted terraces of travertine rock, that stretches out sublimely over the landscape. As this sea of limestone formations moves towards the foreground, the observed pastel color hues slowly change to browns and grays, whilst the myriad of cracks, fissures and formations become outlined with geyserite. The resulting surface pattern structures are evidence that the living organisms, algae and bacteria have been killed off, leaving intricate eco-skeletons, which are devoid of the lovely colors of the primary terraces. Further evidence of nature's ever-present destructive forces, is seen in the powerful presence of a lone tree, which although not very large in size, it seems to tower over the whole landscape. Long ago, it was probably an elegant juniper tree, but the water and prolonged acid burn slowly killed it off. Although its foliage is no longer present its elegant multi-trunked shape proudly remains. This is no historical skeleton, for this tree is the epitome of grace and beauty, and its trunks and branches imposingly display an artistic icon for everyone to admire, in realization that life and death are inexorably linked in this vast area renowned for its volcanic and hydrothermal features.

Horseshoe Bend
by Frank Liberti

In this outstanding exhibition, The American Southwest, it is so gratifying and exciting to have a superb panel of B/W prints. Ansel himself would have been delighted to have had the chance to view these outstanding images, which were not just captured by Frank, but they were interpreted to create works of art. I was particularly impressed with Horseshoe Bend, certainly one of Arizona's scenic highlights that the author has creatively recorded, resulting in a breathtaking panorama of unsurpassed radiance and majesty. Technically, this print is masterful. The incredible depth of field reveals both sharpness and superb highlight and shadow detail, along with excellent definition and outstanding contrast qualities. There is also an extensive tonal range of grays from the very lightest to the darkest zones, supporting whites and blacks that still contain some subject detail. The overall landscape is spectacular, and it leaves the viewer in awe and wonderment as to how nature has carved out this scenic jewel, and in equal amazement as to how the artist captured the scene so amazingly and with such eloquence and skill. Frank is to be further congratulated for choosing an inspired camera position, where the compelling foreground anchors and directs the leading lines that take the observer's eyes around the canyon walls in a deliberate circular motion. This allows time to admire the intricate details and formation of the sedimentary rock cliffs, before traversing around the peaceful and serene oxbow lake, whilst admiring the intricacies of the massive center rock structure. Furthermore, the artist has positioned the camera so that the central rock feature is off center, so that one can easily go to the top to view the impressive panorama beyond, the whole landscape being held in under a captivating thin layer formation of dark clouds at the very top. Many congratulations for a terrific image, wonderfully seen, photographed and presented.

Peppermint Rock
by Gary Thompson

Gary has imaginatively and artistically captured an impressive image of a well-known rock formation, resulting in a print that has both power and majesty as well as a delicacy and beauty that is breathtaking. By choosing an inspired camera position, even in fading light, the author has created an outstanding picture that fully displays the grandeur and nobility of nature's design. The lovely warm color palette is highlighted by the sumptuous swathes of reddish-brown ochres, which are separated by bands of lighter sandstone hues, creating a memorable pattern that boldly reflects the rock's assigned name. Following these colorful swirls the viewer is transported gracefully to the large nose-like peak, which strikingly looks out onto the impressive landscape beyond. In the distance, there is a series of large sandstone formations, beautifully situated under a pale blue sky that encloses a few indistinctive clouds.

In between, the massive Peppermint Rock dominates an arid desert-like valley floor, replete with hardy shrub-like bushes which add a welcomed splash of green color to the overall scene. The more that I admire this uplifting image, the more that I am aware that this was once part of land that was the domain of Native Americans, land that was put there by the Great Spirit, and that it will last forever as long as there is sun and water to nurture both men and animals. With this thought in mind I truly believe that there is a sacredness here that the land is alive, and that these people are forever with the land that is so precious to them. That is why I envisage in this print a Native American woman, towering over the landscape, her brightly colored shawl effortlessly spread out, in order to shelter and protect the cherished land beneath from the ravages of time. It is also pertinent to mention that the viewer is only seeing this landscape as a momentary glimpse in the long stretch of geological time, but what a scene it is, and how fortunate we are to have Gary capture this exquisite image for every observer to admire and marvel at.

Road to the Mittens
by Phyllis Thompson

This popular scenic attraction has been inspiringly captured by the artist, resulting in a visionary panoramic print of unsurpassed wonderment. In order to achieve this outstanding result, there must have been extensive communications between self and the environment in order to see the subject matter in a special way as transcending the ordinary. This is a lyrical landscape where the author is fully at one with nature. With careful planning, Phyllis carefully positioned the camera extremely close to the massive rock in the left foreground in order to get a remarkable and unrivalled image of both the foreground and the vast valley beyond. The extensive depth of field used reveals striations and curved lines in the large sandstone rock in intimate detail, as well as revealing textures that play off against one another for a compelling visual treat. What is so magical is that the viewer can easily follow these leading lines and crevices all the way to, and along the unpaved curving road right across the valley floor to the picturesque formations in the distance.

This whole area is sacred to the Navaho Indians, and is known by them as The Land of Standing Rocks, a land to be protected forever, and one that certainly has a fascination and beauty that is awe-inspiring. The ambient illumination is resplendent, creating a wide splash of warm, saturated colors on the rocks and valley floor, all the way to the pastel hues of the light blue sky and fleeting cloud formations. The lovely lighting reveals all of the detail and textures of the foreground sandstone rock, even highlighting the effects of wind erosion on the exposed surface. An important element in this image is the vertical rock on the right-hand side, which is in complete shade and not only frames the picture to perfection; its shape mirrors that of the two prominent formations in the valley. Finally, with so many leading lines to the twin towers, it is interesting that the dotted formations of small shrubs also follow the contours of the winding road, creating an amazing unified vista that is visionary, powerful and truly inspiring.

Three Sisters #1 and #2
by Michelle Turner

I grouped these two dynamic images together to comment further on, because they have such high visual impact, and they illustrate a revered historic and important way of life in "The American Southwest," one that sadly may die out in the face of advanced technology. In both prints, the Three Sisters occupy an important place in the dramatic landscape in the background, powerful structures beautifully photographed against impressive cloud formations. Although the backdrops in both prints are captivating and superbly set the location and habitat, it is the foregrounds in both images that demands most of our attention, and I will devote most of this revue to these inspiring elements. In print #2 the two horses, probably after a long, hard days work share a precious moment of warmth and affection, probably oblivious to the three monarchs in the background or to the ranch structure that separates them. This is a heartfelt and poignant greeting, and just maybe, the left ear of the speckled white horse is uplifted vertically to salute the edifices beyond. It is important to note that the two dominant foreground horses exhibit soft curves and gentle lines in comparison to the three vertical background rocks. In print #1, the viewer is treated to a creative and remarkable print that has been beautifully seen, composed and taken by Michelle. Once again there is an entrancing relationship between a series of two similar elements in the foreground with the "Three Sisters." The magnificent leather saddle with all of its essential components has been beautifully displayed across the top rail of a fence, the rail and the one below it being set on the diagonal, which adds a powerful and dynamic feature in the frame. Everything about the saddle speaks of hard work and countless hours on the backs of the horses seen in the second print, but they also strongly relate to a consummate love of the land, the type of labor involved, and above all, a dedicated pride for the cowboy who has the honor to own and use this impressive saddle. Both of these prints speak volumes about the way of life and the history that ranching has given to this area, made all the more significant by the impressive natural background. These are exquisite images that tell an important story, one that we hope will live on for many generations into the future.