2008 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Special Mention
René Pirolt: The North Window and Turret Arch
“One of my favorite photographic locations — Arches National Park — offers remarkable geological landscapes in the high desert of the southwestern United States. Although a relatively small park, it features the highest density of naturally formed arches on the planet. I had visited this location several times previously, each time working with different compositions and qualities of light. On this particular winter morning, high clouds filled the usually clear blue desert sky from the west. A clear eastern horizon allowed the first rays of the morning sun to cast golden light onto the red sandstone, illuminating the uniquely framed Turret Arch in the North Window.”
Born in Germany, René Pirolt is a fine art landscape photographer based in Evergreen, Colorado. Formally educated in the field of engineering, René took up photography to record his love of the outdoors. He has always been fascinated with the wide-open wilderness of the American West — the great mountain ranges, forests, and the unique desert landscapes. He moved to the United States after visiting California’s San Francisco Bay Area. René works primarily with large format cameras, creating color and black and white prints.