All photos are mine unless otherwise noted.
To see images full screen click on any photo.
Lee and I spent the last month in the Southwest, Southern Utah and Northern Arizona traveling to the National Parks there along with State Parks that were as remarkable as the big names but not as crowded. It was a remarkable four weeks where the average temperature was 90-95, and we rarely got below 7,000 feet in elevation. This is the "High Desert" which is the Colorado Plateau covering not one state but four which is something the original boundary markers did not know.
Since so many photos were taken I will be careful not to bore everyone and to offer a diversity of images along with a sprinkling of a few more creative offerings as it is my inner motion to make not only crisp photographs but some that are somewhat artistic in nature.
We started in Las Vegas where Lee had some family things to take care of. We left Vegas and headed to Zion National Park as our first stop, along with a ton of early visitors. We learned that just because the signs said "Parking Lots Full" there was always someone leaving so spaces were not a problem here of anywhere we went afterwards.
Words are not a good expression of the experience of looking up at massive rock formations or down into the many canyons along the way. Mostly communication came down to, "Wow!" - "Mother of God!" - "Holy Cow!" - etc, etc,. Small talk to be sure.
Before we left Vegas we went to a Mass at a church Lee's uncle facilitated at during his many years in residence there. The Psalm response as I remembered it was, "Lord, let us see your face upon the earth." Every place we went for the next four weeks echoed these words.
So, here are a few images of Vegas, and several on the way to Zion:
As shot. Signs and billboards are everywhere,
some have evident meaning, some not.
The fountain in front of the Bellagio Hotel.
Art is everywhere as seen by all who look carefully.
A remarkable glass installation hanging from the ceiling
in the lobby of the Bellagio.
The sun sets where it will
caring not if it is seen on the ocean, land, or in a city.
Beauty can be found almost anywhere.
(Taken from our room on the 27th. floor of our hotel.)
The entrance canopy to a hotel on the Vegas Strip.
Architecture has its own artistic values.
Seven A.M. over coffee, the lonely machines
were waiting for people to come and sit,
to offer their tribute to the gods of slots.
Lights, and the sounds of hope for a win drive the lure
of fortunes to be made - bright carrots on sticks just out of reach,
but the seats are comfortable.
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Red Rock Canyon, 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas.
The desert journey begins with an image of Vegas in the foreground,
and the reason for traveling offering a glowing welcome.
This is Spring in the High Desert,
Bright green new life frames the many layers of mesas and buttes,
and the cactus came into bloom everywhere.
The landscape is huge and hard to take in as it dominates everything.
The lower left shows a car on the road to give an idea of scale.
We live in a world so full of countless wonders.
The only way to know them is to get out and experience,
mesas, mountains, flowers, and even a blade of grass;
all will reveal to us the awesome creative nature of God.
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Here is a scene repeated everywhere we went.
Taking a picture of a woman taking her own picture.
Selfie sticks were also everywhere.
When traveling, first give the landscape a chance to be seen
and known not only in memory, but to be imprinted in our heart.
The photo taken here only says someone stopped for a few moments,
it is not proof that one was truly there and present.
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Some Humor:
Peace until next post,
Bill Lagerstrom
