By Matt Hinshaw
The Daily Courier
Arizona native Barry Goldwater changed the American political landscape when he ran unsuccessfully in 1964 as the Republican nominee for president and by serving five terms in the U.S. Senate.
He became the “conscience of the conservative” and an elder statesman with an independent streak.
Less known about Goldwater is that he was an accomplished photographer in his own right.
“What stands out about his photography is in the eye of the beholder,” his son, Michael, said. “More and more, you are seeing fewer black-and-white photos.”
Barry Goldwater traveled to the far reaches of Arizona to take photos of Navajos and other Indians, as well as of geological formations, such as to Rainbow Bridge.
The trek to Rainbow Bridge, a national monument now accessible by boat on Lake Powell, involved a nine-mile mule trip, Michael recalled.
While visiting Rainbow Bridge in the early 1940s, Goldwater met and befriended a famous photographer noted for his black-and-white landscapes – Ansel Adams, Michael said.
Michael, who lives in Scottsdale, said he accompanied his father on his photography expeditions.
Goldwater photos can be seen here.
