Thriving Against The Odds
“This one is growing alone… and wears therefore the special beauty of all wild and lonely things.”
(Edward Abbey)
During my recent trip, I made many images that “illustrate” Capitol Reef NP in the traditional way you might all expect to see it… beautiful red rock canyons, large white Navajo domes, cliffs glowing in the low sunlight of an autumn afternoon. Those are the images that are on the cover of the national park maps and books. I made many of those images and you will probably soon see some of them.
Yet, the very first image I processed from the entire trip when I returned home was this simple, quiet image of a vibrant desert shrub growing seemingly out of nothing but sheer rock. This captures some of the feeling I had while in the desert of Utah... the beauty of the harsh desert landscape… and the determination of life to thrive, even in those harsh conditions. And Edward Abbey's quote from Desert Solitaire above captures it equally well in words.
Capitol Reef NP is 241,904 acres or about one trillion square feet. If I were searching, the odds of me finding this one small bush would be one in a trillion. Finding it in early morning soft light emphasizing the vitality of the plant against its harsh surroundings would be even less likely. Yet I did. It wasn't by searching and planning... it was by wandering around, open to seeing what is in front of me. And that is what I love about the kind of photography I do.
No stories about how early we got out of bed, or how far we drove, or how long we hiked to get there. This image simply describes the feeling I have when I visit the desert. If you have never visited a true desert, consider going there sometime soon. And if you do, get up early and see it in special light when no one else is around. And pull over (anywhere) and get out of the car and walk around. Walk slowly, explore, and marvel at the life that is around you. You will be amazed.