Lighted Spaces and Landscapes

Excerpts from a Geographer's Photo Archive

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  • Purple Haze

    a memorable day at Butchart Garden filled with early summer flowers.

    I had forgotten about this one. It had been an amazing day of early summer flowers in Butchart Garden. My memory of the day is coming across one amazing planting after the next. It was a day of beauty fatigue. (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 2012)

  • Early Waterfall Work

    El Yunque National Forest

    Everyone starts somewhere. I’ve taken a number of waterfall shots over the years. Not sure if this is the first one, but it is probably close to it. I was 16 standing at the base of the falls with an instamatic camera. Everything could have been better in the shot, but given the technology limits and the limits of the camera, I’m still pleased by this shot. (El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, 1976)

  • The Hot Seat on a Hot Day

    expressed gratitude to our hosts

    We were saying farewell to our hosts and I was speaking for the group in my best “broken Spanish.” I felt the heat of the moment, but not as much as my colleague who collapsed under the heat just a few minutes earlier. (Managua, Nicaragua, 2007)

  • The Family Laundry

    Great Aunt Agnes, who preferred hanging laundry outside instead of using a dryer

    My Great Aunt Agnes had a dryer. There was something sweet about her hanging the wash on the line as she had done for decades. It looks like it was a great June day just before the winter wheat would be harvested. (Ann Arbor, Michigan 1970s)

  • Seriously Good Pie

    exceptional and unique pies. The variety of flavors was impressive,

    We had been tipped off by a friend where we could get some “seriously good pie.” To be honest, I could have come back every day for a different flavor of pie. These were outstanding and unique styles and flavors. (Bath, England, 2023)

  • Explore the Castillo When You Are There

    Castillo San Felipe del Morro, built by the Spanish in 1539, is a favorite destination for leisurely exploration. Visitors can enjoy scenic ocean views and intriguing underground facilities, making it a captivating place to spend an afternoon in San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico.

    The Spanish started to build the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in 1539 and it is one of my favorite places to visit and spend an afternoon wandering around the facilities. The walk along the ocean or wandering through the underground facilities is always amazing. Imagining the soldiers who worked and defended the fort over the centuries gives pause for thought. (San Juan Antiguo, Puerto Rico, 2002)

  • Year of the Desert Ranch

    We were both on sabbatical for the first time and working at Arizona State that year. We were told by neighbors that when the homes on the street were built, you could smell the orange blossoms from nearby orchards. By the time we got there, the development extended past us for many miles. There were only a few citrus trees in the yard. The home was nice, but it had seen better days. It was a great year and we enjoyed exploring the desert. (Tempe, Arizona, 2004)

  • Dutch?, Not Dutch, Well it was Dutch

    fondness for instances where cultures construct buildings that mimic their native styles instead of local architecture.

    One of my favorite things is when another culture comes into a place and erects buildings that look like the ones at home, rather than resembling the local ones. This phenomenon is ancient and has some spectacular examples across the globe. This one just happens to be in the Caribbean. (Willemstad, Curaçao, 2002)

  • You Could Hear Echos in the Silence

    Manzanar War Relocation Center, a site of Japanese American internment during World War II.

    I took a detour to visit the Manzanar War Relocation Center where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II. It was a quiet, cool, sunny day. There was an eerie silence about the place. It left me unsettled. (Inyo County, California, 2006)

  • Bring Lots of Water

    It was the early 90s and Tulum was clearly a resort, but not as trendy as it is now. Regardless it always requires good hydration and a hat if you visit. (Tulum, Mexico, 1993)