Fred Rindt photos displayed at Cowley College

While traveling to Antelope Canyon, located near Page, Arizona, local photographer Fred Rindt captured some incredible photos of the magnificent canyon walls. Rindt’s photographs were on display in Cowley College’s Earle N. Wright Community Room through Sept. 25.

Along with Rindt’s photographs of the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, he also has three photos from Bryce Canyon, as well as photos of Mt. McKinley and Glacier Bay in Alaska, and the London Bridge at night.

Rindt spoke about the photos during a reception held Sept. 18 in the Earle N. Wright Community Room.

Mark Flickinger, Cowley College art instructor, had visited with Rindt for the past couple of years about having a photo show at the college. Once he saw Rindt’s photos of Antelope Canyon, he thought this was the perfect time to have the show.

“I was amazed at how abstract and formal the photos were,” Flickinger said. “They stand alone and work without knowing where they were taken. They are strong and really engaging photographs.”

Antelope Canyon is one of the most-photographed slot canyons in the American Southwest. Carved from the Navajo sandstone, the slot canyons are narrow passages with just enough space for a small group to walk the sandy floor and for the occasional shafts of sunlight to shine down from above.

Sunlight reflecting light through the cracks at the top of the canyon turn the brown walls into magnificent colors.

“I could not believe what I was seeing in the terms of colors,” Rindt said.

The water slowly wearing away the sandstone has formed the curves in the rock. Wind has also played a role in sculpting the canyon.

“The canyon was really more than I expected,” Rindt said. “I was amazed at what kind of pictures came out of there.”

Rindt graduated from the Woodlands School of Photography in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia in 1980. He then moved back to Ark City and started Fred Rindt Photography, which he owned until retiring six years ago.

He worked at Cowley College from 1995-1999, serving as the school’s public relations photographer.
“I’m honored to be showing my work,” Rindt said. “I still get a lot of enjoyment through photography.”