the american west

Twelve landscapes from the American West, ranging from Wyoming to Arizona. Shot in July of 2009. I channeled my inner Ansel Adams, who changed the way we shoot landscapes, as well as how we, as photographers, look at and appreciate the natural world. It was difficult to narrow it down to twelve images after spending three weeks camping and hiking through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, but these images here represent the most beautiful works of nature that I encountered. I shot many other subjects, mostly humans and animals that I met along the way (and many landscape shots contained humans) but here I wanted to showcase the stillness of nature in its rawest form.

To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.
—a. adams




view from angel's landing, zion national park, utah


les trois tetons, grand teton national park, wyo.


the grand view, arches national park, utah


ruby mountains, lamoille canyon, nev.


grand canyon of yellowstone, yellowstone national park, wyo.


sunrise swim in the great salt lake, antelope island, utah


the edge of the world, gooseneck state park, utah


the grand canyon, grand canyon national park, ariz.


south rim, grand canyon national park, ariz.


devil's garden, arches national park, utah


105°F, arches national park, utah


bryce, bryce canyon national park, utah


No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied — it speaks in silence to the very core of your being.
—a. adams