A century ago this year, President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Act, a historic and momentous bill that set into motion a long process of protecting and preserving some of North America’s most precious wilderness areas.
This bill assured that future generations would be able to enjoy these public spaces for recreation without the spoil of development. These feats were accomplished through strong advocacy efforts made by numerous individuals, but the most convincing component was the photographs of the impeccable, untouched landscapes. 59 designated areas have now been deemed National Parks and we have a slew of individuals to thank. Aperture, in association with George Eastman Museum and organized by Jamie M. Allen, has compiled an essential, new monograph entitled Picturing America’s National Parks. This carefully constructed book documents photography’s symbiotic relationship to the parks, following its journey and highlighting the significant individuals who contributed to the cause or made compelling images in these areas over the last 150 years. Photographers Charles Leander Weed and Carleton Watkins are noted to be the earliest pioneers to photograph Yosemite Valley, making visually compelling cases for its preservation. The book’s detailed history and selected images make an undeniably fascinating story. Featured is the work of both masters and contemporary photographs, from the most iconic names to the unknown, such as Ansel Adams, Gary Winnogrand, Roger Minick, Edward Weston, Minor White, Martin Parr, Lee Freidlander, David Benjamin Sherry, Binh Danh, Stephen Shore, and Joel Sternfeld. We strongly suggest you pick up a copy at Aperture, be inspired, and go out to see some of this planet’s most sensational sites that have been preserved through the selflessness of others.
This monograph is a companion to Photography and America’s National Parks, an exhibition comprised predominantly from the George Eastman Museum collection.
