Joseph L. Martin

The morning of September 11, 2001 dawned bright, crisp and clear on the lands of the Yakama Tribal Nation in Washington State. I had been invited by Tribal Councilor Arlen Washines, to spend two days shooting nature photography on over one million acres of his Tribes ancestral lands. As we pulled up to the gatehouse we were told the devastating news of the attack on the twin towers in New York just after the second plane hit. Like everyone else, we were thrust into stunned silence and disbelief of mans inhumanity to man. How do you continue living your life knowing that horror is now part of the memory of each cell in your body? The only answer is through simple Appreciation of what is left.

As for Arlen and myself, we appreciated the fact that we were in the midst of God’s creation – Mother Nature. God’s love is exhibited on a daily basis through the Abundance provided to us – as long as we are open to it. Walking among the pines and along the creeks while breathing in the healing mountain air and drinking from cleansing glacial streams allowed us to tap back into the energy source that we all came from.

I have been honored to visit a number of Native American Tribal Nations across North America. As the first caretakers of this vast land, our Native American brethren have used their connection to Spirit to protect the Blessings that have been provided us. In celebration of National Native American Month, I present to you photographs taken on Sovereign Tribal Lands to help you experience more of the beauty that surrounds us. Relax in the vibrational energy of a single flower or the peace and tranquility of a tree against the rich variations of a mid-morning blue sky. From pulsating sunrises to golden sunsets, our Tribal Lands are examples of what lies across this country if we simply take the time to appreciate the “hand of God”.

Joe Martin was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised on a farm in Petersburg, NJ where he gained an appreciation for Mother Nature. His parents gave him his first camera in 1981 and he hasn’t stopped shooting since. From the peace found in the silence of falling snow to the awesome power of giant redwoods, Joe expresses his love of God’s designs through nature photography. While Purchasing is his profession, Nature Photography is his passion! Joe makes his home in Ashaway, RI and finds the Truth of God’s Beauty in his backyard and across the 40 states he has traveled through so far. Enjoy the Journey!