All Roads North had the honor of asking Luong a few questions about his adventures in America’s lesser-known wilderness spaces:

ARN: After having visited every national park, what surprised you most about the national monuments?

QTL: I was surprised to find the national monuments managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to be so wild, with even fewer facilities than I expected.  With the exceptions of national parks in Alaska and a few island parks, when you visit even the lesser developed national parks, you are guaranteed to find paved roads, trails, a visitor center, and restrooms. Some of the national monuments are entirely devoid of such basic facilities. Sometimes, there is so little signage that you don’t even know you’ve entered the national monument.

Why do you think it’s important to explore lesser-known national monuments, or as your book refers to them: “America’s hidden gems”?

First, you have to understand why those national monuments are important. The 22 land national monuments in the book cover a significant portion of the American landscape, totaling about 11 million acres. They represent a broad cross-section of natural environments, from deep canyons to high mountains, from cactus-covered plains to conifer forests, and from deserts to lush river habitats. For comparison, the 51 national parks in the contiguous United States total about 19 million acres. The marine national monuments are another order of magnitude, totaling 218 million acres. Besides their vastness and diversity, the monuments under review hold natural and historical treasures that rival those found in our beloved national parks. Almost half of our treasured national parks started as national monuments, so in some sense, they could be viewed as future national parks.

We conserve only what we love, and we love only what we understand. However, the general public is not aware of the national monuments. There is nothing that brings better understanding and connection than a visit.  The more adventurous setting of the national monuments results in much lighter visitation, even though you can often find similar subjects and environments as in the nearby national parks. The national monuments offer the opportunity to discover lands out of the beaten path, free of crowds and of the strict rules of the national parks. This may not last forever. When Ed Abbey was a ranger at Arches National Monument and wrote his seminal Desert Solitaire, there was just a single dirt track leading into the monument. Last year, on several days Arches National Park had to close to further entries early in the morning due to overcrowding, and this year visitors will need to have an advance reservation to enter the park on a timed entry system.

Which national monuments were particularly memorable to you?

Each of them represents such a unique environment and different experiences that it is difficult to pick favorites, so where to start?  Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is so vast and so diverse that one could spend a lifetime exploring it. Maybe I’ve developed a deeper relationship with it than with the other monuments since I’ve visited it since it was established in the mid-1990s. On each return trip, I always find new places to explore.

On the other hand, I had heard of, but not visited Upper Missouri Break National Monument until I started the project that lead to Our National Monuments. The visit was a special experience because whereas one visits the other monuments by driving and hiking, there I went on a four-day paddle trip along the Upper Missouri River. Floating at a slow pace, I connected with a time when the landscape of the West was wild, seeing little change since the days of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and finding remarkable geology that I did not expect in this part of the country. Then there is Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument for its incredible remoteness and views of the Grand Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument for the otherwordly rock formations, Bears Ears for the treasure trove of ancient dwellings…

Your book makes a passionate case for conservation of these places…what do you see as the major threats and how can people help?

When the previous administration conducted the review of those national monuments in 2017, and subsequently dramatically reduced in size Bears Ears and Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, it was with an eye toward opening the door to industrial development and extraction. As citizens of this land, the voice, and votes of each of us count. The change of administration in 2021 brought for the first time a Native American to a cabinet position, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. One of her first actions was to visit Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments and recommend the restorations of those two national monuments to their original size, which President Biden did on Oct 8, 2021. However, the threats have not gone away. The Republican politicians in Utah have not accepted the restorations and are preparing legal challenges. We should remember John Muir’s appeal that “the battle for conservation will go on endlessly.”  We can no longer take designations for granted.  As citizens who care for lands that belong to all of us, we need to remain vigilant and involved.

You’re known for favoring using a large-format camera– Was this the case for the National Monuments project? Why?

The book includes a few images made with the large-format camera from the 1990s, but I photographed this project mostly using digital cameras. The technical quality of the images they are producing has been steadily improving and is now close to the large-format film, and they offer much greater practicality and versatility while reducing the environmental impact if one photographs a lot.

You’ve spoken about Ansel Adams being a huge inspiration in the beginning of your career– which contemporary photographers inspire you?

David Muench’s body of work is unrivaled in the field of nature landscape photography. He made great photographs before I was born and is still active today.

What are you working on or excited by right now in your photography work?

I am mostly known for scenic landscape photographs of the national parks, but I have been working on a number of series that bring either different perspectives or more conceptual approaches to those places. With Our National Monuments, I have moved from national parks to lesser-known lands. I am now looking at even more hidden wild places that are not protected yet as national parks nor national monuments.

The post Capturing Wilderness: The Photography of QT Luong appeared first on All Roads North.

“What brought me to Alaska was orders from the United States Air Force,” he said.

DeYoung had filed the state on his “dream sheet,” requesting it as a location he’d like to be stationed. After eight years of active duty, his wish was granted. DeYoung and his wife Lauri drove up as newly-weds to start a life in the “Last Frontier.” Living in Anchorage, they found the beautiful dichotomy of a large city with immeasurable wilderness surrounding it.

“Right out [Anchorage’s] back door is wilderness where you can take off with a backpack and walk for the rest of your life and never see somebody,” DeYoung said.

Alaska is easily the USA’s largest state at 586,412 square miles– that’s bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. And yet, a majority of the land is unpopulated and remote. Even the state capital city, Juneau, is inaccessible by road.

“The sheer scale and size intimidates people, but it’s actually pretty easy to operate in,” DeYoung said. “What Alaska doesn’t have in trails, it makes up for in navigable rivers. Alaska has hundreds and hundreds of navigable rivers that you could float for a week to a month and use that as a vehicle to explore the wilderness.”

Another favorite means of exploration is via floatplane. DeYoung said that it’s common amongst Alaskans to be dropped off somewhere new and either find your way to a road or to a pre-arranged pick up location.

Alaska’s Wild Photography Scene

After some years working for the Air Force as a forecaster, DeYoung began to get involved with the photography community in the area, eventually exiting the Air Force to pursue that work full-time.

When it comes to photography in Alaska, there is no shortage of stunning natural subjects. From the mountain ranges to glaciers to wildlife, Alaska is a photographer’s paradise. In the lower 48 states, most popular photo destinations are just too crowded much the year. In Alaska, escaping the crowd isn’t a problem. Rather, access and knowledge of the land is usually the biggest hurdle to overcome.

“You have to know what locations produce the most striking photos and you have to be there when the light is good,” DeYoung said. “My advantage is, being a former meteorologist and forecaster, I can predict narrow windows of good light that others are going to miss when they listen to general public forecasts.” 

Another thing is access– Many of Alaska’s best locations are not road accessible. Do you have access to a float plane or boat? Utilizing air or water taxis and charters in Alaska is just a way of life. In-state, off road transportation is expensive but necessary for access.

Although a challenge, the lack of access to these great shots adds value to the photography experience as well: Even in the Instagram age, outside of a few very popular bear viewing locations, you won’t find crowds in Alaska. The state’s wide open spaces ensure plenty of wildlife viewing spots and remote adventures for everyone, even as the state’s popularity continues to steadily pick up.

The Realities of Seasonal Affective Disorder

So why isn’t everyone rushing to move to the Last Frontier? There are a few sizable cons to measure on the other hand of the numerous pros. 

For DeYoung, the decision to leave was a result of seasonal affective disorder.

“When I moved to Alaska, I didn’t really think [seasonal affective disorder] would affect me,” DeYoung said. “But after so many years there– particularly after I got out of the active duty Air Force and started getting into photography– you realize that you have to address that and deal with it and face it. That’s what forced us to leave was the psychological impact of lack of sunlight that you get up there in the winter.”

Due to its northern position on the equator, Alaska receives limited sunlight in the winter months, usually about November to January. In Anchorage, the shortest day of the year consists of about five hours of sunlight. Further north in Alaska’s Arctic region, there are even towns that experience 67 days of darkness. 

Although no longer living in Alaska, DeYoung’s days of adventure photography are far from behind him. Today, Michael and Lauri run their travel and adventure photography team from their 100 percent solar-powered home in Taos, New Mexico. They still return to Alaska every year, sometimes even in winter, to lead photography workshops, tours and their own backcountry adventures.

Sample Itineraries:

Interested in your own Alaskan adventure? Check out these sample itineraries in Alaska:

Luxury Alaska Adventures on the Kenai Peninsula

An Epic Alaska Road Trip

The post How This Former Air Force Forecaster Fell in Love with Alaska appeared first on All Roads North.

Here, All Roads North asks Krantz a few questions about her journey of discovery in the American West:

American Cowboys ©AMK

What most surprised you as you explored the American West? 

Their strong sense of belonging, their pioneering spirit, strength, independence, authenticity, integrity and dignity that continues to captivate people.  Their word is their bond and they have remained unchanged.   This builds a culture of us — all together — helping each other out in the community and at the same time serving the country. My work is a celebration of those values, the work ethic, the integrity, love for friends and family, community, and country, regardless of cultural background.

Wrangler ©AMK

West: The American Cowboy is full of intimate and immersive shots– in cars, out in the fields and at cowboys’ homes. How long did it take to create the connections that made your subjects comfortable inviting you into their lives? 

Being an outsider did not make it any easier.  It took a lot of time, patience and determination. 

There was no staging and no costumes. I only asked for the privilege of following their ordinary, everyday lives, and tried to stay as far out of their way as I could.  I wanted to deliver a genuine window into a remarkable and often forgotten culture that anyone could appreciate and understand from around the World and it had to be real.  Once these cowboys learned that I was there to capture what is important to them about their world in a pure and authentic way were we able to actually look deeply into one another’s eyes.  And after that there was immediate trust and open access. An amazing exchange between East and West.

COWBOY DREAM @AMK

What are some of your personal favorite places in the American West?

I have driven tens of thousands of miles across more than a dozen states but don’t have a favorite.  Each state is different and beautiful in its own way and is home to inspiring landscapes and people.

BULL RIDER @AMK

From your experience and observation, what role does the rodeo play in Western culture?

To bring people together and to test Cowboys & Cowgirls on their ranch work skills and speed. 

It is also extra cash but most leave with nothing. It is truly a passion.

NAVAJO @AMK

There are several stunning images, not only of the cowboys, but of the sweeping landscapes where they live. What was your experience with these wide open landscapes and how did it affect your cowboy exploration? 

Once I spent time out West with Cowboys, I quickly realized why they choose this way of life, generation after generation.  Their values is one but the beauty of these landscapes that surround them is one too.  Ranchers and rodeo cowboys also spend lots of their time on the road as they live in remote areas of the Country therefore it was essential for me to capture these landscapes as well.  They are part of the story! 

Follow the links below for itinerary inspiration to guide your own discovery of the American West:

Going Wild in West Texas – A Private Ranch Road Trip

Back to the Future in New Mexico

Luxury Family Adventure in Colorado

The post Photographer Anouk Masson Krantz Explores the American West appeared first on All Roads North.

Dallas-raised photographer Gray Malin caught the art world’s attention with his now iconic Prada Marfa series. He’s since gone on to shoot around the globe, from the slopes of St. Moritz to the deserts of Namibia. Despite his globetrotting, he still finds plenty to capture his imagination right at home. Here, he shares with All Roads North some of his favorite images from his travels throughout the United States:

Central Park, New York City

GM: Like with all of my aerial shots, I flew high above the city in a doorless helicopter to capture Manhattan from above. Central Park is exquisite on foot but being in a helicopter and getting the full scope of how much land it spans and how much greenery is in the middle of one of the most bustling cities in the world is unforgettable.  

Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club, Santa Barbara

The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club is such a glamorous, exclusive place tucked away within the Four Seasons Resort the Biltmore Santa Barbara. It has such a rich history and upon visiting it for the first time, I was immediately transported to a different time, convinced I needed to create a series that both paid tribute to a vintage and extremely luxurious period of the club’s history as well as put a modern spin on the project. For this image,  I used vintage costumes, evoking a feeling of the “Golden Age,” and played with elements like the umbrellas, stripes and colors to create an effortlessly relaxed yet aesthetically structured image. 

East Hampton, NY

Shooting every location is thrilling, but from the beginning I’ve been drawn to shooting beach aerials. The vantage point is unlike any other. I love seeing the patterns and colors below, how the coastal terrain looks up against the water and the shapes that umbrellas and structures become while looking at them from above. This image perfectly sums up the Hamptons: laid back yet chic. 

Hole 10, Pebble Beach

The success of my aerial images from my Pebble Beach and Big Sur series was such a great surprise.  I wanted to shoot these images for a while, but logistics were very hard to work out. Finally, last year, my team and I coordinated this shoot and I could not be more pleased with the results. I think this image, especially, captures the entire feel and incredible scenery of Pebble Beach, with the greenery of famous golf courses right up against the beautiful cliffs and rocky shores in this area. These images are perfect and nostalgic for any golf lover who has visited or hopes to visit this part of the California coast. 

Poolside at La Follia, Palm Beach

I shot this image at a private residence in Palm Beach that is an unbelievable property unlike any I have ever experienced before.  For this image, I wanted to celebrate the glamour of the property as well as create a vintage moment that makes the viewer feel like they are experiencing this day at this pool as well. This image, in many ways, was an homage to the famous Slim Aarons photo “Poolside Glamour ” which depicts two women in glorious 1960’s attire enjoying their cocktails by the pool. 

Rainbow Cowboy Hats, Marfa

Marfa is a very unique place. It’s located in the middle of nowhere Texas, and the Prada installation by Elmgreen and Dragset creates a very whimsical feel, especially with the background of this empty desert. Growing up in Dallas, I knew about the installation and about the tiny but prosperous art community in Marfa. The first time I visited this installation I was immediately inspired and I knew I needed to create something just as whimsical to pay tribute to it. The series was based off of the idea of the Prada installation being an actual functioning Prada store. I imagined who would shop at this store. Would their selection of merchandise be more geared to cowboys? 

Two Cowboys, Marfa

This shot was actually not planned. It was one of those in-the-moment images that ended up being a favorite of mine. We were setting up for a day of shooting and two local cowboys came to bring a mule for the project. It was sunrise and I noticed how incredible these two individuals in traditional Western garb looked against the layered sky and Prada building in the background. I said, “don’t move,” and got a few shots with this composition. I think so many people resonate with this image as it is a juxtaposition of high fashion with a desert environment and unexpected subjects, allowing the image to feel whimsical and evoke humor.  

Beverly Hills Hotel, CA

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for over ten years, yet I am still so giddy every time I visit The Beverly Hills Hotel. The property’s history and legendary guests really made my project at this property extremely special. The red-carpet entry represents all things that the Beverly Hills Hotel is associated with —celebrities and high-profile guests that have steadily visited since the hotel’s opening, high-end amenities and service, and an experience unlike any other. This series was focused on reimagining the hotel in a vintage framework, and this image evokes the feeling of when you’ve just arrived at an incredible destination, knowing you are about to spend your day relaxing by the pool.

You’re Always Welcome at The Parker, Palm Springs

Many of the images from this series, Gray Malin at the Parker, are actually in my children’s book Be Our Guest! My entire vision for this series was creating a world where the exotic animals were guests and employees of The Parker hotel, giving the images a fun and playful vibe which lend themselves to imagining a whole story surrounding them. This shot is at the entrance of the hotel and is a perfect combination of colorful props, beautiful design and, of course, the marvelous elephant. We worked with experienced animal trainers for this shoot, so this took some of the pressure off of working with the animals, however it was still challenging and took a lot of patience to get this shot.

The post Behind The Lens: Gray Malin shares the secrets behind some of his most memorable shots appeared first on All Roads North.