Everything Is
Illuminated
STORY AND
PHOTOGRAPH BY
MICHAEL MELFORD
“A good photograph
is knowing where to
stand.” So said the
master photographer
Ansel Adams. But it’s
easier said than done.
I have always loved
his classic 1942 image
of the Tetons and the
Snake River, Wyoming.
When I was working
on a story about wild
and scenic rivers for
National Geographic
magazine, I decided to
pay homage to Adams
by photographing from
nearly the same spot.
Alas, the trees had
grown over the years,
so I secured a permit
to hang a camera from
a weather balloon
above them. After
drifting up a hundred
feet, it got this shot.
I’ve been fortunate
to travel the world
many times over, and
I’ve photographed
dozens of Traveler
stories. Here’s what I’ve
learned: Nothing else
compares to America’s
national parks. They are
the greatest legacy we
can ever leave, and the
treasures we need to
protect. As a photog-
rapher, I’ve made it my
mission to share the
wonders of the natural
world with others, and
to help them see the
beauty that surrounds
us. My hope is that
we will preserve these
places for future
generations. Not just
in photos, but in fact—
for all to experience,
explore, and protect.