Awe Reclaimed

Gazing down upon the marvelous Incan Empire’s greatest architectural triumph known as Machu Picchu (“Old Peak”) is a reverential moment. Built with granite blocks cut with bronze or stone tools and smoothed with sand, the craftsmanship is so fine, it achieves near-perfection. The joints between massive stones that sometimes have multiple faces and up to 30 different corners are so tight even a thin knife blade cannot be forced between them.

The world famous historic sanctuary stands 2,430 meters above sea-level and commands a gorgeous setting between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. The footprint includes religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centers that are crisscrossed by stone terraces and ingeniously adapt to the landscape.

When I traveled to Machu Picchu to make this image, a typical fog shrouded the entire property. Suddenly, the mist evaporated, a brilliant blue sky appeared, unfiltered sunlight bathed the landscape, and magically, the sanctuary’s 200 buildings emerged against a stunning green blanketed ground and nearby mountainsides.

I felt instantly and in the purist way connected to the land, to Mother Earth, to ancient, 15th century Incan people, to light and shadow, color and texture. Today, I pulled this image from the archives and experienced a resurgence of awe. In times when hope seems lost in a fog, this massive monument to human endeavors and excellence restores my faith in people who rise above expectations and demonstrate enlightenment. My heart is grateful, my brow no longer furrowed.