11/02 – My Friends, The Stone People (B&W Portfolio)

With just a casual glance, most of the rock formations at Badlands National Park look simply like … well … like large, irregular rock formations. But if you take time to study them, and with a soft gaze, the unique, incredible shapes of animals, people and mythical creatures will slowly emerge. And, although they were carved by wind and rain, it’s easy to think these huge, elaborate shapes were created at the hands of highly skilled artists.

     Over the past few weeks I’ve had the honor of photographing nearly 50 of these unique rock formations. Most, in the shape of humans, animals (like dogs, fish and birds) and other creatures, were found throughout the Northern Unit of the park. A few were seen quite easily from a road or hiking path. Most however, took time and patience before they’d reveal themselves. And each time when they did, I felt humbled and in awe of Nature’s handiwork.

     In 1929, when the Badlands National Monument was established, the most well known camera was the black and white Graflex ‘Speed Graphic.’ It was the camera of choice in newspapers and photogravures and featured interchangeable lenses and a bellows for close-up work. To convey a sense of history–of how people in 1929 would have seen the first images of these rock formations, I photographed them using speed graphic equipment and historic lenses from 1910-1930. Click the graphic below to view an interactive slideshow containing 15 rock formations photos. Once you begin the show you can either click on a specific photo to view it in a larger size, or easily navigate from one photo to the next.

Click the Image to Start the Slideshow.