unique experiences enveloped and intrigued me over the course of several visits to white sands national monument in southern new mexico. during the first, presented in this portfolio, i encountered water just about everywhere, yielding hues and reflections not often found in this environment. as always, the dunes themselves are exquisite in their simplicity.

upon my return to white sands and over the course of several days, i traversed countless and seemingly endless dunes...in solitude and peace. these minimalist yet powerful b&w images are most true to my style and esthetic...i hope you enjoy them.

the gateway arch in st. louis is an engineering and architectural wonder. bold yet graceful, simple yet complex...a joy to behold in person or as captured here, either in b&w or color...the eye of the beholder.

providing definitive images of the american west, monument valley may seem familiar and in fact it's hard to resist the postcard like opportunities it presents. the natural colors really are bright and deep, much more so than you can view from this website...the prints themselves are truly intense.

sedona is situated in a unique geological area, one that has mesmerized visitors for decades. surrounded by breathtaking red-rock monoliths, sedona is a haven for those who love spectacular scenery.

one of the southwest's most popular and dramatic sites, canyon de chelly preserves the ancient history of the anasazi and the contemporary culture of the navajo.

antelope canyon, gently carved from the Navajo sandstone over the course of countless millenniums, is majestic: "the place where water runs through rocks." entering either the upper or lower canyon is like entering a great shrine or cathedral where one feels the spirit within, harmonizes with and respects it, and never forgets the experience.

 Death Valley...a superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, and 3 million acres of wilderness. Being there is being elsewhere.

Ancient Anasazis lived and thrived here in northwestern New Mexico beginning around 600 AD. Their building capabilities were legendary, erecting some of the largest buildings in North America. Their agricultural techniques were quite advanced for that period as were their organizational skills. Alas, population growth and harsh environmental issues led to their demise around 1200 AD. What remains today are ruins amid the barren treeless uninhabited landscape of Chaco Canyon. It is an eerie and surreal location, as both the ruins and the rumors of cannibalism at the end of their existence contribute to a sense of foreboding which i tried to capture here.

Hidden in the desolate area known as the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness area near the Utah/Arizona border is one of the world’s most fascinatingly beautiful places and one of the most spectacular rock formations in the entire southwest—“The Wave”.  Literally a gallery of twisted, swirling sandstone, resembling deformed pillars, cones, mushrooms and other odd, somewhat psychedelic, creations.  

arches national park in Moab, Utah, contains some of the most iconic landscapes and rockscapes in the southwest.  my first visit was too brief and too challenged by uncooperative weather and less than ideal conditions, yet still yielded some intriguing images.  since more time was spent in contemplation than image taking i was able to reconnect to the spirit of the land and its circumstances as i first encountered them many years ago through my reading of Edward Abbey 's "Desert Solitude"...a must read.  

a portfolio in progress, it currently contains only a few of my favorite images from these magical and inspirational locations...more to come!