CCLXX gradus in Latin translates to 270 degrees.

Carved over 20 million years of the Great River’s “entrenched meander,” Horseshoe Bend and its 270 degree curve is a geologic masterpiece. Presenting over 1,000 feet of ancient iron rich Navajo and Coconino Sandstone, as well as an intimate view of the emerald green waters of Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend quickly cemented its legacy as an iconic symbol of the American Southwest.

And on this thunderous and stormy Arizona sunset eve, the might and fury of her creators hand shown a cautionary tale of the natural forces used in its creation, as another chapter in the ancient and often violent evolution of the Grand Canyon unfolds.

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Johnny Cash, the “Man in Black”;  the original gansta of Country Music, would have scoffed at such cowardice. Black on Black, he would have walked tall, striding down Broadway, guitar in one hand, Jack Daniel’s in the other, defying fear, telling stories of conscious and bravery, while taking notice of those who trample on the spirit of humanity.

Cash once noted that his favorite Scripture verse was Romans 8:13, which says, “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live….”

And on this dark and turbulent evening the House of Cash stood silent, but his spirit thundered. This monument in his name, a brick and mortar reflection of the sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption that permeated his storytelling, lay a fragile life lived, seeking peace and forgiveness, fore the spirit was mighty in his voice, vanquishing the misdeeds of his body, as Johny’s soul lives eternal in the life that he lived, and music he blessed upon us.

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Among the indigenous peoples of the region, the supreme Manitou is referenced as a supernatural being that controls nature; an omnipresent spirit that manifests everywhere, a deity that possesses supernatural power.

Ancient Indian legend tells the story of a great flood which covered all but the top of Manitou’s Mountain, known today as Pikes Peak. When the waters subsided, the Great Spirit turned the floating carcasses of the drowned animals into sandstone, and rolled them down into a garden valley below, where they “remained as mute evidences of the Great Flood.”

Formed over 300 million years of nature’s evolution, Garden of the Gods is truly an angelic place and considered sacred ground by the Apache, Kiowa, Pawnee, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Shoshone and Ute peoples. It is believed that the red rocks had spiritual properties and their oral tradition describes how man was created in the Garden of the Gods.

Towering over 300 feet of crimson ancestral red, pink, and white Sandstone, these monolith’s and spires spring from the valley floor as if being pulled to the heavens by the supreme creators hand. The energy of this place is undeniable. The moment you step foot beneath their watchful presence everything changes, your breath, your heartbeat, your sense of being human; you become keenly aware of our frailties, our mortality, as an overwhelming desire for greater spiritual intimacy rushes through your soul.

And on this cold winter morning in “The Valley of the Miracle,” one couldn’t help but feel the presence of the Great Spirit, for it had delicately dusted the valley with a welcoming layer of pristine snow, offering an angelic presentation of Garden of the Gods, graced with the omnipresent, the “Spirit of Manitou”.

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Over three million years old, sculpted by wind and erosion, the crimson Red Rocks of the Verde Valley are said to create a Vortex energy, feminine in nature, providing feelings of softness, receptiveness and compassion. They are also the spiritual epicenter for the indigenous Paleo, Anasazi, Hopi, Navajo and Sinaqua Indian Tribes, as well as having provided sanctuary for Yavapai and Apache warriors Geronimo and Cochise while fighting to protect their sacred lands during westward expansion and the Tonto-Apache Wars.

With its unique and visually stunning vistas, it was just a matter of time before Hollywood discovered Sedona. By the late 1950s its startling beauty and unique backdrop was presented to the world as producers and movie studios featured Sedona as the setting for over 70 films during the golden years of classic western genre movies.

And on this surreal and spiritually inspiring winters sunset, she indeed lived up to her star billing. Bathed in the desert orange glow of Sedona’s setting sun dancing across her sculpted majestic face, the spirit of Cathedral Rock Sedona thunders ceremoniously, paying tribute to the spirits of creation in this ancestral land, the “Home of the Gods”.

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In Latin the word “Deus” translates to “Gods Place”

In ancient Hebrew scripture, the name Zion describes a place appointed by the Lord where his followers can live and serve God; a “City of Holiness,” a “City of Refuge,” where the Lord protects his people from the evils in the world.

The first human presence in the region dates back 8,000 years, with the Virgin Anasazi and Parowan Fremont Tribes being the first documented communities to inhabit the Southern Utah region.

The indigenous Southern Paiute peoples referred to Zion as “Mukuntuweap,” meaning “the place where the Great Spirit dwells”.

Presenting its stunning Navajo Sandstone rock monolith, carved over 150 million years by the North Fork and Virgin River’s, The Watchman serves notice that this is a sacred place on earth, a geologic masterpiece, unmatched in its majestic elegance and spiritual powers.

And with the fading sunlight on this winter days last light, The Watchman in Zion National Park served notice that I was indeed not alone, that there was peace and tranquility within the confines of this sacred land, a pious land where the Great Spirit dwells and angels grace the heavens, in this, the land of “Deus”.

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Named Matkʼamvaha by the indigenous Yavapai peoples, and revered as sacred land to the Tonto Apache, Navajo and Hopi Indian Tribes, this land continues to inspire those in search of its thunderous beauty, spiritual energy, and Vortex healing properties.

With its awe inspiring Red Rock vistas and elegant landscape formations, it’s clear to see why the Verde Valley has been the muse of artists worldwide. Having been featured in over one hundred films and television productions over the years, the Sedona Red Rocks continue to inspire our imagination with their awe-inspiring grandeur.

And on this picturesque Sedona sunset eve, her ancient form was exquisite, commanding every fiber of my attention; the fading sunlight dancing across her etched crimson face, exposing the deep penetrating history of her journey in this sacred tribal land, the land of Matk’amvaha.

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First chronicled by European explorers in 1540, Francisco Vázquez de Coronado and his Spanish army traveling north from Mexico City encountered the Grand Canyon and its native Hopi tribe. Two hundred seventy-seven miles long, ten miles across and over a mile deep, Coronado deemed the canyon an impenetrable wasteland dismissing further western exploration, and moved his men east to Texas. The Grand Canyon was left unexplored by European explorers and colonial settlers for another two hundred thirty-five years.

The Southern Paiute people that occupy the region refer to the Grand Canyon as “Kaibab” which translates as “mountain turned upside down”. And on this chilly winters sunset, freshly painted with the previous days snowfall under a burning Arizona sky, the Grand Canyon at Desert View marvels and mystifies with her vibrant multi layers of ancient Coconino Sandstone, as the “Palasades of the Desert” majestically flank her eastward rim.

As eloquently penned by Journalist and Author Bill Bryson from his travelogue book “The Lost Continent : Travels in Small-Town America” he writes:

“… Nothing prepares you for the Grand Canyon. No matter how many times you read about it or see it pictured, it still takes your breath away. Your mind, unable to deal with anything on this scale, just shuts down and for many long moments you are a human vacuum, without speech or breath, but just a deep, inexpressible awe that anything on this earth could be so vast, so beautiful, so silent”.

Amen…

I could not agree more…

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Omnia Paratus the latin phrase meaning “…Prepare for all things : Ready for anything…”

In life’s journey there will be uncertainty; dark and turbulent times that will present obstacles, and challenge our emotional and physical strength. Our vision must be clear, our foundation strong, as we navigate the many storms life presents.

Much as in life, Scripps Pier is a metaphor. She is sturdy. She has weathered many storms over time, and will face many more. Her columns run deep and strong, her vision keenly focused on the light ahead. Capturing an iconic image that resounds these kinds of emotions is a profound experience. You can sense the moment coming as all of natures elements begin to align. The pouring rain had subsided. The forbidding sky on this evening sunset was spectacular. The tide was heavy with violent momentum. And as the sun got closer to the horizon it began to explode under the cloud cover casting a bold orange sunset against the heavy purple clouds. To capture the foreboding yet serene moment, I used a long exposure to soothe her rough waters, albeit briefly, before the sky opened up, washing away myself, and any thoughts of capturing more of her magnificence. Nature provides, and nature takes away, but Scripps Pier remains.

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Greek philosopher Aristotle placed the construct of phantasiai, or fantasy, as the void between man’s perception and thought. For Aristotle phantasiai is based on sense perception and includes mental images, dreams, and hallucinations.

In Greek, the word phantasia translates to “imagination”. However, in Greek thought the word always retains a connection with the verb phainomai, “I appear.”

And with the birth of a new lunar cycle, they indeed appear, realized in form, as the full moon’s magical energy opens a temporary portal into the darkness and light of quantum physical planes. Both feared and aspired in the imaginations of human and non human beings, the Wizards, Warlocks and Sorcerers of Fantasy Castle are the spiritual guardians of the world, fore they have the power to summon terrible and destructive forces, as well as the magical powers to protect the innocent against these forces, often warring against one another in the land of Phantasiai.

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Spanning 11,179 feet, with its apex height at 200 feet, construction commenced in February of 1967, and was completed in August of 1969. The bridge required 20,000 tons of steel and 94,000 cubic yards of concrete to support 32 spans and 27 girders with 21 pillars.  The US Navy originally rejected the idea of a bridge connection Coronado Island out of fear the bridge could be collapsed by attack or an earthquake and trap the ships stationed at the US Naval Base San Diego, threatening to leave San Diego if the bridge was constructed. By 1964 the Navy supported a bridge if there was at least 200 feet (61 m) of clearance for ships which operate out of the nearby Naval Base San Diego to pass underneath it. To achieve this clearance with a reasonable grade, the bridge length was increased by taking an 80 degree curved path, rather than a more direct path to Coronado. The clearance would allow an empty oil-fired aircraft carrier to pass beneath its span.

My dilemma, one that faces every landscape photographer; how do you present a unique image of Coronado Bridge, an icon, the subject of thousands of photographs? How to present her structural magnificence and essence in a unique perspective? The brilliant fire sky from the setting sun was extraordinary on its own, exploding in yellow and orange. The dramatic high contrast nature of black and white has always been a favorite medium for my eye. Heavy architecture of steel and concrete look amazing in black and white, so why not blend the two profiles?

I decided to process multiple images with various exposures in HDR, and then blend the two color profiles together, manifesting this unique impression of El,Titán, the Gateway to Coronado Island.

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