During the 1950s, Martin Karplus, a Professor of Theoretical Chemistry and Biophysics at Harvard, traveled through the Southwest as a post-doctorate fellow. The richly-hued images that he captured on Kodachrome during his visit, which we spotted thanks to The Morning News, are a reminder of why this part of the country has always been so romanticized, particularly by creative types; from the sweeping vistas of golden sand and rock formations to the impossibly blue skies, it’s a beautiful backdrop filled with an unlikely mix of wide-eyed tourists, recent settlers, and the Native American people who have always called the area home. Click through to travel back in time thanks to Karplus’ impressive photo set.
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus
Photo credit: Martin Karplus