Photo Shooting of Colorado Plateau - September/October, 2012
撮影機材/Equipment used: Nikon D3s
with 14-24mm f2.8/24-70mm f2.,8/70-200mm f2.8 zoom
Spirits of Colorado Plateau
Geological wonder or just an expression of earth,
Whatever it is, we are all fascinated with it.
地質的な不思議なのか、それとも大地の単なる表情なのか
それが
何であろうと私たちはそれに魅了される
Sand stones create huge rock walls,
which are being eroded to form unique shapes.
砂岩が巨大な壁を作り出し
侵食され独特な形状が作られ魅せつける
突然、巨大な砂岩の上に姿を現して私たちを歓迎するかのように叫びだす
あの渡りカラスなのかもしれない
A huge raven suddenly showed up on top of a huge sand stone near the Landscape Arch in Arches National Park, and started cowing as if it were telling something to us.
Beauty of nature can be found
Where you do not think it exists.
It may be just what nature does,
Or how we simply perceive what it shows.
A bright night light lit the area surrounding us
On a full moon night.
悠久の時の流れを越えて姿を残すものたち
変わることなく訪れる星の流れ
今のこの時を共に感じる大いなるギフト
How many years has it taken to create these buttes
Various sediments have accumulated holding them.
巨大な岩山たちをどれだけの歳月が創造したのか
様々な堆積物が堆積して持ち上げるようにしている
Red sand rocks appear everywhere
As if they were playing with time and erosion.
赤岩があちこちに顔を出し
まるで時間と侵食と戯れているようだ
Road does not hold very well in this desert land
And whatever we do for our convenience may not mean anything out here.
An entrance of a slot canyon opens up with cotton trees
Holding tight on earth covering a dry creek.
A narrow slot canyon path
And eroded canyon walls welcomed us
To see how we manage what they offer.
A slot canyon I visited on October 4, 2012, before coming back to Denver.
The eight-day photo shooting trip to Utah was very significant to me and blessing.
Water runs through a small valley
creating mini water falls to gently go downstream.
A side of a rock has been shaved off by erosion, making a smoother passage
for water in this narrow valley which makes plants look like waving their hands.
They, whether organic or non-organic, exist under this given environment,
negotiating or accepting whatever they face.
侵食によって削り取られた岩の側面が、狭い渓谷を流れる水の通り道を
スムーズに受け入れ、そこに生える植物が手を振っているように垂れ下がる
有機物であれなかれ全てのものが、この与えられた環境の中で
直面するものをうまく対応したり受け入れている
Serenity of clear mountain creek
Welcomes those who come by.
Although it is peaceful, for now,
Changes are coming.
渓谷を流れる川の静寂
ひと時の穏やかさが心を和ませ
また訪れるであろう変化を感じながら
今のこの時に感謝の気持ちを発する
One of the most secluded regions, where we feel something different. There are visual impacts, physical shapes and conditions that reject outsiders, however, they warmly accept and wrap up those who understand and accept the surroundings despite. Preserved as a National Park, and restricted as a specially designated region only by allowing limited number of visitors per day with permit only, we find no trash. Attractions by nature can be sensed attractively in such a natural setting. Unless we educate ourselves thoroughly about nature before opening areas to the public, visitors not only abuse them but also the managing systems will run wild seeking for profits. I sensed and felt a huge gap deeply between the reality and what was being there.
秘境と呼ばれるところはやっぱり何かが違う。人を寄せ付けない景観や形状があると同時に、それでも 周りを受け入れて訪れるものを温かく包み込んでくれる。国立公園として保護され、また特定スポットとして入山制限がなされているが故にゴミもなく、自然が 魅せてくれるものを魅せてもらえるようになっている気がします。自然は誰でも入れるように開放する前にしっかりと自然というものに対する認識を持たせてや らなければ入山者が自然を虐待するばかりか管理システムさえも営利主義に走って暴走してしまう。そんな現実とのギャップさえも感じさせられた思いがあります。
(2012年9/10月 : September/October, 2012)
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