Even though photographs can’t capture the scale of the Grand Canyon, we nonetheless continue to try:
From the South Rim
From the South Kaibab Trail
(click photos to enlarge)
Panos
February 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Inspiration · Other National Parks · Photography
Tagged: Grand Canyon, panoramic
I’m John Wesley Powell!
February 7, 2010 · 2 Comments
Apologies for the noticeable absence lately. I’m currently at a national park for a two week training. Any guesses where? Here’s a hint: I just got back from a overnight backpacking trip down to the Colorado River and back, descending and climbing a total of 10,000 ft in 16 miles. My legs ache but I still have a huge smile on my face.
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Tagged: bright angel campground, bright angel trail, Grand Canyon, phantom ranch, south kaibab, winter
Worlds Collide
January 30, 2010 · 1 Comment
Whoa, this image is loaded with personal connections:
There are some things that can’t be learned from a book. (Dwell, Dec/Jan 2009), via Unhappy Hipster
1. That’s Mt. Shuksan in the background, our most prominent mountain at North Cascades National Park.
2. I just read that book, Heat.
3. The quilt reminds me an awful lot of some patterns I drew while studying abroad in Mali.
4. This photograph was taken at Lafayette Park, in Detroit, near where I grew up.
Creepy!
→ 1 CommentCategories: Uncategorized
Alone in the Modern World
January 30, 2010 · 1 Comment
This new blog, Unhappy Hipsters, is brilliant. It humorously punctures the pretentious bubble of modern design and architecture, and yet, still glorifies its lifestyle. The captions are written as if the author is a jealous industry insider, striving for, but not yet achieving, such socioeconomic status. (admittedly, this could very well describe myself).
And while I’m literally laughing out loud, Unhappy Hipsters is actually an insightful critique on our consumer-based culture, that the stuff we accumulate does not necessarily equate with meaningful relationships and happiness.
Ever the realist, he built his table for one. (Dwell magazine, February 2010)
He sipped his tepid coffee and pondered how to tell her that, in fact, the pants made the sack dress even less appealing. (Dwell, October 2009)
And one day, a ladder appeared. Julien climbed with guarded optimism; could this be the way out for which he’d been searching all these weeks? (Dwell, January 2010)
The things that once so defined him — shag carpeting, Room & Board sofas, monogamy — now suffocated him. (Dwell, September 2009)
He tried to focus on the novel, and not how much his bedroom reminded him of a plywood coffin. (Dwell magazine, November 2009)
Still recovering from broken trust, neither wanted to be the first to try the eggs. (Dwell, November 2009)
I’m so excited to follow this blog.
→ 1 CommentCategories: Ideas
Tagged: architecture, critique, design, humor, Unhappy Hipster
Levan Kakabadze
January 25, 2010 · 2 Comments
→ 2 CommentsCategories: Photography
Tagged: black and white photography, Georgia, levan kakabadze
Statistician Humor
January 25, 2010 · Leave a Comment
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Graphic Design · infographics
Tagged: bedhead, data distribution, graph
And it’s nearly my birthday!
January 25, 2010 · 1 Comment
Never did I imagine that two of my passions–typography and baking–could mate and create such beautiful offspring. Ta-dah! Helvetica-shaped cookie cutters!
Beverly Hsu
Beverly Hsu
Beverly Hsu
Via HOW Magazine.
→ 1 CommentCategories: Graphic Design
Tagged: baking, cookies, helvetica, lovechild, typography
The Young Engagé
January 23, 2010 · 2 Comments
Today’s photo shoot features the Young Engagé program, the counterpart to last week’s Dame School. Once again, I was impressed by the integrity and dedication of the students. And the activities! From carpentry to calligraphy to navigating by compass, I wish I could have put down my camera to join the students!
These photographs only represent my personal favorite images, out of about 500 total shots. Meaning, some of these images won’t be useful for the purpose of the NPS, but appeal to whatever weird sense of aesthetic I may have.
It’s interesting how I felt my camera, or eye, favor one subject over another. Honestly, I think part of it had to do with the period clothing. For example, one student wore this deep red coat that was so well tailored and the color just popped, no matter the environment.
I want this coat.
→ 2 CommentsCategories: Inspiration · Other National Parks · Photography
Tagged: fort vancouver, history, National Historic Park, Photography, Young Engage, youth
Fort Vancouver Treasures
January 21, 2010 · 2 Comments
One of my favorite displays at Fort Vancouver is a display case featuring the staff favorites from their 2 million-object museum collection. Next to each artifact is a little write-up explaining why the staff member was attracted to that particular object. What inspires me about this collection is how each staff member’s personalities are reflected in a historic object. It’s almost like they took a personality quiz, “What Fort Vancouver artifact are you?”
The eventual goal of these photographs is to create an audio slideshow where each staff member reads a loud their captions. While I probably won’t have time to finish that audio component, I know I’ll leave it in good hands with my co-worker, Greg Shine (the official podcaster for Fort Vancouver, among many other titles).
Pocket watch, front.
Pocket Watch, back.
The pocket watch is not only cool, but it reminds us of what Benjamin Franklin once said: “Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of.”
Martin Adams, Cultural Resources Division
Tumbler (FOVA 9085)
In archaeology, it’s always about patterns: how artifacts are distributed over a site or how frequently a certain type appears. It’s rare that you can connect an artifact with a specific person. This is one of the wonderful exceptions. This tumbler is marked with the owner’s name on the bottom: “A. L. Lewes”. He was a clerk here in the 1850s. We found several of these tumblers in the bottom of a privy. I’ve always wondered why he was so possessive… but despite the unanswered questions, I love that we can touch what he touched.
Theresa Langford, Cultural Resources Division
Roman Brick (FOVA 32838)
Roman Brick (FOVA 32838)
It is thought that this type of brick was looted from Roman ruins in England. How incredible that a brick of this kind could make its way from a Roman ruin all the way to the western limits of the North American continent—a journey over 1,000 years and 17,000 miles by sailing ship.
Notice the two small cat footprints on the front edge of the brick!
Doug Wilson, Cultural Resources Division
→ 2 CommentsCategories: Uncategorized
Youth Stewardship on Ross Lake
January 19, 2010 · 3 Comments
Here it is! The video I’ve been working on over the last month.
Okay, it’s a work in progress (feedback?), but I think you get the take home points: 1) these kids are amazing, 2) NPS staff are the best, and 3) you should visit the North Cascades.
→ 3 CommentsCategories: Inspiration · Multimedia · North Cascades National Park · Photography
Tagged: North Cascades, Ross Lake, youth engagement, Youth Stewardship
