Jeff Maltzman Photography

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Jeff Maltzman Photography Vivid landscapes of Arizona, the U.S. West, and beyond.

Round two, memories of autumn in Arizona.
10/06/2026

Round two, memories of autumn in Arizona.

Well, Arizona’s nearly four months of autumn hues has officially begun, and it’s unlikely that I’ll get out to see much ...
10/06/2026

Well, Arizona’s nearly four months of autumn hues has officially begun, and it’s unlikely that I’ll get out to see much of it this year due to other commitments. Quite the bummer, since our state does fall color splendidly. So, over the next several days I’ll simply post some favorite and completely random shots from Arizona autumns past.

🍁🍂

Chiricahua National Monument is on the cusp of being redesignated a national park; the legislation that would enact this...
10/04/2026

Chiricahua National Monument is on the cusp of being redesignated a national park; the legislation that would enact this change has cleared Congress and awaits the president’s signature. While most sources suggest this would be a positive change, I’m a bit ambivalent.

Historical data suggest that converting a national monument to a park results in a roughly 20-25% increase in visitation in the first five years. This has potential economic benefits to the surrounding communities, assuming they are prepared to invest in the infrastructure needed to absorb the crowds. The legislation also protects Native American cultural sites and guarantees the tribes’ access to those sites within park boundaries. It does not, however, provide any additional operational funding to manage the increase in visitors. The monument is fairly small with limited parking at trailheads and few camp sites, and higher traffic on weekends may be challenging to absorb. Furthermore, while the head of the Association of National Park Rangers called Chiricahua worthy of park status, he noted that it is likely already understaffed, and three of its projects, including emergency mold abatement in occupied staff housing, electrical replacement in historic buildings, and security upgrades, have been classified “low priority.”

I worry that higher visitation without commensurate increased funding could result in negative consequences for the monument. The lack of adequate parking areas may lead to roadside parking and congestion. More visitors would likely mean more off-trail scrambling, social trails, erosion, and graffiti or climbing damage on fragile hoodoos and balanced rocks. Limited camping in the monument could push visitors into the surrounding national forest and wilderness areas, putting a strain on wildlife and risking more wildfires.

Given the current administration’s track record of NPS funding cuts and staffing reductions, I’m not overly optimistic that our nation’s newest national park will receive the financial and human resources needed to properly manage the anticipated influx of visitors. And that would be truly unfortunate.

One more from my creek hike.
09/23/2026

One more from my creek hike.

Well, it took the entire summer, but the Santa Catalina mountains finally received enough rainfall to liven things up a ...
09/22/2026

Well, it took the entire summer, but the Santa Catalina mountains finally received enough rainfall to liven things up a bit. Yesterday I hiked up the creek through my favorite local canyon to enjoy the water. It’s been a while since I’ve been up there, and it was wonderful! I love the changes each year brings. The route requires modest bouldering and route-finding, with fun seasonal changes caused by flooding. This visit necessitated swimming through three separate pools deeper than my height while holding my camera bag overhead. None had been more than waist-deep on prior hikes, so I hadn’t thought to pack a dry bag. Those swims were quite welcome, though, as temperatures were in the low 90s in the early afternoon. I’m so fortunate to have this ten minutes from my house!

I first met Mark Maio back in 2010, just as I was developing a serious interest in photography, and we became fast frien...
09/07/2026

I first met Mark Maio back in 2010, just as I was developing a serious interest in photography, and we became fast friends. Mark was one of the professional photographers who took an interest in my early work and encouraged my progress, for which I’ll always be grateful. I’m excited to share Mark’s new book, “Against the Grain.”

After moving to Buffalo, NY in 1989, Mark enrolled in a 16-week course examining the city’s ethnic neighborhoods. As a visual artist, he naturally pursued the project photographically. He chose the Old First Ward, a working-class, primarily Irish neighborhood because it reminded him of the blue-collar Italian community in Milwaukee where he grew up. As he delved deeper into the town and its residents, he became fascinated by the grain silos and the local men who unloaded massive ships delivering wheat from midwestern farms. He learned that this back-breaking work dated to the early 1800s when over 3,000 men labored as “scoopers” on the boats. Yet by the time Mark began studying and documenting this trade that number had declined to only 80, as progress and automation made the scoopers’ roles redundant. As Mark became deeply committed to memorializing the scoopers and their community, a 16-week course evolved into a 16-year project and this wonderful book.

Over those sixteen years, Mark developed intimate relationships with his 20-man “gang” of scoopers and their families, photographing alongside them and creating unique images that would have otherwise been impossible to capture. Presented entirely in monochrome, Mark’s photographs share a fascinating piece of the American story. They are highly compelling, a beautiful mix of environmental portraiture, urban and industrial landscape, abstraction, street photography, and fine art. Anthony Bannon’s prose connects the images to their place in the story of the American “Great Grain Route.”

If you’d like to learn more or purchase the book, please click the link below.

https://www.markmaio.com/mark-maio-tony-bannon-against-the-grain-book-buffalo-ny-irish-grain-scoopers

More impressions from the Dolomites. Despite the photographic limitations of this trip, we were privileged to experience...
09/05/2026

More impressions from the Dolomites. Despite the photographic limitations of this trip, we were privileged to experience truly interesting weather and atmospheric conditions.

Photographers and photography aficionados:Through Each Others Eyes, a Phoenix-based international photographer exchange ...
09/03/2026

Photographers and photography aficionados:

Through Each Others Eyes, a Phoenix-based international photographer exchange organization, is sponsoring a seminar featuring three prominent Arizona photographers. Scott Baxter, Joel Grimes, and Jeff Kida (Arizona Highways magazine photography editor) will each present their unique styles and photographic philosophies. I’m excited to attend. If you’re in the Scottsdale area and you’re free on Saturday, October 3, come join the fun. It should be a great time. Tickets are still available.

One more from the Dolomites before I call it a day. This image was made at Lago di Braies, a wildly beautiful and extrem...
09/03/2026

One more from the Dolomites before I call it a day. This image was made at Lago di Braies, a wildly beautiful and extremely popular spot. We arrived early to beat the crowds and find parking, as this location draws thousands of tourists daily. Most of the photos I’ve seen from this place focus on reflections of the surrounding mountains and the boats that visitors rent. But this smaller scene was more my style.

I recently returned from a family trip to northern Italy, which included several days in the Dolomites. Such a spectacul...
09/02/2026

I recently returned from a family trip to northern Italy, which included several days in the Dolomites. Such a spectacularly beautiful place! As this was largely a driving trip with very little hiking or time specifically set aside for photography, most of the images I made were “roadkill,” shot from the side of the road… when there actually was a place to stop, which was rare. I can’t wait to go back and really explore the finer details of these stunning mountains.

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