© Joel Zolondek

© Joel Zolondek

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Robinson: How time-consuming is it?

Muench: Well, you take each film out of the holder. The holders hold two images, and then slide and you expose them. Well, you have to load 'em up first in the holder. Then you put 'em in a box after you've exposed 'em, and you try to keep 'em clean. A lot of cleaning involved in the whole process. And then you put 'em in a box, maybe ten, twenty or whatever one shoot is, you put it together and then label it on the outside of the box. Then essentially just load up a new load, and try to keep it clean. And 35mm, of course, is just load and shoot and that's it. Place the rolls someplace where you can identify 'em, or know what group they were in for processing. And then maybe there's a hike or something for the afternoon, something that you need to get into that is a four-five-six-mile hike — you know, just to plan something that might work. And then if there's a reflection time, it's not windy, I think of lakes. I like to work on reflections quite a bit. And that, of course, means quiet.

Usually the mornings are better for the quiet, and evenings are a little more hazardous, but you just have to play it by ear. I like to read a little bit about it, go into visitor centers and pick up on some of the natural history of the place, on what really makes it strong. What is the power there? What are the places that are impressive, that are something I'd like to photograph? Maybe find something new, maybe topo maps, or a map of some lake up there, or somebody just says, "Hey, there's a real great [place] ..." So you start following some of these things, and just checking 'em out or working with them. Many images that way ... Keep kind of bouncing around through different things, try to keep your psyche up to handle it, because it's endless. It's just an endless amount of chaos, so what are you really looking for? What draws it out of you?

Robinson: It is interesting. So you do have some camaraderie on the road. I mean, just chatting with people and saying, "I'm out here, what do you suggest?"

Muench: Yeah. And rangers for instance, are just people. They're all over, and they just love to talk about things. Pick up on more possibilities. Some of them are really super, these Park Service people, because they really are taking care of these places, put up with all of the government stuff ... That's one of my ambitions, is working in the national parks, even worldwide, like the New Zealand parks. I'd like to do a book on the New Zealand National Parks — I really would — and Australia too — but just national parks. And that's something I've committed. I'm far enough along, I can't take on all the wildernesses in the world.

Robinson: Thank you, David. That's great. As we still have one last TV interview to do with you, let's call it a day.