Laudable 20th-century photographers Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams spent their careers traversing the United States, taking photos of everything from stunning landscapes to heartbreaking Great Depression scenes. These images can be seen at high-end galleries and museums across the country.
But there are three places that often get forgotten in their memoirs of places they documented. James Swensen, an art history professor at Brigham Young University, is bringing to light a photo series that ran in Life magazine that showcased photos the two took in Toquerville, Gunlock and St. George Utah.
“In a Rugged Land” features images Swensen compiled from the photographer's month-long stay and what it was like for the photographers to go through Utah’s rural, sometimes harsh landscape. Now, the book is being honored for being the best book of Utah history in 2019 by the Utah Historical Society.
Perceptions of the towns
The landscape and culture of southern Utah for the two photographers wasn’t completely unknown when they started taking photos in August 1953. But Swensen said if Lange and Adams were to return to the area today, they’d be surprised how much the personalities of the towns have changed.
“Gunlock was young and youthful and vibrant, Toquerville was waning. They would be shocked to see the opposite,” Swensen said. “[The photographers] took people off guard when it showed up in Life, millions saw it every week. People of Gunlock were pleased, but St. George and Toquerville weren’t shown in a warm, rosy light.”
Images of St. George show the growing materialism in the area. In Life magazine it reads, "St. George has taken up worldly ways." The images show a growing tourism industry, with the neon lights and chain stores around town.
Toquerville is described in Life magazine as "old and quiet but its children have gone away." Many of the older residents were photographed as well as buildings that are falling apart.
On the other hand, Gunlock shows many young people riding horses and playing around. In Life magazine, Gunlock is described as "young and beginning to meet the future." Which today, Swensen said, doesn't seem to be the case.
'Barely a footnote'
The photographers often surprised people in these towns with all the photography equipment, but eventually residents would open up and relax. One bishop with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even allowed Lange and Adams to attend and photograph services. But the project ended on not-so-great terms between Lange and Adams, and is "barely a footnote" in the photographers' careers, according to Swensen.
In writing the book, Swensen enjoyed being able to go back and look at these images and meet people who were photographed or descendants of those photographed. He was also able to work with Lange’s son to learn more about what the thoughts were of the photographers.
"Their stories helped me understand what that experience was like, And that was one of the most rewarding things [about writing this book]," Swensen said.
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Lexi Peery is the environment and politics reporter for The Spectrum & Daily News, a USA TODAY Network newsroom based in southern Utah. You can reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @LexiFP. And if you want to support and sustain this work, consider subscribing today.