Grand Canyon 2010

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Thursday, October 14, 2010 | flickr photos

The beauty of our world awes me. I am fascinated with how we develop a relationship to the places we inhabit. I pursue that question academically through studies of eco-psychology, professionally as a wilderness based psychotherapist, and personally through my travels and adventures. Through our explorations of the outer wilderness, we explore the wilderness of our souls and minds. We come to appreciate and embrace the chaotic wilderness within as we develop our appreciation and respect for the wild places in our world.

Photography is a way to document those travels and to further cultivate a sense of place. The images that a photographer captures show an experience of the place. Personally, photography encourages me to attend to the details of the scene and to continue my dance with a place long after the physical experience ends. I believe I have a sound technical foundation, a good eye for color and light, and a huge sense of adventure. With this opportunity, I would become an eager student in order to deepen my technical skills, broaden my artistic sense, and connect with an excellent mentor.

The attached images are from a recent Grand Canyon river trip, not far from my home in Southern Utah. The raw power, apparent simplicity, and more subtle complexities of the desert are powerful teachers. These images tell a story of the grandeur and awe I felt on this trip and the appreciation for place I feel when I return home. At times, this awe is on your face, like running the big water of the Colorado River, or sitting under Deer Creek falls. Other times, the story is more gentle, like sitting deep in an amphitheater, watching the dance of light on the canyon walls. Or, perhaps it is appreciating the small things and seeing things from the lizard’s perspective.