Educational Media Reviews Online

For Arizona Public Television, cinematographer Ed George filmed a group of artists and photographers on a twenty-one day river trip through the Grand Canyon beginning February 4, 2010. Among those rafting through the Canyon were landscape artists Peter Nisbet, Bruce Aiken and David Grandon; photographers Sierra Hartman, John Running, David Edwards, Margeaux Bestard and Kristen Caldon; and musician Woody Simmons, who composed the original music for the film. The main attraction for the artists was the ability to observe and capture images in the Canyon in the low-angle, natural light of the winter sun in addition to an extended rafting/camping adventure that included running class IV and V Colorado River rapids.

The resulting film is a wonderful compilation of views and commentary on natural light photography and painting in the beautiful, exotic Grand Canyon, interspersed with scenes in the artists’ camps and views of running the rapids in rafts loaded with artists and their artistic supplies. The viewer will certainly appreciate the “eye” of the artist as the light provides the inspiration for the photographic and painted compositions. It is incredibly difficult to distinguish the photos of some landscapes from the paintings the landscapes inspired.

This video is highly recommended for all interested in capturing artistic images through painting or photography. The insights into understanding the artistic vision also will enhance the appreciation of the visual arts for non-artists. Finally, for those many viewers unable to view the Grand Canyon from Colorado River level, rare images of those lower landscapes and the adventure of navigating treacherous rapids will be entertainment enough to maintain a strong interest in this extraordinary film of a national treasure.