<em>Couple at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, 1980.</em> American photographer Roger Minick started shooting his Sightseer series of color photos in 1980 as sort of a tourist time capsule.
Couple at Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, 1980. American photographer Roger Minick started shooting his Sightseer series of color photos in 1980 as sort of a tourist time capsule.
Roger Minick
<em>Woman with Scarf at Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1980.</em> Minick got interested in the phenomenon of sightseeing while observing tourists at scenic overlooks in the American West.
Woman with Scarf at Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1980. Minick got interested in the phenomenon of sightseeing while observing tourists at scenic overlooks in the American West.
Roger Minick
<em>Girls in Matching Pink Dresses at Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, 1980. </em>Minick looked for an "elusive something" that made the photos work. This one, he said, "was just almost too easy."
Girls in Matching Pink Dresses at Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, 1980. Minick looked for an "elusive something" that made the photos work. This one, he said, "was just almost too easy."
Roger Minick
<em>Photographing Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. </em>This candid shot was taken during visitors' mad rush to photograph the erupting geyser.
Photographing Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. This candid shot was taken during visitors' mad rush to photograph the erupting geyser.
Roger Minick
<em>Couple Taking Polaroids at Crater lake National Park, Oregon, 1980. </em>Minick often offered to take Polaroids of his subjects before he photographed them with his other camera. This couple had a Polaroid camera, too.
Couple Taking Polaroids at Crater lake National Park, Oregon, 1980. Minick often offered to take Polaroids of his subjects before he photographed them with his other camera. This couple had a Polaroid camera, too.
Roger Minick
<em>Three Women at Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 1999. </em>After his first trips in the 1980s, Minick resumed the series in the late 1990s, photographing sightseers in the Midwest and the East.
Three Women at Overlook, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, 1999. After his first trips in the 1980s, Minick resumed the series in the late 1990s, photographing sightseers in the Midwest and the East.
Roger Minick
<em>Parking Lot at Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1980. </em>The trappings of tourism -- tour buses, motor homes, casual dress -- are part of what drew Minick to sightseeing.
Parking Lot at Inspiration Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1980. The trappings of tourism -- tour buses, motor homes, casual dress -- are part of what drew Minick to sightseeing.
Roger Minick
<em>Father & Son at Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1981. </em>Many of Minick's subjects wore clothes that made it easy to "jump out of the car and take in the view and get back in the car and move on," he said.
Father & Son at Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1981. Many of Minick's subjects wore clothes that made it easy to "jump out of the car and take in the view and get back in the car and move on," he said.
Roger Minick
<em>Birder at Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, 1999. </em>This birder was "so earnest and ready to go and it was early in the morning and he just couldn't wait," Minick said.
Birder at Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, 1999. This birder was "so earnest and ready to go and it was early in the morning and he just couldn't wait," Minick said.
Roger Minick
<em>Man with Dog in Front of Motorhome, Zion Canyon National Park, Utah, 1980. </em>At first, Minick resisted the idea of the Sightseer series because it was such a departure from the formal landscape photography he'd done in the past.
Man with Dog in Front of Motorhome, Zion Canyon National Park, Utah, 1980. At first, Minick resisted the idea of the Sightseer series because it was such a departure from the formal landscape photography he'd done in the past.
Roger Minick
<em>Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania, 1999. </em>Minick wasn't sure about this shot, but "it became kind of interesting when the figures kind of blend in with the statue, and then the kid (at right) ... he kind of does make it work somehow."
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania, 1999. Minick wasn't sure about this shot, but "it became kind of interesting when the figures kind of blend in with the statue, and then the kid (at right) ... he kind of does make it work somehow."
Roger Minick
<em>Two Hutterite couples at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, 1999. </em>Color drives the series, which Minick realized after first photographing sightseers in black and white.
Two Hutterite couples at Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, 1999. Color drives the series, which Minick realized after first photographing sightseers in black and white.
Roger Minick
<em>Mother & Son at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. </em>Minick used a hand-held camera for the project to allow for more spontaneity.
Mother & Son at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. Minick used a hand-held camera for the project to allow for more spontaneity.
Roger Minick
<em>Airstream at Yosemite National Park, California, 1980. </em>Vehicle and landscape photos are the exception, not the norm, in the Sightseer series.
Airstream at Yosemite National Park, California, 1980. Vehicle and landscape photos are the exception, not the norm, in the Sightseer series.
Roger Minick
<em>Boy with Feathered Headress at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. </em>Minick spent time at hundreds of overlooks, scouting for visually arresting combinations of people and scenery.
Boy with Feathered Headress at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. Minick spent time at hundreds of overlooks, scouting for visually arresting combinations of people and scenery.
Roger Minick
<em>Twins with Matching Outfits at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. </em>Minick's interactions with his subjects were usually brief, but he tried to capture a range of expressions.
Twins with Matching Outfits at Lower Falls Overlook, Yellowstone National Park, 1980. Minick's interactions with his subjects were usually brief, but he tried to capture a range of expressions.
Roger Minick
<em>Man with Poodle at Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, 1980.</em> Minick used an on-camera flash to get the right amount of fill light.
Man with Poodle at Sunset Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, 1980. Minick used an on-camera flash to get the right amount of fill light.
Roger Minick
<em>Mother & Son at Minervas Terrace, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980.</em> Minick was inspired by snapshots, but he wanted his series to present more than the typical bright smiles.
Mother & Son at Minervas Terrace, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. Minick was inspired by snapshots, but he wanted his series to present more than the typical bright smiles.
Roger Minick
<em>Three Men in Color Coordinated Shirts at Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980.</em> Minick spotted these men from a distance. "I saw those three spots of color and I said, 'Oh my God, that's too good.'"
Three Men in Color Coordinated Shirts at Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. Minick spotted these men from a distance. "I saw those three spots of color and I said, 'Oh my God, that's too good.'"
Roger Minick
<em>Children at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. </em>Minick had to work quickly to get his shot before subjects moved on to their next stop.
Children at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1980. Minick had to work quickly to get his shot before subjects moved on to their next stop.
Roger Minick
<em>Woman Taking Photograph at Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Montana, 1981. </em>Some of the subjects' wardrobe choices were questionable. Not this "very classy lady."
Woman Taking Photograph at Many Glacier Hotel, Glacier National Park, Montana, 1981. Some of the subjects' wardrobe choices were questionable. Not this "very classy lady."
Roger Minick
<em>Couple at Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1980. </em>The series "addressed what people wore and how it juxtaposed with the background and the landscape," Minick said.
Couple at Canyonlands National Park, Utah, 1980. The series "addressed what people wore and how it juxtaposed with the background and the landscape," Minick said.
Roger Minick
<em>Family at Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, 1980. </em>Over time, Minick decided that families that were subtly color-coordinated got along better.
Family at Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, 1980. Over time, Minick decided that families that were subtly color-coordinated got along better.
Roger Minick
<em>Woman with Red Sweater at Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1981. </em>Minick usually approached his subjects at overlooks and asked to take their pictures. He didn't get their names, but he often wonders about the tourists he photographed.
Woman with Red Sweater at Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, California, 1981. Minick usually approached his subjects at overlooks and asked to take their pictures. He didn't get their names, but he often wonders about the tourists he photographed.
Roger Minick
<em>Couple Viewing Grand Tetons, Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, 1980. </em>Despite the hot, tired business of tourism, Minick said most of the people he encountered were genuinely awe-struck.
Couple Viewing Grand Tetons, Grand Tetons National Park, Wyoming, 1980. Despite the hot, tired business of tourism, Minick said most of the people he encountered were genuinely awe-struck.
Roger Minick