America's Wild Places

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act

Article Read time:
Projects: U.S. Public Lands
America's Wild Places

Backpacker at Sunrise, Isolation Lake, Alpine Lake Wilderness, Washington, USA By Daniel Silverberg, Seattle, Washington, USA, www.danielsilverberg.com Hiking into Washington’s Enchantment Lakes, our party was greeted with raging thunderstorms. We reached the crux at Aasgard Pass as the clouds parted, continuing to camp at Isolation Lake. The next morning, my girlfriend Claire and I arose to greet the dawn. Claire brought her sleeping bag to stay warm as we enjoyed the show. I started photographing into the sunrise, but turned around to find Dragontail Peak awash in soft light filtered through the clouds. The fog and rain moved in shortly after sunrise and it was the last of the sun we would see for the day. Canon EOS 7D; 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens at 10mm; 1/13sec at f/14; ISO 100; Gitzo GT0541 tripod; Markins Q-Ball Q3T head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Daniel Silverberg.
Daniel Silverberg Daniel Silverberg
Mountain Goat Kids, Oreamnos americanus Mount Evans Wilderness, Colorado, USA By Verdon Tomajko, Superior, Colorado, USA, www.verdonrocks.com I drove to the top of Mount Evans, a 14,000-foot peak, with my wife one afternoon in July. After several hours of shooting a herd of mountain goats, a storm rolled in across the valley, and soon the lightning started. The baby goats got very anxious, running and jumping over the rocks—and over each other—with nervous energy from the incoming storm. I kept shooting until my hair was standing on end and the sky was nearly dark. I love to capture behaviors and personalities of wildlife, and this was one of the best shooting opportunities I’ve ever had. Canon EOS 1DX; EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens at 100mm; B+W Haze filter; 1/640 sec at f/6.3; ISO 500; hand-held. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Verdon Tomajko.
Verdon Tomajko Verdon Tomajko
Mt. Whitney Moonrise, John Muir Wilderness, California, USA By Nolan Nitschke , Bishop, California, USA, www.thesierralight.com After an agonizing ascent of Mt.Whitney—the tallest peak in the continental United States—I watched the full moon rise behind the Inyo Mountains. At 14,505 feet in elevation, the setting sun and the full moon created a unique combination of warm and cool tones. This photo was taken just below the summit. You can see the lightning cabin on the summit, the Whitney Portal, the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, the Inyo Mountains, and Death Valley National Park. Canon EOS-5D Mark II; EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM lens at 28mm; Singh Ray Galen Rowell 2-stop soft GND filter; 20 secs at f/11; ISO 50; Gitzo GT0531 tripod; Really Right Stuff BH-25 Pro head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Nolan Nitschke.
Nolan Nitschke Nolan Nitschke
By Judy Lynn Malloch, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA, ww w.naturestapestryjlm.com The mother grizzly and her two cubs were clamming on t The shore of Hollow Bay in Alaska. We were able to observe the playful interaction between the cubs and M om for some time without any sense or concern on their part. We eventually moved on to observe many other bears on the grassy plain leading from Hollow Bay. At one point we counted over 20 bears, some u p close and some off in the distance. This trip was not only a thrill but also a privilege to experience first-hand these magnificent animals in their natural habitat
Judy Lynn Malloch Judy Lynn Malloch
Lone Evergreen in Aspens, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, Colorado, USA By Benjamin Walls, Bristol, Virginia, USA, www.benjaminwalls.com What if I gave you an assignment to go out into nature, visit a place anyone is allowed to go, and photograph a common subject that’s been photographed trillions of times? But here's the twist: you have to do so in such a fashion that others who are completely familiar with your subject would be willing to pay money for it, travel to see it, and take time out of their lives to talk about it. I strive to create images like that—images that are universally understood, yet still manage to amaze. It's those images that draw us in and captivate our thoughts. Canon EOS 5D Mark III; EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM at 150mm; 1.5 sec at f/32; ISO 400; Gitzo Mountaineer tripod; Really Right Stuff BH55 ball head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Benjamin Walls.
Benjamin Walls Benjamin Walls
Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea J.N. “Ding” Darling Wilderness, Florida, USA By Nate Zeman, Breckenridge, Colorado, USA, www.natezeman.com Little blue herons are one of my favorite birds to photograph. This particular one really caught my eye with its vibrant colors while preening its feathers. The small pond behind the bird offered a simple yet nicely abstract background for the image. Canon EOS 5D Mark II; 300mm f/2.8L IS lens +1.4x extender at 420mm; 1/400 sec at f/4.5; ISO 400; hand-held. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Nate Zeman.
Nate Zeman Nate Zeman
Snowy Meadow, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA By Jarrod Castaing, Sydney, NSW, Australia, www.jarrodcas taing.com Traveling through the snowy wilderness, I hoped to find an unobstructed view of the majestic Mount Hood. Coming from the sunny beaches of Sydney, Australia, I kn ew I had my work cut out for me when it came to shooting in icy conditions. I set off in the dark down a trail into the woods, wearing my headlamp, my feet sinking in the snow. As the trail descended, the tr ee line rose to obscure the mountain. Not to be defeated, I returned the next morning and discovered a s mall clearing, freshly dusted with snow. As the sun began to rise and illuminate the lenticular cloud above, a ll thoughts of frostbite quickly vanished as I captured my very own winter wonderland.
Jarrod Castaing Jarrod Castaing
Sunset Paddle, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota, USA By Dawn M. LaPointe, Hermantown, Minnesota, USA, www.RadiantSpiritGallery.com My husband and I are deeply drawn to and passionate about America’s wilderness, as well as nature photography. We spent our week-long honeymoon on a trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This is one of many images from that adventure that strengthened our innate connection with the land and with one another. I felt suspended in time while capturing this incredible scene, in awe of its beauty and energy. Mother Nature is the master artist; I am a messenger. Behind the lens, I strive to honor the essence and convey the messages of my subjects. Canon EOS Rebel T2i; EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens at 24mm; B+W UV #010 filter; 1/30 sec at f/10; ISO 200; Benro A-158M8 tripod; Slik AF-2100 Pistol Grip head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Dawn M. LaPointe.
Dawn M. LaPointe Dawn M. LaPointe
Waves of sadstone glowing in the rays of last light deep in the heart of the Paria/Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, Arizona.
Joseph Rossbach Joseph Rossbach
St. Marks Wilderness, Florida, USA By Tara Tanaka, Tallahassee, Florida, USA, www.flickr.com/photos/focused-on-birds I arrived before sunrise one winter morning, and waited for the warm light to reach the cold water where the birds were feeding. I had been photographing this gorgeous Snowy Egret running and spinning when it stopped briefly to do some preening. When I saw the exquisite reflection of the bird, I quickly rotated the camera 90 degrees. The low angle of the morning sun illuminated the bird’s face, even under its outstretched wing. There is nothing quite like St. Marks in January on a cold, clear day, eye pressed against viewfinder, everything blocked from view except one magnificent creature.
Tara Tanaka Tara Tanaka
Proxy Falls, Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon, USA By Thomas Goebel, age 18, Jensen Beach, Florida, USA, www.flickr.com/people/thomasgoebel After taking a wrong turn and hiking to the wrong waterfall, I was anxious to get back on the trail to Proxy Falls the next day. As we arrived at the base of the waterfall, I was speechless. The sheer size and power of this waterfall was truly amazing. The moss that surrounded the falls seemed to glow. As a photographer, I strive to portray the world as I see it so that I may share it with others. This location, however, was quite a challenge to capture through my lens. This gem is one that you must see for yourself. Canon EOS 60D; Tamron 18-270 lens at 23mm; polarizer filter; 1 sec at f/10; ISO 100; Manfrotto 290 tripod; 496RC2 head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Thomas Goebel.
Thomas Goebel Thomas Goebel
Solitary Hiker, Great Sand Dunes Wilderness, Colorado, USA By Richard Hebhardt, Juneau, Alaska, USA, www.richardhebhardtphotography.com Although my primary purpose was to photograph the interplay of light, shadow and form that the Dunes offers in the early morning and later in the day, I couldn’t resist capturing this solitary hiker struggling to ascend a large dune. The stark contrast between the hiker’s diminutiveness and the size of the dune was a scene I had to shoot. Quickly, I setup my tripod, made my necessary camera adjustments, and captured the moment. Nikon D300; 70-200mm f/2.8 lens at 130mm; 1/160 sec at f/13; ISO 200; Gitzo GT3531 tripod; Really Right Stuff BH-55 Pro ball head. **Notice** All Rights Reserved: No use without permission of photographer © Richard Hebhardt.
Richard Hebhardt Richard Hebhardt
1 / 12

1 / 12
Full Screen
RELATED
Topics
Land Conservation
Projects
U.S. Public Lands
Places
United States

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Article

December 12, 2024 Public Health Data Reporting: Strengths and Shortcomings

Article

December 10, 2024 Report Explores Student Loan Default Divide, Viable Fixes

Article

December 10, 2024 Proactive Funding Can Improve Outcomes When Disasters Hit

MORE FROM PEW

State Health Data Reporting Policies and Practices Vary Widely
How Much Do You Know About Public Health Data Reporting?
Public Health Data Reporting: Strengths and Shortcomings
Racial Inequities Play a Role in Loan Repayment Challenges