Visions of Paradise: American Wilderness

by Jon Ortner

Overview

See the extraordinary majesty and rich legacy of America’s wild places through the eyes of renowned photographer Jon Ortner. Captured in black-and-white, and published in large format, these compelling images of the unspoiled American wilderness will astound and inspire you.

Photographer Jon Ortner has always been fascinated with the natural world, particularly as an avid hiker in the American wilderness. Visions of Paradise: American Wilderness is Ortner’s photographic tour de force of America’s wild places, capturing their sublime, dramatic, tranquil, and transcendent aspects through the medium of black-and-white film.

This singular, timeless publication collects Ortner’s inspiring landscape images in a large format. The spectacular portfolio of 230 black-and-white photographs forms a passionate tribute to the American wilderness and the legacy and beauty of these breathtaking and sacred lands. In guiding us through his visions of paradise, Ortner has rediscovered and reinterpreted the power and magnificence of many of his most cherished wilderness locations and added his personal insights about each park and region.

For photographers, travellers, and lovers of art, nature, and the American wilderness, Visions of Paradise is as timeless and inspirational as the incomparable landscapes Ortner presents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781875498307
Publisher:	The Images Publishing Group
Publication date:	08/12/2025
Pages:	324
Product dimensions:	11.02(w) x 13.98(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

One of the world’s leading nature and scenic photographers, Jon Ortner is the acclaimed author of seven internationally published fine-art books on such wide-ranging topics as the icons and architecture of Manhattan, the beauty of the human form, the sacred places and people of Southeast Asia, and the landscapes and geological wonders of the American Southwest. Ortner was born in Great Neck, on the north shore of Long Island. Throughout his youth he was fascinated with insects, plants and animals and became an avid naturalist and wilderness hiker. He continued his studies in ecology, eastern philosophy, and photography during his university years. In 1978, he moved to Manhattan to start a commercial photo studio with his wife and business partner, Martha McGuire. They divide their time between exotic locations around the world and assignments for corporate clients. Ortner’s photography and stories have been published in numerous magazines such as National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Travel & Leisure, GEO, and Architectural Digest.

Table of Contents

8 Introduction Jon Ortner 12 Foreword Michael Ernest Sweet 14 Yosemite 44 Californian Redwoods 64 Vermilion Cliffs 84 Glacier 124 Canyonlands and Monument Valley 152 Hudson Valley Mountains 176 Bryce and Zion 204 Death Valley and Inyo Bristlecones 224 Capitol Reef and Cedar Breaks 252 Yellowstone 303 Acknowledgments 304 Index of images 311 Equipment List

Editorial Reviews

"Visions of Paradise: American Wilderness is a singular, timeless publication— a photographic masterpiece celebrating the extraordinary majesty and rich legacy of America’s wild places, as seen through the eyes of one of the country’s foremost wilderness photographers, Jon Ortner, and conveyed through the transcendent medium of black-and-white film."

VIE Magazine

"An experienced hiker and long-time observer of the natural world, Ortner captures the scale, textures, and quiet power of these places through the timeless medium of film."

on landscape - Charlotte Parkin

"His use of black-and-white photography adds another layer, stripping away distractions and focusing on the raw forms and textures of nature. But why does this matter? Because these are the places that remind us what it means to be human-connected to something bigger, more enduring than ourselves." -About Photography

From the Publisher

"Jon’s achievements as an artist, scholar, and adventurer are especially reflective of a life committed to passionately exploring the wonders and treasures of the natural world, these are reflected in his most recent international fine art publication presented here, Visions of Paradise: American Wilderness."

The Eye Photography

The 230 beautifully rendered black & white images in the book provide a compelling tour of America’s wild places and national parks, from Yosemite and Yellowstone to Death Valley and Utah’s Canyonlands to the Hudson Valley in New York and beyond.

Black + White Photography