Spiritual Tourism
Text and panoramic photos by Bill Jorden

If the late 19th century was the apex of the Era of Exploration, the late 20th century has become the apex of the new Era of Observation. From interplanetary space to the sub-atomic forces of nature to genetic mappings, new observations and discoveries are being made at a dizzying rate. But the very act of observation, according to Werner Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle of quantum physics, always seems to change the observed.

The ultimate overt act of mass observation in today's culture is now tourism. In fact, tourism has become the explosive growth industry of the end of the millennium.

In their desire to "see" the world, these sight-seekers are symbolic of our society's deeper struggle to control nature. Their apparent stress in the midst of beauty seems to reflect a lack of spiritual communion with the environment -- and with their own inner selves. Ironically, their uncertain body language also seems to express a latent longing for a deeper connection with nature, an implicit desire to change tourism to pilgrimage.

My quest to examine this relationship has taken me to such "unspoiled" places as Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; the South Island of New Zealand; the fjords of Norway; the dunes of Denmark; Point Lobos, California; and the Florida Keys. To render the landscape with view-camera quality, while capturing the tourists with 35 mm. spontaneity, I designed a light-weight, hand-held panoramic 6x12 cm. camera.

Left:

Middle-class pilgrim tourist family having their photograph taken in front of Kedarnath Shrine by professional photographer while resident Sadhu beats small drum, Kedarnath, Indian Himalayas, June 1995.