Scenes of Wonder
and Curiosity

Bob Roney

I have spent most of my life in Yosemite, where I worked for the National Park Service first seasonally and later permanently for over 45 years. I started out as a seasonal firefighter, and after four years became a ranger-naturalist. During my last 30 years with the park service, I utilized my comprehensive experience to train and mentor other rangers in the art of interpretation (helping the public connect more personally with natural and cultural resources of parks).

Over the years, I also worked as a professional photographer and filmmaker. My photographs enrich the pages of a variety of books and magazines. I traveled throughout the United States and Canada lecturing with my two films about Yosemite and California's wild places. In 2011, one of my photographic creations received an award in the juried art competition, the "Yosemite Renaissance."

I enjoy approaching this grand and beautiful world with wonder and curiosity. When I visit such places as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone, I stand in Wonder. Famous scenes are not the only places to experience this feeling. While the sublime beauty of vast wild areas is easy to sense, there are tiny worlds at our feet that, when revealed, can bring tears of wonderment to our eyes. 

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Human beings are a curious lot, and when I see things that catch my imagination, I wonder what they are, how they work, or how they fit within the complex operations of nature. Learning about curiosities in the natural world also creates in me a strong sense of wonder.

Now retired from the national park service, I continue to take pictures, make videos, and write about my many experiences exploring and studying nature. This website is an extension of my desire to share the wonders of the world with others.