Every national park has its icons: Death Valley has Zabriskie, Canyonlands has Mesa Arch, Zion has the Watchman, the Great Smoky Mountains have Clingman’s Dome, and Yosemite has, well, too many to count (they are, after all, what makes Yosemite one of the most photographed places on the planet). These icons are what draw people to our national parks and wild places, and especially they are what draw photographers to these places.
A quick Google image search for “Mesa Arch” yields ~220,000 results; “Half Dome” yields 4.3 million (!!) results. The one time I was at Mesa Arch, I shared it with 7 other photographers; on New Year’s Eve, I shared the Valley View vista in Yosemite with at least 10 other photographers when I captured January’s image of the month. Admittedly, I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, as a citizen of this country, I’m happy to see people in their national parks, enjoying the vistas, standing in awe next to me. On the other hand, part of me wants to stand in this grand place alone. I doubt the latter is going to happen any time soon, so I have to focus on the former, and be happy about it.
Yes, I may be producing images of the same icons as those 10 other photographers around me. I’m sure out of those 220,000 results for Mesa Arch, mine is in there somewhere, and there probably are some that were taken by other photographers the same morning as me. But, I don’t really care. The images I make of these icons make me happy, and photographing them is fun. When it stops being fun, its not worth doing any more, right?
So, I’m not going to stop photographing icons any time soon, which means you’ll have to endure looking at them.
However, one of my resolutions for 2010 is to shoot more ‘out of the box’ images. I’ll share some of those in my next post. But, for now, a couple of my favorite icons. Enjoy!
Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park, April 2007
El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, California, January 2010
I have the same mixed feelings. Love the natural dramatic nature of icons, but loathe the crowds at certain places. Grand Teton’s Oxbow Bend and Snake River Overlook being some of the worst crowd experiences I’ve had. Mesa & Delicate Arch are similar.
Excellent points (and fine images), Greg. I too share your sentiment. Fortunately, there is a positive correlation between sub-freezing temperatures and crowd cluster reduction. Happy new year!
I agree Greg. A place doesn’t become an icon by being ugly that’s for sure. I would rather find my own icons, but that is easier said then done.
Ron
Good post Greg. While I too have shot my fill of icons, I’ve also found that the areas near the icons can be just as beautiful. Here’s a perfect example; while 15 other photographers shot El Cap from the valley view vista, I walked down the river a hundred yards or so away from them and shot this fall scene http://www.photoshelter.com/image/I0000aMHNZ8FvPHw
enjoying it all to myself.
Having shot only a “few” of the icons, I have to agree. I am not fond of the crowds, and only if I really want the image, do I stay. Crowds are not always nice and people walk into the shot without regard. I have yet to make the iconic Mono Lake image, not willing to deal with the tripod by tripod scene.
I went to Mesa Arch on new year’s eve morning thinking I might have the place to myself. It was a Thursday, 4 degrees outside and foggy. Imagine my dismay when I pulled into the parking lot with 2 other cars behind me only to find 7 cars already there.
I’m a huge fan of the icons and I’ll be the first to defend them. But there are times when it’s difficult to keep a happy face when so many photographers are crowded into such a small space.
Thanks for all the great comments, and discussion!
By far my most dismaying experience was at Mono Lake in October, when there must have been at least–at least–40 photographers (there were 30 cars in the parking area) at south tufa. We went to Navy Beach and had the place to ourselves.
I think it’s important to photograph icons because that’s how you learn. During the Renaissance, apprentices used to make copies of the great works of art in order to learn perspective, how to present a 3 dimensional subject or scene in a 2 dimensional medium.
By working on the icons, you can learn the technical aspects of photography, learn how past masters achieved their vision, and then go from there. Once you get bored photographing the icons, that’s when you need to pursue your own vision.
Edie
Try Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the off toursist vaction season you’ll find your chances are more for you to be alone. Next time you’re shooting the El Capitan shot turn you camera to the right and shoot the Three Brothers reflecting perfectly in the Merced. It’s ok to shoot icons, we don’t ever expect to stop seeing them unless they disappear.
Two very nice shots Greg!
Steve
All of us have the right and the privilege to photograph major landmarks exactly as everyone else has. However, if you want to be an artist and not a mere recorder of places, a little good planning or good fortune with unique conditions or a little ingenuity will render a photograph unlike any others. Whether you are able to make a unique statement in photography has a lot to do with your intent and goals. My father, Philip Hyde, had a mission to show people something in nature they had never seen before. With this as a mission, most of the time anyone would make photographs that differ from the crowd.