SPACE 06-28-07

TRIP-5 ENTRIES   5 OF 3 -END 

Hi!

Half way between the North Pole and the Equator lies the land of Yellowstone….truly a magical place. It is the world’s first national park. It is alive with wildlife and the ground breathes.

Joe and I entered the Park form the North at Mammoth Hot Springs. An alchemy of ancient seas, volcanoes and recent rains combine to create the bleach white travertine terraces. Surprisingly, this can happen fairly fast. An area that allowed a tree to grow several years ago is now solid rock. Equally surprising is the life that can flourish in boiling water.

Even taking the shortest road through the park, it still took us over four hours. There wasn’t too much tourist traffic, but it’s easy to know when there are animals around…..there are usually dozens of cars backed up and an equal number of humanoids sporting cameras gathered together in social groups. The main herd was just behind us in the pictures below. I like the surreal quality of the picture on the right. It reminds me of a diorama in a natural history museum.

When we stopped to take pictures of the burnt trees on the top of Mt. Washburn, a couple of cars stopped and asked the two

guys with tripods what we were looking at. In 1988 a forest fire burned 45% of the 2.5 million acre park. The effects are very visible and so is the regeneration.

Above the Yellowstone River I met Eliezer and Nechama from Israel, a very open and outgoing couple. My favorite part of any trip is meeting such wonderful people. Many of you are now reading this email. They are now part of our photo essay community which is now just a few shy of 800 individuals from nearly every state and a dozen different countries. Few things bring me as much joy as the connection we share.

For this picture I had the camera on a tripod and asked Eliezer and Nechama to look through the lens. We talked about the flow and how of all the different elements of nature naturally work so well together.

It was almost dark by the time we were through the park and the nestled in the bosom of The Grand Tetons. I remember once, on a previous trip, seeing this same site at night under the Milky Way. But not that night. The forecast was only for more rain.

Hoping to get ahead of the storm we drove until we found a vacancy a hundred miles South of Jackson.

As you saw in last email, the rain didn’t stop until well past Salt Lake City. Fresh snow even covered the Spring green mountains.

Driving on I-80 the Salt Flats extend as far as you can see in every direction….until you come upon “The Tree of Utah.”

The 87 foot high sculpture was created and personally paid for by the Swedish artist, Karl Momen in 1986, who was inspired by all the space. According to the Utah Highway Patrol 2 million people drive across this stretch of highway each year. It’s technically illegal to stop except for emergencies. The UHP also reports that an emergency happens to people at this is exact spot from 5 to 7 times an hour. At this spot several years ago is where I met Nancy and Les from Denver, who have sent several very heart warming replies to these photo essays.

I just love the scale of The West. At one point, driving across Nevada, I had the feeling that this is where I took a picture of the billboard that read, “Space Available.” When I took it I was driving in the other direction. I started to look behind me at the face of next billboard and there it was. I guess I was just in the right space.

In truth, driving through much of The West during the middle of the day with no clouds many would consider boring. The monocromatic hills have no real form. Perhaps I appreciate this “nothing” time because my mind shuts up and I’m just there. And…when there are a few clouds casting shadows or at dawn or dusk the hills are alive with sumptuous subtleties and luscious layers. It was fun having this last flurry of photos before we both made our way back home to a city by The Bay. I’ll see you again in about a month. The first part of July I’ll be taking a trip back to Boulder to shoot a few jobs and see family and friends.

I dedicate this series to Will, Karl, Joe, Eliezer and Nechama, Les and Nancy, and all of you who help me connect to the world. I leave you with the dedication inscribed on the Tree of Utah: “A hymn to our universe, whose glory and dimension is beyond all myth and imagination.”

If you ever have a comment about these photo essays or if you have a picture you’d like to share, please send it along. I love hearing from you and seeing how other people picture the world. Of course, for any reason, if you want to be removed just send a reply with “No Thanks” in the subject line. If you are one of those who received this from a friend and want to be added to the list send me an email. I will be delighted to include you. jd@jerrydownsphoto.com

Enjoy Your Space!

Love, Jerry

Jerry Downs Photography
P.O. Box 1082
Larkspur, CA 94977
415-686-2369
http://www.jerrydownsphoto.com/