The Grand Canyon Changed my Life
People often ask how I became known as a Grand Canyon photographer, and much of that story traces back to my time as an Artist-in-Residence at the canyon. I’ve written this journal entry, and the full article it links to, to share that experience and explain how those early days living in the park set everything in motion.
On the rim of the canyon. Photo courtesy Brian VanDenzen.
In 2009, I was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Grand Canyon National Park—an opportunity I almost didn’t apply for because I felt unqualified. I spent nearly a month living inside the park during late winter and early spring, experiencing the canyon in a way few visitors ever do: quiet mornings, powerful storms, long hikes, and moments of deep solitude that reshaped how I see both photography and place.
During that residency, I backpacked into the canyon for the first time, photographed sunrise and late-day light from rarely visited locations, and learned the value of slowing down and exploring beyond the overlooks. Those weeks didn’t just influence my work—they redirected my life.
What began as a single residency grew into years of teaching photography at the canyon, leading photography expeditions down the Colorado River through the heart of the canyon, working with young people through Parks in Focus, publishing photographs in magazines and books, and eventually moving to Flagstaff to stay close to the place that continues to guide my work.
👉 Read the full story of
my Artist-in-Residence experience at the Grand Canyon