Southern Utah Portfolios?

Southern Utah Portfolios?

I'm just back from my 10 days of photographing in the canyon country in southern Utah. It was my first trip to the area. I have to confess, I've specifically avoided this region because — for reasons I now question — I've always felt it was one of those places that was incredibly over photographed to the point of becoming a compulsory landscape cliché. Being the curmudgeon I am, I tend to avoid the conventional whenever possible. But, at last, I relented and spent the last 10 days photographing in Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase Escalante, and the surrounding area. To say I "scratched the surface" would be saying too much. This area is mind-warpingly full of potential — particularly if you have a 4-wheel drive, which we didn't. On our return, we drove through Zion and I made a few images there, too. Southern Utah has so much to see and so much to do that I now kick myself for having waited so long to visit there.

In fact, I may have been entirely wrong about this area my entire life. For some reason, I've always associated these spectacular desert landscapes with crowds of West Coast school photographers — a mythical army I found myself last week struggling to identify. All week long I was searching my brain for the photographer of the canyons — to no avail. I kept thinking there had to be a photographer who is attached to this area the way Ansel Adams is attached to Yosemite, or Edward Weston to Point Lobos. I know lots of photographers who have made singular images in the area — here and there, a handful of great shots — but I could not think of a single photographer who has published an extensive body of work from southern Utah.

Cliff wall, Grand Wash, Capitol Reef, 2012

Eliot Porter did a wonderful book called Southwest, but is not specifically limited to canyon lands, and is mostly human environments. Steve Mulligan (LensWork #17) lives in Moab and has published Terra Incognita and Earthworks, but again, his work is more about the desert landscape in general than the canyons in particular. Several photographers have extensively photographed the Anasazi ruins — John Sexton (LensWork #46), Don Kirby, Chip Hooper, and Don Rommes (LensWork #100) come to mind. Of course Bruce Barnbaum (LensWork #63) opened the floodgates to the now ubiquitous slit/slot canyons in Arizona and just about everyone has photograph them. But, for the life of me I could not think of anyone who has a definitive body of black-and-white work of the southern Utah parklands. I know there are probably dozens and I'm just having a mental block, so if someone comes to mind, please bring them to my attention. It's bugging me more than you know.

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Comments

[Doug]

Although his work is not exclusively in black and white, I would consider Guy Tal to fit your description. See his website: http://guytal.com/gtp/index.jsp.

[Iza]

I totally agree with Doug- Guy Tal is the one. He lives in Torres and photographs right in the Escalante/Capitol Reef area. His images are focusing on details, rather then showing sweeping vistas. They are also very thought through, mindful almost- which is how he approaches his work. He has both color and black and white portfolios on his web site. Well worth taking a look.

[Brooks]

Guy was very gracious and hosted us for a day of travel into Boulder Mountain in his 4-wheel drive truck. It was a great day filled with conversation and inspiring views. Thankfully, we had a few moments before our trip to look at his work. He is so fortunate to be able to live right in the area and photograph whenever he wants — and it shows in his images! Definitely worth a look at his website for anyone who is not familiar with his work.
Brooks

[nicos]

Aha !

This is more like it Brooksy.

Finally you have come to your senses, or perhaps you have seen the light of day.

Exploring and shooting in your own " backyard"; which I am sure you will find, has a vast unexplored rich field of visual content than your recent expedition to Mongolia.

Collect $200 and go past GO

well done.