The Colorado Plateau is a vast region of striking geological formations, shaped over millions of years. Despite their apparent permanence, they are increasingly at risk. Today, the public lands of this region face growing pressures from resource extraction, energy development, commercial infrastructure, and weakening federal protections. By changing how we experience these landscapes, the work asks us to reconsider their value and our responsibility for their future.

 

Photographed from above, the landscape of the Colorado Plateau loses its horizon and familiar scale. The photographs initially appear abstract, inviting curiosity about what the images reveal. Gradually, the viewer begins to recognize the patterns as actual places. 

 

This shift is central to the project. I want to challenge the way we traditionally experience landscape as a distant view or scenic destination and encourage a closer connection to the physical earth. The images show a landscape whose beauty is found not only in its grand features, but also in the intricate patterns and details of its geology.

 

This new perspective invites a deeper connection to the land and an appreciation for what makes these places unique and irreplaceable. The work asks us to look beyond the beauty of these public lands and consider our responsibility to protect them.