My Favorite Planet
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Happy Earth Day, everyone! (The irony of celebrating Earth Day cooped up at home isn’t lost on me.)
If nothing else, COVID-19 has taught all of us that, as much humankind constantly tries to test the boundaries, Mother Nature is still very much in charge. I’m so fortunate to be able to make my living photographing this wonderful planet, but isolating in my office with nothing but memories and a few images of the marvels I’ve witnessed has opened my eyes. Having experienced the northern lights in Iceland, rainbows in Yosemite, lightning at Grand Canyon, and the Milky Way above the bristlecones (among many other natural marvels), puts me in a pretty good position to say that no picture can top being there. But after a lifetime of being there, and returning year after year and seeing firsthand how much damage is done by humans’ constant push for “progress,” I’m starting to wonder how much longer we’ll have a there to be.
But there’s nothing like a crisis to crystalize priorities. The whole point of Earth Day is to remind our planet’s inhabitants to care for our home, and never has that message felt so important. Ironically, as we humans suffer through this pandemic, Earth is thriving in our absence: Air quality is up, hydrocarbons are down, sea life is recovering, and by all accounts, wildlife is partying in our shuttered national parks. One lesson here is that the less humans interact with it, the healthier our planet becomes. That doesn’t mean that saving Earth requires never venturing out into nature. But here’s an analogy to try on: Your carpet will last decades if you never walk on it, but that’s probably not practical. But if you simply take your shoes off indoors and vacuum pretty regularly, you’ll extend that carpet’s life many times. So perhaps from now, as each of us uses Earth’s resources, whether that be consuming or just experiencing, let’s make an extra effort to tread just a little more lightly, and leave things just a little better than we found them.
Earth: These are a Few of My Favorite Scenes
Click an image for a closer look, and to view a slide show.
Floating Leaves, Valley View, Yosemite
Emergence, Half Dome from Olmsted Point, Yosemite
Neon Night, Aurora and Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Big Moon, Valley View, Yosemite
Alone Together, Oak and Crescent Moon, Sierra Foothills, California
Milky Way Reflection, Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Winter Reflection, Cathedral Rocks and Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite
Autumn Reflection, Half Dome, Yosemite
Winter Storm, El Capitan in the Snow, Yosemite
Dancing Poppy, Sierra Foothills, California
Autumn Morning, North Lake, Eastern Sierra
Autumn Snow, Valley View, Yosemite
Day’s End, Ke’e Beach, Hawaii
Double Rainbow, Tunnel View, Yosemite (2009)
Golden Elegance, California Poppy, Sierra Foothills
Spring Reflection, El Capitan and Three Brothers, Yosemite
Summer Rainbow, Yosemite Valley
Aurora Reflection, Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Moonset, Mt. Whitney and the Alabama Hills, California
Winter Glow, El Capitan, Yosemite
Cradled Crescent, Sierra Foothills
First Light, Yosemite Valley
Aurora Streaks, Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Autumn Reflection, North Lake, Eastern Sierra
Sunrise Mirror, Mono Lake
Here Comes the Sun, Idaho, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way
Sunstar, Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Sunset Palette, Half Dome from Sentinel Dome, Yosemite
Winter Reflection, El Capitan, Yosemite
Lightning Explosion, Oza Butte, Grand Canyon North Rim
Bridalveil Dogwood, Valley View, Yosemite
Touch the Sky, Roosevelt Point Rainbow, Grand Canyon
Bristlecone Night, Milky Way from the White Mountains, California
Heavenly Beam, Upper Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Forked Lightning, Point Imperial, Grand Canyon
Winter Blue Hour Reflection, Half Dome, Yosemite
Before the Sun, South Tufa, Mono Lake
Magenta Moonrise, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite
Autumn Moon Reflection, Half Dome, Yosemite
Moon and Mist,Tunnel View, Yosemite
Morning Reflection, Mono Lake
First Snow, El Capitan, Yosemite
Nightfall, Full Moon and Yosemite Valley, Yosemite
Champagne Glass Poppies, Merced River Canyon, California
Poppy Pastel, Sierra Foothills, California
Gray Dawn, Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
Color and Light, Grand Canyon Lightning, Bright Angel Point
Heaven Sent, Monsoon Rainbow, Vista Encantada, Grand Canyon North Rim
Sunset, McWay Fall, Big Sur, California
Direct Hit, Half Dome Lightning Strike, Yosemite
Captive Crescent, El Capitan and Half Dome Yosemite
Starry Night, Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
Winter Night, Milky Way Above Tasman Lake, New Zealand
Three Strikes, Bright Angel Point, North Rim, Grand Canyon
Autumn Leaf, Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite
Spring Moon Reflection, Half Dome, Yosemite
Under the Rainbow, Colorado River, Grand Canyon
Fire on High, Kilauea and Milky Way, Hawaii
El Capitan Reflection, Yosemite
Moonlight Reflection, El Capitan and the Three Brothers, Yosemite
Heavenly Veil, Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
Autumn Reflection, El Capitan, Yosemite
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Eloquent Images by Gary Hart 
Thank you, Gary. Not only are your images eloquent, so are your words. But that makes sense: before you were a photographer you were a writer. And still are.
Thanks, Mike. I hope you and Kathy are well. It’s hard to believe that it’s only been three months since we were in Iceland.
Thanks very much, Gary. Yes it is hard to believe. In many many ways I would prefer to still be in Iceland. If you have time, check my blog for Iceland pictures. Starts in mid January.
Dang – these images are absolutely stunning!
What a beautiful collection of images-and thoughts.
Thanks, David! Hope you’re doing well.
What a heartfelt message you have given all of us. Our earth certainly needs us to tread lightly. Thanks for using your writing talents as well as your photography to spread the word.