My love for nature and public lands has grown substantially over the past few years. From city parks, to state parks, to national parks, I love spending time in natural areas far from automobiles and sometimes even people. There's something very satisfying  about finding seclusion among the trees and critters. I often solve a lot of creative problems when I am away from the computer or page, strolling through nature and taking a moment to decompress. Certain switches shut off and allow for clarity while I am running, swimming, and hiking through natural areas.

This year marks 55 years of The Wilderness Act of 1964, a piece of legislation that legally defined what is considered "wilderness" in the U.S. , conserving millions of acres of federal land for us all to enjoy in the process. This act was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society and subsequently gave birth to the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) which aims to preserve natural areas. These images celebrate public lands and draw awareness to this vital act in our homeland that was created for all of us. Using a photo I made somewhere in the Bay Area of California, I alternated some colorways and phrases to highlight the different aspects of my love for the wild. The last image in this post is great for wallpapers on your phone so feel free to use it on your own!

Take some time this month or even this week to visit public lands or venture even further into the wild where your spirit can run free and your heart can find peace.