HIGH PLAINS READER | May 31, 2012 | HPR1.COM12

By Brittany NegaardStaff Writer

Picture a giant power plant in the Wyomingcountryside, billowing massive clouds of

smoke overhead. The words “ScenicOverlook” aren’t the first that come to mind.But an old sign with those words and an arrowpointing directly at the power plant, does exist.Local photographer J. Earl Miller found thisphoto opportunity while working on his latestcollection. The irony of this scene is whatinspired the project’s name, A ScenicOverlook.

“That’s what a lot of my photos do. It’ssomething really weird and crazy that’s not

supposed to be there, but it is,” says Miller.Miller found the power plant during his

five-day trip to Las Vegas to attend a friend’swedding. Instead of flying, the photographeropted to take the scenic route, which wouldafford him the opportunity to visit friends andtake photos along the way. He hoped thiswould be a “journey most people wouldn’ttake.”

He took a roundabout trip through the backroads of South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah andNevada. His trip led him through Aberdeenand Rapid City, S.D., Laramie, Wyo., Boulder,Colo., to Moab and Salt Lake City, Utah, andup through Ely, Nev. Miller put between fourand five thousand miles on his car, the result

of which is this collection of 10 images. Theprints are larger in size than Miller’s typicalprints, and are meant to capture the vastnessand variation of the scenes from his trip.

His adventure wasn’t without obstacles;Miller left in early March and storms camepractically every night. At one point he foundhimself trapped behind an accident in acanyon in Colorado. With no phone receptionand no way of exiting the canyon, Miller wait-ed it out as the nearby toxic waste spill,caused by the accident, was cleaned up.

He recalls another evening when he led tencars through the mountains during a snow-storm in Nevada. Traveling at 25 miles perhour with little visibility, Miller drove to the

nearest town, which was 45 miles out of theway. He stopped for a short break, and one ofthe drivers following him got out of his car to

IF YOU GO:WHAT: J. Earl Miller’s A ScenicOverlookWHERE: DK Framing at Gallery14, 14 Roberts Street North,FargoWHEN: Reception: Thurs, June 7,6 p.m.; On display all of JuneINFO: http://tiny.cc/tra3ew

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