Sights of Escalante, I
Above most things in life, I am captivated by the landscape of Utah. The geology is often beyond description and even a camera tends to fall short of conveying scale as it keenly exists. Time loses meaning, ‘being lost’ is suddenly idyllic and the concept of ‘necessity’ becomes stripped of vanity to expose the pure roots of what it means to be alive; to eat, to drink, to want and to refrain. It paints quite starkly the illusions we pursue for emotional ‘satisfaction’ as futility in disguise and marrow for our discontent.
The desert will stop such waste, eat it for breakfast, then steal your water to watch you squirm. It forces you to be a better person because the alternative is, quite honestly, a pile of bleached bones. Of course, we have the conveniences of today – vehicles, cell phones, GPS, freeze-dried meals, engineered outdoor gear…and helicopters to come pick us up when all of those things fail. But reality is still the bones, the greatest of common denominators.
If I were truly honest with myself, I would just move there. This last trip was a sure sign, as I hardly even photographed. Instead, I wandered around in utter contentment at just being there, not having to ‘capture’ anything, not having to think to ‘capture’ anything. What began as my 4th photography trip to the region in 3 years soon became the most therapeutic vacation I’ve ever had, something I hadn’t anticipated. With another photographer, a painter and a third, close friend along, there was no shortage of artistic appreciation going on, I guess I was just appreciating it more internally than externally on this go…
Hey! Welcome back….glad to hear your trip was exceptionally therapeutic. Can’t beat that! Yeah, sometimes ya just have those kind of trips where you just take it all in with your eyes and soul.
Cody, I totally understand what you are saying. I feel the same way about the region.
Very well said, my friend.
Some things can only be truly captured with the heart or soul. Our creative instinct compels us to preserve with the eye what the soul has experienced, but the truth is that in that moment, fleeting or not, no picture could ever convey what stirred you so deeply within; instead you will only lose something in the process of trying. Your words are your picture here; as eloquent and stirring as any photo you have ever taken.
I’ve been mailing people all weekend to take a look at your thread…
I found you via SU. No need to worry about the lack of photos, sometimes one essay is worth a thousand pictures, as is the case here.
Hi Cody!
I like your photography work…and i’ll love to visit Utah, but it’s a bit too far from Romania :). Cheers, all the best
Husac.
@Everyone - Thank you all for your kind and supportive comments. I was a bit bummed at coming home ‘empty handed’, but your graciousness is warming. I do have another post in the works, this one on the ancient Fremont culture of UT. In many regions of the state it’s almost difficult not to find old ruins and/or artifacts…
This photography look great. Blog is good.
Nice talking with you yesterday. I’m looking forward to your next adventure. Nice image of Metate Arch. I scooted out on top of it during one of my visits there. Although it’s smaller than many arches, I think it’s one of the most beautiful.