More Than Scenery: Yellowstone, an American Love Story

Janet Pritchard's romance with the American West began with horseback riding, watching movies, and hearing her dad's dreams of being a cowboy. When she began to spend adolescent summers in Wyoming during the 1960s, her world changed forever, as she fell under the spell of natural wonder in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. Only later did she recognize her feelings as a response to what nineteenth-century Romantics called the sublime.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: George F. Thompson

Janet Pritchard's romance with the American West began with horseback riding, watching movies, and hearing her dad's dreams of being a cowboy. When she began to spend adolescent summers in Wyoming during the 1960s, her world changed forever, as she fell under the spell of natural wonder in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. Only later did she recognize her feelings as a response to what nineteenth-century Romantics called the sublime.

A vintage 1916 picture postcard of Golden Gate Canyon by F. Jay Haynes inspired this project. When Pritchard turned it over and read the message "I cannot describe the Yellowstone as the dictionary is only a book. It is more than scenery. In some places, it is so beautiful that the men take off their hats, and the women are silent!" she was back in a childhood place of wonder tempered by a lifetime of work as an artist and teacher in landscape photography.

Formed by fire and ice, embraced by a nation seeking an ancient past with a future as grand as the landscapes it inhabited, Yellowstone was established as the world's first national park by an Act of Congress in 1872. One hundred fifty years later, the park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem continue to occupy an iconic role in the public imagination of Yellowstone as a place that is both real and ideal. Here, in this complex ecosystem where wild nature and culture meet, the complexities of our relationship to the natural world are revealed unlike any other place.

Yellowstone is truly unique, and each generation who visits it invests Yellowstone with ideas, beliefs, and values reflecting its historical moment. In More than Scenery: Yellowstone, an American Love Story, Janet Pritchard surveys these relationships with her captivating photographs and insightful commentary.

The Grand Tetons, a mountain range that rises dramatically from the Wyoming plains, have long captivated Janet Pritchard. As a child, she spent countless hours exploring the trails and valleys of the park, marveling at the breathtaking views and feeling a deep connection to the natural world.

But it was during her adolescent summers in Wyoming that Pritchard's love for the Grand Tetons truly blossomed. She spent her days hiking, camping, and photographing the park's stunning landscapes, and she began to develop a deep appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

As she grew older, Pritchard's passion for the Grand Tetons only intensified. She began to study the history and culture of the region, and she became increasingly aware of the park's role in shaping American identity and values.

In 2007, Pritchard published More than Scenery: Yellowstone, an American Love Story, a stunning collection of photographs and essays that explore the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. The book is a testament to Pritchard's love for the Grand Tetons and her commitment to promoting conservation and sustainability.

Through her work, Pritchard has become a voice for the conservation movement, advocating for the protection of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the preservation of the park's unique cultural heritage. She has also worked to raise awareness about the importance of preserving wild nature and the role that parks like Yellowstone play in shaping our understanding of the world.

In conclusion, Janet Pritchard's romance with the American West began with horseback riding, watching movies, and hearing her dad's dreams of being a cowboy. But it was her adolescent summers in Wyoming that truly ignited her passion for the Grand Tetons and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Through her stunning photographs and insightful commentary, Pritchard has become a voice for conservation and sustainability, promoting the protection of wild nature and the preservation of the park's unique cultural heritage.

Dimension: 241 x 302 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781938086953