In the realm of landscape and nature photography, there are few individuals whose artistic prowess transcends the ordinary, capturing the essence of the natural world with unparalleled finesse. Among these luminaries, William Carr stands as a beacon of creativity and dedication.
With a remarkable career spanning over four decades, Carr has become synonymous with the art of capturing nature's sublime beauty. His work witnesses the ebb and flow of time, revealing the intricate details of the world's most breathtaking landscapes. Yet, there is more to Carr's work than meets the eye. Beyond the sheer technical mastery evident in his photographs lies a profound connection to the very essence of nature.
As we delve into his 45 years of experience, we uncover a deeper narrative — one of gratitude and reverence for the world that has both inspired and shaped his remarkable journey. Join us as we embark on a visual and philosophical exploration of William Carr's extraordinary career and the enduring bond he shares with the natural world.
Around 1986, Carr was in high-pressure sales in Lake Tahoe. As a pressure release from the constant work grind, he would hike around the shores, taking photographs incorporating the overhung pine branches with the lake in the background. “I was trying to create a pleasing composition,” said Carr.
People then started complimenting the work he had produced, mentioning that he had a great eye.
“And now I have two great eyes,” Carr says with a laugh. “I didn’t just have an ‘interest’ in photography; I was addicted to it.”
Carr was the only one in his family with a zeal for photography. His mother once told him, ‘You need to have a vocation, not an avocation.’ Believing that to be good advice, he began submitting his images to local publications, getting the chance to see his art within that medium. He was also approached by a postcard publisher in San Francisco and began distributing his images on postcards all around the Tahoe Basin.
“At the time, I had no idea where I was headed with photography. Nature found me,” said Carr. “Truth be told, it’s an emotional connection that speaks to the heart and feeds the soul. It is said that art is food for the soul. As for me? I am the messenger.”
In 1991, Carr moved to Southern Utah and once again developed an extensive postcard line within the region named ‘The Color Country Collection.’ Las Vegas was his next adventure, as he established himself as Las Vegas’ largest postcard publisher operating under the name ‘The Fortune Group.’
“This venture afforded me the opportunity to start traveling the world and collecting imagery that would be the genesis of the William Carr Gallery,” said Carr. “I wanted to create an awareness of the striking beauty of our blue marble that circles our sun and emphasize the delicate balance we must maintain in the future — which is why I named my parent company World Focus Images.”
Carr looks back and appreciates such a rich, full life. “Having been fortunate to have traveled all over the globe, I have experienced different cultures and interacted with the people of the land,” said Carr. “It is both enriching and cathartic.”
Landscape photography has taught Carr how to see instead of just looking. “The simplest of elements in a seemingly austere desert landscape can yield a beautiful image if one just takes the time to see what nature has provided,” said Carr.
Carr notes that nature is a product of evolution. From the progression of an incredible array of plant life to the massive amount of water from the receding ice age that cascaded down the grand staircase, carving out monumental canyons and forging historic rivers, understanding evolution’s creative power is what makes nature so compelling to him.
“I look for perfect composition, maximizing the most important elements in a particular scene,” said Carr. “The human brain has the ability to see a scene like a telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens all at the same time. The camera can only see and chronicle one focal length at a time, so I must choose which of those options will yield the best and most aesthetically pleasing image.”
“The temperament of an artist is forged from the dual fires of struggle and persistence. Nature can be unforgiving, random, and whimsical. There have been so many times I would hike for hours into a location with the promise of wildflowers or cactus blossoms or a unique rock formation but never actually take my camera out,” said Carr. “But then there are times when something magical happens and Mother Nature rewards you with a gift, a random and unique combination of elements captured for all to enjoy.”
One particular experience that literally took his breath away was a quest to find an elusive ancient Bristlecone Pine Tree, 11,000 feet up in the Eastern Sierra. “Struggling to catch my breath, I hiked for hours searching for the oldest standing tree in the world, 5000-year-old ‘Methuselah.’ Seeded perhaps by a bird now extinct, it predates the beginning of the Bronze Age, the Great Wall of China, and the Pyramids of Egypt,” Carr reflected.
People need to slow down and take in the beauty around them in order to truly appreciate what nature has to offer. “In our Solar System, there are eight planets. Some are freezing cold, others way too hot,” said Carr. “We are in the Goldilocks Zone of our sun, not too hot and not too cold, just right to sustain life, and oh, what a bounty of life we have been afforded. Plant life that grows in the soil of earth contains all the vitamins and minerals we need for ultimate health. The oxygen we breathe would probably be toxic to any other alien visitor. We are so very lucky to be part of this unique phenomenon of life that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the visible universe.”
Carr is grateful that people can find a deep emotional connection to his art. “I am always humbled when this connection is found to a particular image of a location that I have been able to bring to life,” said Carr.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Carr wants his images to speak to the joy of the abundance of life and natural beauty that surrounds us. “As I travel the world, I know I follow in the footsteps of those who came before me. I wish to lend my voice to the chorus of masters who have inspired my journey.”
“The simplest of elements in a seemingly austere desert landscape can yield a beautiful image if one just takes the time to see what nature has provided,” said Carr.
"We are so very lucky to be part of this unique phenomenon of life that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the visible universe,” said Carr.
