Enchanted with the Elements

Throughout a visit to a National Park Service site, the surrounding landscape is a permanent backdrop to every photo taken. People take pictures with landscapes in order to preserve the idea of what it was like to be a part of the place. The beauty of landscapes with their unique natural characteristics, inspire people to learn more about them while beholding the magnificent views. Visitors can learn about how the natural landscapes were formed and how they continue to develop over time. In remembering the unique qualities of different landscapes, the individual can imagine and wonder how past and present people and communities found their place.

We Were Here

People like to brag about the places they have been; the caption for each photo could just say ‘Look where I was!’

Glacier National Park, 2014, Sarah Kleinhesselink

Medicine Bow National Forest near Rocky Mountain National Park, 2011, Liz Schuman Carlson

Arches National Park, 2008, Nicole Berns

Yellowstone National Park, 2009, Tracy Donner

Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, 2015, Linda Kleinhesselink

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, 2015, Stephanie Fretham

Cape Hatteras Light Station, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 2015, Linda Kleinhesselink

St. Louis Arch at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 2013, Linda Kleinhesselink

Wind Cave National Park, 2013, Sarah Kleinhesselink

Leaving a Mark

From graffiti to physical changes of the land, many National Park Service sites have been altered by human intervention.

Playing with the Land

Whether it’s splashing in water or sculpting with sand, getting our hands a little dirty allows us to learn about the surrounding land.

Black Hills National Forest near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2009, Tracy Donner

White Sands National Monument, 2001, Dave Schneider

Yosemite National Park, 2002, Leisl Carr Childers

Yosemite National Park, 1979, Leisl Carr Childers

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2004, Tom Purcell

Corpus Christi near the USS Lexington National Historic Landmark, 2011, Alanna Lemay

Badlands National Park, 2013, Sarah Kleinhesselink

South Seas Route at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2015, Kayla Hemesath

Blending In

Monuments and landforms allow us to become a part of their domain, even if it is only for a moment.

Danger!

Tall cliffs, flowing lava, the knowledge of cougars and bears roaming the area, and the earth crumbling beneath your feet are just a few of the dangers that make these sites more thrilling to visit.

Yellowstone National Park, 2010, gabri_micha

Hawai’i volcanoes National Park, 2002, Dave Schneider

Estes Park near Rocky Mountain National Park, 1997, Nancy Crandell

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, 2009, Tracy Donner

Pikes Peak National Historic Landmark, 1988, Travis Gerrish

Bryce Canyon National Park, 1998, Linda Kleinhesselink

A Matter of Perspective

The enormity of landscapes show just how dwarfed people are as they stand amongst rock formations, towering mountains and vast sand dunes.

A Vision of Nature

National Parks are filled with mysterious and breath-taking sights. They draw us in, encouraging us to explore further. It is impossible to capture the true magnificence of these landscapes, but we try anyway in order to remember what we will no longer see. The dancing motion of nature attracts our attention and non-traditional techniques can be used to capture that motion. No picture is exactly alike and perspectives vary as people experience their world. It is all a matter of where you stand.