Looking at junior Geography major Christopher Timothy’s photos, one can feel all of the majesty and wonder of nature that is so often lost when communicated through the medium of photography. From his natural eye for a good shot to his sensitivity for composition and editing, Christopher is able to make the transient permanent and share moments of awe with viewers. Welcome to “American Autumn: A Photographic Harvest,” a collection of vibrant photos that showcase the unbelievable beauty of landscapes across the United States as the leaves begin to change.

            Christopher has always had an interest in photography, citing such sources of inspiration as his grandfather and reading National Geographic magazines. For six years, he’s been using cameras to take his photos, but even before that, he was drawn to the medium, taking shots on his iPhone. He enjoys photography particularly because of the potential to replicate the moment of seeing something so amazing, it seems impossible to capture. “When you see things they’re a lot more vibrant, and you can kind of feel that, so I’m trying to recreate that feeling of seeing it.”

            At first, he chased these landscapes out West. Christopher spent his first two semesters of undergrad at school in Utah. While out there, he explains that “[he] was able to travel to a bunch of national parks, state parks, just cool geological sites around there,” and he cites it as being an experience that helped him refine his style as an artist. Though he had originally left Virginia in pursuit of these landscapes, thinking that his opportunities as a photographer were located elsewhere, he eventually found himself at JMU. He quickly discovered the many shots waiting for him here, explaining “now that I have those skills that I learned there, I can actually apply them to stuff like this.” As is evidence from many photos in this collection, it was simply a matter of changing the lens through which he looked.

            Christopher hopes that viewers will be inspired to get out there and experience these views for themselves after seeing his collection. Though planning a trip across the country can be a big undertaking, he points out that “a lot of these are within a three hour drive from here.” With beautiful places like Shenandoah National Park just a quick trip away, there is no shortage of amazement to find right here in the valley. 

View the full collection here