Visiting the natural wonders of this country has always inspired me to get out and start a new adventure. Being in the solitude of nature while sitting in front of some of the most spectacular geological or biological wonders this country has to offer has become an addiction. Curiosity alone doesn't describe the feeling, it's almost like these places become part of you and experiencing them helps make me feel whole. While standing in a grove of giant sequoias or redwoods I just imagine all of the people and events these trees have witnessed over the course of the last few thousand years and the feeling this gives me is beyond humbling. I once hiked up to Garfield Peak on the edge of Crater Lake in Oregon, and when I got to the top a feeling came over me unlike anything I have ever felt. Not only was the hike itself an accomplishment, but sitting there and looking over one the most beautiful scenery I have ever witnessed struck me to my core. Once at the top I carefully crawled out to the edge, put my legs over the side, and just sat there staring at it in awe. I never go far without my camera at my side, and whenever I experience these moments I try to capture it all inside a little file that gets tucked away onto my computer somewhere. And though these photos may be visually appealing, they don't instill in me the same feeling of awe and wonder that the physical experience brings upon me. This drives me to seek them out again, and it's these little moments that makes me curious, and drives me to discover the next moment in space and time that will make me feel whole.
Jake Bonello, Michigan
Student
Jake Bonello, Michigan
Student