The National Parks

We enjoyed watching the PBS Ken Burns special on the National Parks last week. Not surprising, there have been a number of photographers directly associated with the parks in various ways. William Henry Jackson’s photos were instrumental in the forming of the first National Park at Yellowstone. The Kolb Brothers had a studio at the Grand Canyon and helped promote it for many years. And of course Ansel Adams will always be associated with Yosemite.

In many ways the National Parks grew up with photography and the rise in attendance at the parks paralleled the growth in amateur photography. We have not been to all of the National Parks, but we have been to a few, and making photos at The Grand Canyon or Yellowstone are some of my fondest memories.

For many years our business was such that we took our annual vacation in the winter. For that reason we are among the privileged few who have been to Yellowstone, not once, but twice, in the winter when the park is covered with snow and the hordes of tourists have left for Florida.

We have a 30x40 print of a frozen Yellowstone Lake at sunrise which often hangs over our fireplace. My wife has a similar size 30x40 print of the Grand Canyon in winter over her desk.

Winter is coming. This can be a glorious time for photography. I probably won’t be going to one of the National Parks this winter, but I will definitely be getting out photos and albums and enjoying some hot chocolate while thinking about the great times skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling in sub-zero weather in the most beautiful of God’s creations.

The above photo is the Grand Tetons in January.

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