Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest

by Jon Ortner, Greer Chesher (Introduction)

Straddling the boarders of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico lies a magnificent wilderness known as the Colorado Plateau. Encompassing over 130,000 square miles, it is a high, eroded tableland of rock, canyon, and desert, and within its boundaries are the greatest concentration of National Parks, National Monuments, State Parks, Wilderness areas, BLM holdings, and Native American tribal lands in America.

This mini edition of the oversized, deluxe Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest is an awe-inspiring visual odyssey through this incredible landscape. Beautifully photographed by Jon Ortner, this little book showcases more than two hundred images, including seventy-five panoramas. Shot in more than fifty locations across a 130,000-square-mile area of Utah and Arizona, there are thirteen geographical areas included in the book: Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Gulch, Petrified Forest National Park, Hopi Tribal Lands, Grand Canyon National Park, Navajo Tribal Lands.

From the vast, majestic canyons, to the brilliant, swirling colors of the Grand Staircase and Vermillion Cliffs, Ortner shares his unique vision of a wilderness of rock, at once familiar yet astounding, one of America's greatest natural treasures. This remarkable aassemblage of geological diversity and spectacular beauty attracts millions of American and foreign tourists every year.

With extensive captions about the locations by the photographer and an introduction by the writer Greer K. Chesher.

Genres: Nature, Travel, Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2008

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible photos. I greatly appreciated how they were 'untouched' - zero extra filters or color enhancing is necessary here. Excellent notes in the appendix. This is a nice oversize book already, properly published in the landscape orientation to match these sprawling canyons. There are quite a few pages that have fold-outs to even larger format.

My only complaint might be that it is TOO good. Seriously. After looking at stunning picture after stunning picture, you literally need to stop to catch your breath and resume at a later time.

I've visited these canyons of the USA southwest and can attest to the justice this book does to them.

Easy 5*

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly outstanding photography! Ortner’s notes on each featured area are concise but insightful.

[MKF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning photographs of places I dream of visiting or want to visit and never will.