{"id":1819,"date":"2022-09-12T12:20:33","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T19:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/special-collections\/?page_id=1819"},"modified":"2025-07-30T12:13:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T19:13:46","slug":"announcing-david-muench","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/library-cline-special-collections\/special-collections-archives\/announcing-david-muench\/","title":{"rendered":"Announcing the David Muench Archives"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Muench: The Allure of Light<\/em> exhibit coming \u00a0soon!<\/div><\/div><\/h4>\n

The David Muench Photography records<\/h1>\n

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Cottonwood trees reflect on the Virgin River at the Temple of Sinawava in Zion National Park (Utah) in this photograph by David Muench (image ca. 1965-66).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cline Library Special Collections and Archives (SCA) on the campus of Northern Arizona University was thrilled to announce the arrival of the David Muench Photography Records in 2022. David Muench is one of the preeminent 20th<\/sup> and 21st<\/sup>\u00a0 century American landscape photographers, and his collection represents over 70 years of landscape photography from around the world. David made millions of photographs during his career and today, continues to make photographs. He is an influential innovator of landscape photography; his eye and instincts have resulted in some of the most remarkable photographs of both iconic locations and those known only to a few. The gift of David\u2019s collection significantly expands and raises awareness of SCA’s visual material holdings and complements several other remarkable 20th<\/sup> and 21st<\/sup> century American landscape photography collections in the department\u2019s holdings.<\/p>\n

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David Muench in Antartica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/div><\/div>David\u2019s photography career begins in the Sierras, and as a child on pack trips with his parents, Josef Muench and Joyce Rockwood. He made his first photographs as a teenager in the late 1950s. Muench’s first published photographs were featured as front and back covers of Arizona Highways<\/em> when Raymond Carlson was editor, and Muench was still in high school. There was never any question of his career path. David\u2019s education in photography and in art \u2014 both at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, and the Los Angeles Art Center School of Design \u2014 provided him with the formality of a degree in photography, and an understanding of the technology of the time, but he feels that his most profound learning experiences were in the field.\u00a0 \u00a0Nature remains his teacher<\/em>. [Condensed and modified from DavidMuenchPhotography.com]\n

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Though Muench was born in California and now calls Montana home, he has photographed northern Arizona extensively, from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the top of the San Francisco Peaks, which hold a special place in his heart. David said he comes to the San Francisco Peaks to balance himself and center himself. He feels a spiritual connection to the Peaks. Having his\u00a0archival legacy situated in one of his favorite locations is fitting.<\/p>\n

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A moonset over Cathedral Rocks, Sedona (Ariz.) demonstrates the artistry of photographer David Muench (image ca. 1998-2000).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cline Library Special Collections and Archives staff are currently working diligently to preserve, organize, describe, and make available David\u2019s archival legacy. As our archival team performs the work necessary to provide efficient access to David\u2019s photographs, please consult this page for updates and news related to David Muench\u2019s archival legacy or email special.collections@nau.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n