A shot of a shot. I love hiking, sightseeing, and learning about the parks....but if I'm honest, I'm happiest when I am discovering them through the lens of a camera. I often hear the critique that the camera is a barrier to actually seeing a place....that it puts a shield between you and the place which prevents full immersion. I couldn't disagree more. I see and experience better through the camera. I think the camera, at least in the way I photograph, forces me to see deeper. Most visitors to the Grand Canyon may spend 20 minutes, 30 minutes, perhaps as long as an hour at any given viewpoint. But I will typically spend several hours, zooming in, zooming out, trying to find what makes that particular viewpoint so special. By the time I leave, I know the details of that view better than most. It's akin to slow moving travel, which is my preferred method of travel as well. I do balance out my passion for photography with all the other ways to enjoy a national park. But give me a camera, tripod, and a breathtaking view and I am a happy boy
Grand Canyon National Park @grandcanyonnps (18 of 59)
Shot with IPhone 6s Plus
Photo by @jonathan_irish // Photographer and former Nat Geo staffer Jonathan Irish (@jonathan_irish) is on an epic road trip to visit and create incredible content in all of the 59 U.S. National Parks in 52 weeks during the centennial of the National Park Service. He'll be sharing his images and stories along the way here, on his own Instagram feed, and on the following link at Nat Geo: www.natgeo.com/59in52 . #59in52 #onassignment