Majesty…….
Last week as I traveled with my team and twenty friends to photograph the spectacular Golden circle of Arizona and Utah’s national Parks and wild lands, I thought this is truly God’s Majesty in earthly form. Over the past 43 years, I’ve had the privilege of traveling around the world, and photographed every imaginable land form. Every time I come back to this region I think it is truly among the most spectacular on earth. The one morning that we went up into the canyon at Zion and photographed the cottonwoods, (above), was one of the most pleasant times for me. I loved the sheer beauty of these wonderful trees against the back drop of the canyon walls. Zion National Park is truly one of the most awe inspiring places in the national park system. But it goes well beyond the sheer natural beauty.
Zion is a park that was established because of the close connection the early settlers had between this land and their God. Every feature in the park has a biblical reference.
Zion |ˈzīən| (also Sion)noun1 the hill of Jerusalem on which the city of David was built.• the citadel of ancient Jerusalem.• Jerusalem.• (in Christian thought) the heavenly city or kingdom of heaven.• the Jewish people or religion.• the Christian Church.
Man has always been moved to associate the best and most magnificent things he sees and experiences with his God. I personally find many things in life that overwhelm me as an example of God’s goodness and love. My family, my brothers and sisters in Christ, the beauty of His creation. All of these things cause a welling up of the joy in my spirit. My dear brother Chuck Summers writes often on his blog ( http://www.seeingcreation.com/ ) about the relationship of faith and honoring God and his magnificent creation here on earth. I love the creation, but i worship God the Creator, as does Chuck.
I find tremendous peace being out in what god has created and I found even more hoy being with the great friends he lent us on this journey. I pray daily for their protection, welfare and continued blessing form our God.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the great blessings of your creation, but even more for the greater blessing of fellowship with your children! I pray that you will hold each and every one of them close to your heart, protect and guide them, and fill them with a never ending knowledge o your deep love for them! I pay that as they gather with family and friends on Thanksgiving that their hearts will be filled with unsurpassed joy and thanksgiving. In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.
Blessings,
the pilgrim
*Photo Note: D800, Nikon 24-120 AF-S VR f4 lens.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
I too found this to be a favorite spot on our journey. It truly was awe inspiring. I think many people over use the word awesome. In my mind God, and the things He creates or provides, are the only truly awesome things in this world. Zion certainly falls into the category of AWESOME! Thanks for inviting me to share that experience with you. You will always be my brother and my friend!
Casey
What a great morning that was! The funny thing is that I didn’t actually shoot very much that morning. What I did do was take the time to soak in what I was experiencing… the sound of the river, the color, God’s incredible blessing to His undeserving people. Something I’ll never forget, Bill. Thanks for the opportunity. Have a fantastic day my friend!
Same to you Tim, you’re in my prayers!
The entire trip touched me so deeply I have trouble putting it into words – the evidence of God’s majesty and workmanship everywhere we went, the fellowship, new friends and old. One of my best memories is standing beside you, Bill, with a small group of new friends and shooting a similar photo to the one in this post. We stood around and talked awhile and then someone asked me if I had my EV set to -.7 like you. I checked my settings and that’s where I had it. I admired the beautiful photo I had just taken, better than I remembered it, threw the camera and tripod over my shoulder and headed for the river. When I set the tripod down, I noticed it had a strange label on it. The label read … BILL FORTNEY! For a momentI, just a short moment, I carried proof that I was a really great photographer!!!! Thank you, Bill and Jim, Snake and Chuck, RC and all who were there for the laughter, tears, joy, fun … memories I will always treasure. Lynn
Me too Lynn, it was a great workshop with great people.
I wanted to fololw up and let you know how considerably I valued discovering your blog today. I’d personally consider it a good honor to work at my company and be able to use the tips shared on your web site and also engage in visitors’ reviews like this. Should a position connected with guest article author become offered at your end, i highly recommend you let me know.
I read your post and wished I was good enough to write it
I just have to say a huge “amen” along with my dear friends, Casey, Tim, and Lynn about what a huge privilege it was to shoot together with you Bill. Viewing God’s majesty together with you and others who love God and photography was a blessing that I can hardly even put into words. I, too, think about those times when we were all standing around out there in the “majesty” and drinking it all in, composing, and then shooting the beauty. And then, I think about those times when you would help set up the shot. You told me to try changing the white balance to “Shade” when we were in Antelope Canyon. I did the same at Horseshoe Bend and those shots were so much better. My photography will never be the same and neither will I. Blessings to you and all my other dear, new friends!
I never thought of “rocks” as beautiful before! They have always just been “hard, plain, irregular shaped objects” that will hurt you if you fall on them. However after this tour, I have learned that “rocks” can be OVERWHELMINGLY beautiful and majestic! I, similar to Casey, reserve the word “awesome” only to God and things He created! The “Rocks” we saw and photographed were truly AWESOME! I now have a new view/appreciation of Ps 18:2 “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer”. Don’t care how good of a photographer you are, you can’t catch all the “awesome” that we viewed on a piece of paper! Pictures (and words) don’t cut it!!
I agree and by the way “Wow, Carl you’re awesome too!”
It so wonderful to see you in Zion. I can’t even tell you. So many of my best memories photographing over the years have involved you. You have been such an inspiration to me over the years. Your son stopped to introduce himself in the Narrows the next day too. You must be very proud. Please keep in touch. If you are in Sonoma County, be sure to give a shout. We would love to see you.
Alan
Thanks Alan, was great to see you too!! Will do!