SnakeMedicine_Book1

C o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e A r t i s t
At a gas station at the New Mexico-Arizona border, I quizzed customers and clerks
alike, “Are there any amazing sights to see around here?” The consensus pointed me
to Superstition Mountains.
Located on sacred grounds on an Indian reservation, they were inaccessible to
me on foot. But prospects for me with my camera were not dimmed once I found an
excellent vista off a little road near Cortez. Of the many photos that I took, I chose
this one because of the clouds sitting on top of the mountain. They reflect the importance
and energy at that site— like a crown on top of the mountain. The focus is the
river. Others might focus on the cliff rocks, which are quite dominant and dramatic.
I took this angle to get the rock and river flowing through the setting.
A river always represents life. The life force of the river is underscored by its
placement within the picture, and framed by the rocks that represent the principles
on which we stand and what is left behind. The rock is at the end of life. The river is
the beginning of life.
To alter this picture, I would crop out the sky to reveal a tighter panoramic shot.
The blue above the clouds is distracting. I would keep the sky and a little of the [bottom
of the picture]. As the river travels through the valley, I want the eyes to follow
it to the mountains. The rock edge provides a balance. It’s a fascinating landscape
because there is no trace of human elements in it.
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