Epilogue

For Olaf Sztaba

I suppose one should not write an epilogue to one’s work when one is still working, bu to put it the way I feel it, it’s my 80th year, I have a hell of a time getting around, my doc keeps warning me about this and that, and huanity’s attitude to the fate of the planet simply drives me bonkers and then I drive my friends bonkers. So...

Olaf Sztabe (a fellow Pole, despite the first hame) has a wonderful magazine called Elements where he might what to show some of my work. He chose a few images which happened to be from the heart of my collection and although I don’t know precisely what he wants, here is my overview.

I have added some images to help me illustrate some points about the locations.

The first five images were all made from the guardrail on Interstate 90, known locally as the Mass. Pike. I-90 is the longest and northern-most of the Interstates.

I had been photographing with a view camera for seven years before I discovered the views on the Pike, a commuter highway from the western suburbs into Boston. The second picture (below right: Weston Overlook from ground level) shows from where I photographed. The view was the result of filling valleys when they built the highway giving me a perspective above, yet close to the tree canopy something very hard to find. Although I had driven this highway for many years it was not until 1981 that I noticed the maple trees in early spring with what seemed a haze of orange caused when the buds first appeared.

For reasons I cannot describe, other than a physical reaction, it seemed so beautiful and I made up my mind I would find a way to photograph it. Eventually I found a place to park my car and to hike the few hundred feet at the top of the embankment. Once I set up my 4x5 I attracted the Turnpike police and after several discussions got permission from the Turnpike Authority. I photographed on the Pike for 11 years.

As you can see the trees continued to blossom and since there were a mixture of species, they turned different colors (see Peak Color) until it almost looked like autumn. The first five images are of the same trees. The 6th and 7th are also on the Pike but from further west.

You will see a similar selection but extending south into the Smoky Mountains in the gallery Spring Trees. (Note that clicking on the two small arrows in the lower right hand corner of the slide show will give you a full screen.)

The five pond images (I have added two) were all made in Acadia National Park in Maine.