Canyon Country Zephyr | 2006-06-01 | Page 10

THE ZEPHYR/JUNE-JULY more DOWNTOWN TOMTIULL Coe FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY 61N, Main St. Moab, UT 84532 [phone] [phone] E-MAIL: [e-mail] INTERNET: www.tomiill.com Visit Tom's web site and view his gallery on-line: www.tomtill.com PHILIP _ HYDE 1921-2006 2006 MAIN STREET in MOAB PHIL HYDE... I OWE HIM EVERYTHING Philip Hyde was the greatest nature photographer of the "greatest generation." His work was also intimately tied to the Colorado Plateau, and he was the first color photographer to deeply probe the mysterious and then little-known areas of whatis ~ now Canyonlands National Park, Grand-Staircase Esealante National Monument, and Glen Canyon -National Recreation Area. __ Thoughit may seem like ancient history to some, _ it was only 35 years ago that Sierra Club Books published some of the first ever color images of The Dolls House, the White Rim, the La Sal Mountains, and Coyote Gulch. The book was Slickrock, with images by Hyde and text by Ed Abbey, and it still stands as the finest collection of images of our part of world. The book was published in response to grandiose plans for super highways through the Needles and luxury hotels at Anderson Bottom, and to push for protection of the Escalante drainage, and it worked. Canyonlands was left alone, and much of the Escalante not drowned under Lake Powell was saved in an expanded Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Hyde's legacy, outside his great images, includes the protection of Dinosaur National Monument and Grand Canyon from dams. His images of Glen Canyon before inundation, are the best visual record we have (Porter's images are great, but tend to be mostly abstract closeups) of that magnificent place. Sadly, this collection of photos has never been widely. disseminated, and it would be a fitting tribute to Hyde if it now was. The destruction of Glen Canyon was a harsh blow to Hyde, as it was to just about everyone who knew it. He once said that the Colorado Plateau reached its apex in two places, both completely different, but equally spectacular. One was Grand Canyon, which he helped save, and the other was Glen Canyon. This statement is the most thought-provoking assessment of the loss of Glen Canyon I've heard. Phil Hyde has always been one of my heroes. By chance, I met him at the KOA in Flagsatff about 15 ears ago. I was brushing my teeth, recognized him, and introduced myself. | was amazed that he knew my work, and he invited me to his camper to talk shop. I got to meet his wife Ardis also, and they were two of the most unassuming, down-to-earth, egoless people I've ever met. Nobody has ever captured the essence of a hot day in Canyonlands better than Hyde. In his images you can smell the sizzling junipers and the desiccated dust. Dragging a 5x7 camera where no one had gone before, he created artistic but accessible photographs that were the first glimpse for many Americans of the Colorado Plateau's wilderness heart. He inspired a whole generation of photographers like me to communicate our love of this desert through film, and I owe him everything. POTTERY JEWELRY THE..UNUSUAL (and the Vortex of Steel Sculptures in Moab) 3 MOABITLIA Visit us at our new location! 77 N. MAIN STREET 259.1601 Just a couple doors up from Back of Beyond Books REDROCK BAKERY G WELLE 55 748. MAIN NFERNET STREET IN MOAB CAFE. = 259.5941 A QUALITY BAKERY WITH SCOTTISH-AMERICAN INFLUENCE : RETAIL WHOLESALE CATERING WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER We're now — "Above the crows 131 N. Main St Moab, UT 84532 435.259.7870 fax: [phone] www.canyonla Lenore Beeson: 260.2135 Dave Bierschied: 260.1968 Barbara Holcomb: 259.6978 Pam Washnock: 260.9898 Meredith Gauthier: 260.1722 Dan Neuss: 260.8448 Chantyll Navarre: 260.9641 Expanded dining areal Spacious new booths! A sit-down counter! A ‘new look' for Red Rock. The same great food and service... with a new Ambience we think you'll enjoy.