The eroded volcanic remains of the San Francisco Peaks mark the highest point of elevation in my home state of Arizona. This sacred site revered by natives evolved from the ashes of ancient volcanic devastation. Today the peaks continue to signify perpetual re-birth with each year's new planting season as their alignment is used by Hopi villages on Black Mesa to calculate the winter solstice. The term "solstice" is derived from the Latin words "sol" meaning sun and "sistere" which means to stand still, translating literally to "sun standing still".
Northern Arizona has long been a refuge for inhabitants of the valley of the sun and as a lifelong native of Arizona, I wanted to capture the affinity I have for this part of the country while expressing my reverence for the indigenous people and the cultural significance that it represents. I captured these images in Lockett Meadow, the gem of these peaks, on the Summer solstice as an expression of time and gratitude for the solace I've found in their shadows. Each exposure represents both past and present. Though this place represents something quite different to me than it does to the Hopi of Black Mesa, we are equally in awe of the San Francisco Peaks and the landscapes they loom over. We must all work together to protect this majestic natural wonder that we have come to admire.
Each exposure represents the past and the current time.
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