Rob Decker hopes to create posters for each of the 59 national parks. He has completed seven and has six more in development. ©Rob Decker

A photographer and graphic artist living in Nederland, Colorado, Rob Decker is currently working on creating WPA-style posters for all 59 of our national parks. He hopes to have them completed by the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary in 2016. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with him about his national park poster project:

CGA: Although your project is graphic, you got your start as a photographer, is that right?

Rob: Yes, I have been a photographer all of my life. I began by studying photography under Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when I was just 19 years old. Although I have used my photographic skills since then, I mostly earned my living as a software developer, running my own business for the past 30 years. Now, I’m hoping to put all that in the rearview mirror and use my skills and experience to produce my own body of artwork—and hopefully make an impact, as well.

Rob Decker studied photography under environmentalist and American landscape photographer Ansel Adams in Yosemite National Park when he was just 19 years old. ©Rob Decker

CGA: Working with the famed Ansel Adams must have been a memorable experience. Do you think any of his influence is being reflected in this project?

Rob: Yes, in two ways. First, I think studying under Ansel Adams forever cemented my love of photography, the national parks and the national park experience. And second, I am now using digital high dynamic range (HDR) photography techniques to extend the Ansel Adams’ Zone System, which I studied in Yosemite.

CGA: How did you come up with the idea for creating this project?

Rob: When my daughter was planning her wedding in Boulder, Colorado, she found a beautiful vintage dress, so we decided on a vintage theme for the event. For the save-the-date cards, table cards and a full-size poster that the wedding guests would sign, I created WPA-style postcards with images of Boulder’s main attractions. Everybody loved them, and that’s when I decided to create this series of national park posters.

My passion for our national parks, photography and the stylistic WPA designs from the 1930s and ‘40s all come together in this project.

Pixabay

Yosemite is one of those national parks where as soon as you enter it, you’re awestruck.

CGA: How do you work? Do you visit the parks first, take photos and then decide which image best defines the essence of that particular park?

Rob: I love that feeling of being awestruck as you first enter a national park. In the posters, I want to present an iconic image that reminds us of that specific park’s experience. Back in the digital darkroom, I sort through my shots and often try several different images before settling on the best one.

CGA: How far along are you in the project?

Rob: I have completed seven national park posters so far: Acadia, Arches, Glacier, two for Great Sand Dunes, Yellowstone and Yosemite. There are six more currently in the works: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Grand Teton, Haleakala, Mesa Verde and two for Rocky Mountain. I have more original photos ready to create new posters after that.

Each poster presents an iconic image that reminds you of what you experienced in that particular park. ©Rob Decker

CGA: How are you funding the project?

Rob: I’ve been self-funding the project for more than a year. But now, I’ve begun a Kickstarter campaign to raise enough money to print the first 12 posters in the series.

The first six posters are currently selling well on both etsy.com and amazon.com. Ultimately, my intent is to get these posters into the bookstores at all of the national parks because they can use the proceeds to directly and positively impact park services and amenities. These posters—and eventually note cards and postcards—are popular items and can generate significant revenues for the park.

Currently, I am donating 10 percent of sales to the National Park Conservation Association.

CGA: What do you want people to get out of looking at or owning one of your posters?

Rob: There are really three things I hope this project can accomplish. First, these posters are reminders of the great national park experiences most of us have had and shared. Second, if you haven’t yet visited a national park, I hope they will inspire you to get out and see these amazing places. And third, it seems like nearly every day, one of our parks is under siege from fire or flood or government shutdowns. I hope the posters will remind people of why our national parks—with their astonishing landscapes, vibrant cultures and rich history—are worth protecting today and for future generations.

Pixabay

Ten percent of the proceeds from Rob Decker’s poster sales will go to the National Park Conservation Association.

CGA: You talked about your daughter’s marriage having a connection to this national park poster project, and you also mentioned the threat to the parks by government shutdowns. Coincidentally, I also have a marriage connection to the national parks. My son had a wedding ceremony scheduled in Yosemite—which must be set up almost a year beforehand—and on the weekend it was to happen, the government shut the park down.

Rob: Unfortunately, it all comes down to funding. Without it, every park suffers some sort of loss: fewer programs, closed campgrounds, limited facilities. There are both natural and human threats to our national parks; and without the funds to fight wildfires or handle the millions of American and international tourists, parks will have to raise fees and cut services.

CGA: It’s a cliche, but our national parks really are quintessentially American. Europe, for example, essentially has no wild places left.

Rob: Our national parks tell the story of America; and although this project revolves around creating iconic images for all 59 national parks, it’s designed to remind us why they are so important and worth preserving. I encourage all of us to support our national parks in any way we can.

Here’s to finding your true places and natural habitats,

Candy