The top photographs to appear in Alta Journal this past year were the fruits of challenging assignments. A 1,400-mile road trip? A raft expedition down Scandinavia’s longest river? A Black American winemaker in the Loire Valley? You get the picture (pun intended). In each instance, our contributors brought to bear their unique styles and passions for storytelling. The result: photos and words working in concert to produce an immersive, exhilarating experience for Alta’s readers.
“Highway 89 Revisited,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY SCOTT T. BAXTER
Frequent Alta contributor Scott T. Baxter was the ideal photographer to capture the wondrous vistas and quirky roadside attractions along a two-week road trip from Montana to Arizona. His images will have you planning your next adventure.
“Eyes on the Central Valley,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY PENNI GLADSTONE
On a road map, Highway 99 looks like a straight shot through one of our state’s most famous valleys. Most travelers probably keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes straight ahead as they barrel up and over the Grapevine, and then race through Bakersfield and Fresno. However, as regular Alta contributor Penni Gladstone shows us, there’s a rich world of farmworkers and delightful businesses on either side of the roadway.
“Call of the Loire,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOANN PAI
The stunning profile of Pascal Carole in France’s Loire Valley depicts the former San Francisco tech worker’s quiet determination to become one of the world’s preeminent winemakers. Pai’s accompanying photos capture the beauty and traditions of this storied region.
“Ted Lasso Land,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLIN TENNANT
What could be more American than droves of fans showing up in a quaint British town to pay homage to their favorite TV character? In Richmond, England, tourists line up for selfies at the town’s red phone booths and search for pints of ale to relive scenes from the hit Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. Photographer Colin Tennant shoots this juxtaposition with wit and a keen eye for detail.
“Why Not Live Like This?,” PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLIN TENNANT
Photographically tracking the tale of a San Francisco writer traveling with his family to Sweden and building a 7,000-pound raft to float down a mighty river like a modern-day Huck Finn was no ordinary assignment. Utilizing his cameras and drones, Colin Tennant’s extraordinary images and video reveal the splendor—and scale—of the Klarälven River and the surrounding forest as the writer and his family drift away from the worries of their lives in California.•
Blaise Zerega is Alta Journal's editorial director. His journalism has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio (deputy editor and part of founding team), WIRED (managing editor), the New Yorker, Forbes, and other publications. Additionally, he was the editor of Red Herring magazine, once the bible of Silicon Valley. Throughout his career, he has helped lead teams small and large to numerous honors, including multiple National Magazine Awards. He attended the United States Military Academy and New York University and received a Michener Fellowship for fiction from the Texas Center for Writers.
