"Colorado River and Rainbow from Hilltop Ruin," by Tom Till, is one of the images chosen by a jury to represent the Grand Canyon's best photography. Courtesy Museum of Northern Arizona

People worldwide recognize the iconic image of the Grand Canyon, mostly because of the visual interpretation of a small group of adventurous photographers. The Museum of Northern Arizona is bringing together a number of those photographers in a new, juried exhibit called "Lasting Light: The Photography of Grand Canyon." The exhibit continues through June 17.

While the average traveler might only spend a short time at the rim of the canyon, professional Grand Canyon photographers commit to hiking through rugged backcountry, carrying enormous packs of equipment, and spending hours or sometimes days waiting for a fleeting moment of magical light to capture the perfect image. Landscape photographers typically spend from six to nine months of each year in the field, usually alone and at great expense.

This exhibit showcases the work of 26 photographers and is sponsored by the Grand Canyon Association, Hance Partners, and Grand Canyon National Park. The 60 images were chosen by six nationally recognized jurors from the photography world.

Alan Petersen, guest curator of fine art, remarks "We like to think of a photograph as visual truth -- an objective source. But like all artistic mediums, the artist uses a great deal of manipulation in the creation of an image. Technical and artistic decisions are made in the equipment used, the composition of the image, and the processing of the image. And there are 'happy accidents' that can occur during all phases of the creative process. 'Lasting Light' is a celebration of the wonder of the Grand Canyon and the many ways these 26 photographers use their medium to share their vision and interpretation."

This exhibit also incorporates the natural history of the region, logically inseparable from the unique and fragile environment depicted in the photos. Examples of the canyon's raptors are also on exhibit; all specimens were salvaged after misadventures with lead shot, electric wires, or moving vehicles.

This exhibit was conceived and nurtured by Richard Jackson of Hance Partners, Inc., a professional photography lab in Flagstaff.

Photographers whose images are in the Lasting Light exhibit are Tom Bean, Sue Bennett, John Blaustein, Dugald Bremmer, Tom Brownold, Mike Buchheit, Michael Collier, James Cowlin, Sherry Curtis and Alfredo Conde, Dick Dietrich, Jack Dykinga, Dave Edwards, Geoff Gourley, George H. H. Huey, Liz Hymans, Jerry Jacka, Gary Ladd, Larry Lindahl, Robert McDonald, Randy Prentice, John Running, Raechel Running, Kate Thompson, Tom Till, Stephen Trimble, and Larry Ulrich.

Ladd is the photographer and author of "Gary Ladd's Canyon Light: Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon," published by the Review-Journal's sister company, Stephens Press, www.stephenspress.com, The large format book not only exhibits Ladd's photos in full color but explains the technique and adventures that went into many of them. Ladd will make a personal appearance at MNA during the exhibit, 3:30-4:30 p.m. May 19.

To accompany the exhibit, Northland Publishing recently published "Lasting Light: 125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography" by Stephen Trimble. The book presents every photograph featured in the exhibit, plus dozens of additional contemporary and historic images and essays from the photographers. BookPage Magazine said, "This collection is a superlative explication of America's very own world wonder." Some of the exhibit text is excerpted from the book, which will be available for purchase at the museum throughout the exhibit.

MNA is located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 adults, $4 seniors (over 65), $3 students, $2 children (7-17), and it is always free to members.