Altered Landscape: Canyon Point, Zion National Park, Utah 1977

"Altered Landscape: Canyon Point, Zion National Park, Utah" (1977) by John Pfahl (1939-2020) is a striking example of his signature style, manipulating the photographic image to create a surreal, almost dreamlike aesthetic. Pfahl, a pioneer of the "New Topographics" movement, sought to challenge traditional landscape photography by emphasizing the human imprint on the natural world. The stark composition of the image, with its focus on the narrow, rock-strewn canyon, is both captivating and unnerving. The single, bright chain lying on a rock in the foreground adds an element of mystery, hinting at a human presence that has been altered, or removed, from the landscape. This work demonstrates Pfahl's mastery of photographic techniques and his unique vision of the natural world.