23 Comments
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David A. Rosen's avatar

So completely different than trees and oceans of New England. You tell a great story with with these images and your prose. Thank you for sharing.

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Mary Ann Rollano RN's avatar

What a gorgeous place, and you've captured its beauty perfectly! As I'm writing my post on The Science of Blue Mind and the positive effects oceans and bodies of water have on the nervous system, I'm trying to find science on what you can do to achieve the same effects if you don't live near water. I think I've found it here in your pictures. I'll bet the minerals in the air from those gorgeous rocky landscapes have a miraculous effect, not to mention the beauty of it all!

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Ken Smith's avatar

As much as I love Coastal Maine and Acadia, no place fascinates and inspires me more than the American Southwest, precisely because it is so alien and different than the landscapes I'm used to in my home state of New Jersey. You visited many of my favorite places. I didn't think Monument Valley could get any more beautiful until I saw your aurora shots—well done!

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Mimi Wilson's avatar

Thank you for sharing, Ben…these are magnificent. Looking forward to the second installment! 🤩

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Neural Foundry's avatar

What a transformtive journey! Your images really capture that shift from bewilderment to wonderment. The shot with the aurora over Monument Valley is absolutly stunning, and I love how you found the beauty in the lone juniper trees. The bentonite hills look otherworldy.

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Sheryl White's avatar

Wow, to get the aurora as a background to those cliffs is amazing! I saw a couple of photos from this collection I recognized, how fun!

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Sandra Feil's avatar

Benjamin, your photos and commentary

are beautiful. This is an area that I have never traveled. Since I am now disabled, your travelog and outstanding images were a gift to me. I am so thankful that you are doing a job you love. It makes life so much sweeter.

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Bob Warner Photography's avatar

I missed this post, but then saw part II and had to come back to find this one. Amazing shots and loved the narrative that went with them.

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Janet Galchus's avatar

These images are breathtakingly magnificent. I'm inspired to take a workshop in the southwest.

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Michael Skeer's avatar

Brilliant! And as someone who lives is Sedona and spends most of his time out exploring the Colorado Plateau… why would you want to be anywhere else?

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Neal Mastruserio's avatar

OMG, Ben!!! So many amazing images! Okay, you've more than convinced me of the next trip I need to do. Enjoy all of the upcoming holidays.

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Sue Mickey's avatar

This is so humorous and humbling. Ben, Kurt and their tribe of friends sound like a variety of animals in a children's book. Oh the places they will go! It just doesn't get better than this...

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Dominic Trapani's avatar

So cool Ben, the landscapes out west are so wild and amazing! Can’t imagine what it feels like to simply be standing and observing in these kind of places, but the images here at least let me attempt to imagine it. 😁 Great work as always, and looking forward to the next batch of images!

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Ruben Vicente's avatar

Great stuff!

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Patricia's avatar

Your posts are always worthwhile. ❤️

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Ralph Turner's avatar

These images are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

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KewtieBird’s Photo Journey's avatar

What an amazing desert adventure. Stellar images! And I can’t believe you even got the Aurora. What a major treat!

I’m glad you found your way to loving what the desert can be. As someone who grew up in the desert southwest, I can understand the conflicting feelings one can have before realizing what beauty is to be found.

Thanks for sharing and I’m looking forward to more.

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