Added July 2024: … Lee Glover Remembers That John Sutherland Said He Took The Photo That Forms The Mountain, River, & Bridge, Part Of The Scene Shown On The Back Cover Of The Bantam New Age Edition, Of ZMM Book. 




Explanation By Henry Gurr: 


…As you see in the above image, the ZMM Bantam back cover shows a mountain, valley, river, and, look closely, a bridge, which are revealed with a magnifying glass. I believe the artist started with a real photo such as John Sutherland’s, thus giving sharp edges of the mountain edges & other details seen, then added the Man, Boy and Motorcycle,, and then added to the cover’s upper left, the vertical wall-looking granite mountain tops. I believe this “Granite Mountain Top” was added above the Mountains in John Sutherland’s original photo. 




Explanation Continued:


…Since the “vertical wall-looking Granite Mountain Tops” are very distinctive, I spent a lot of time using Google Street View looking for such a view, and found nothing even close, especially along the ZMM Route. Hence my belief these are purely the Bantam Cover Artist’s inventions and additions!! 
….And it is good to know that John Sutherland said he took the photo, despite what Wendy Pirsig said in earlier email. Thus, I’m inclined to believe that the basic central photo for the artist’s Bantam Cover was John Sutherland’s. I think his memory was pretty good. 




In a September 27, 2021 email concerning the back cover of ZMM, Lee Glover said, 


…”I think this was an artist rendering based on John’s photo. Perhaps that is why they thought no credit was needed. …. The mountains in the background, especially Emigrant Peak, are too accurate to be just a drawing. It was clearly based on a photo. Plus, John said he took the photo.”




In a September 27, 2021 email concerning the back cover of ZMM, Gary Wegner said,


…”On the back cover of my beat-up 1975 Bantam paperback. The part of the picture showing father, son and bike is an artist’s rendering. For example, compare the real bike [same as Pirsig’s and] Note the curve of the exhaust pipes and the placement of the mirrors, etc. etc.. The bike on the back cover looks more like an old BSA or Triumph. I’d bet father and son are also renderings.” 




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Both Robert Pirsig and John Sutherland took photos on their 1968 motorcycle trip west described in the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Robert Pirsig, not wanting to the distort the views the reader, demurred on providing an author photo when Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was published in 1974.
Ironically, this stoked speculation as to who this mysterious author was. Likewise, although Pirsig had taken several photos on the trip, they have never been published with the book for the same reason: so as not to distort the views of the reader.

FOR 3 LINKS, MOUSE HOVER BELOW.

THOSE PHOTOS ARE
… published in the ZMMQ Gallery here.


John Sutherland claimed to have taken the photo the back cover art of Bantam edition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is based on.


The photo on the left is a screen capture from Lee Glover’s interview with John Sutherland in 2008. The full interview is
available on YouTube here.

The photo of the right shows John Sutherland (center) arriving at the Cottonwood Canyon, Gallatin Gateway, Montana home of the Robert and Gennie DeWeese on July 13, 1968. Robert DeWeese is on the left and Gennie DeWeese and her son Josh are on the right. This photo is one of several new photos published in 2021 by the Smithsonian's Paul F. Johnston in
… "Chrome and Black and Dusty: Robert Pirsig's Motorcycle Heritage" in the International Journal of Motorcycle Studies.

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. A Photo Taken By John Sutherland, Which Appears To Be From The 1968 Motorcycle Trip West Described In Robert M. Pirsig’s Book Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance.
…Sylvia Sutherland Is On Upper Left Wearing Sun Glasses; Robert M. Pirsig Is On Right, wearing his black beret which he mentions once in the book. Pirsig's cycle is his 1966 Honda CB77 Superhawk.
The Sutherlands' BMW R60/2 cycle is obscured by its load of luggage, one of the indications that this image is probably from that 1968 road trip.
…This photo was furnished to ZMMQuality by the Sutherland family in 2022, and the image is taken from a copy, not the original photo.
*******************

…John Sutherland was an expert and photographer, and took many photos from that famous motorcycle ride west but is often not credited for them. Some forty boxes of his photos exist and more photos may emerge as the family sorts through them, hopefully including the original of this photo.
Special thanks to the Sutherland family for sharing this photo.

…Although there is no hint in the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, John Sutherland was a knowledgeable man of many abilities.. His day job was as a social worker, and this would have helped him to be alert to other person’s mental states, and provide assistance. This may have even applied to his friend Robert Pirsig. Like Pirsig, John was interested in Zen practices & all things Eastern, having likewise served in the US Army in Asia, Japan specifically in John's case.
Indeed, it was a conversation between Pirsig and Sutherland on a motorcycle ride about Eugene Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery that lead to Pirsig to formulate his title: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
*******************

Pirsig mentions the beret shown in this photo at the end of Ch 21. The Narrator and Chris have cut short their mountain hike and get a ride into town from campers...

"Bozeman it’s dark and late. Rather than wake up the DeWeeses and ask them to drive in, we check in at the main downtown hotel. Some tourists in the lobby stare at us. With my old Army clothes, walking stick, two-day beard and black beret I must look like some old-time Cuban revolutionary, in for a raid."

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Artist Roger Kastel is most famous for his iconic Jaws painting, used first for Peter Benchley's novel cover art and then the movie poster for the blockbuster movie Jaws that is marking its 50th anniversary in 2025. Kastel's work on paperback art and for the magazine Argosy secured him an exclusive contract with the publisher Bantam in 1967.

Kastel's art can be seen on the backcover of Bantam's edition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle by Robert M. Pirsig. The origins of Kastel's painting are the topic of discussion and speculation by Pirsig Pilgrims Henry Gurr and Lee Glover. Is it based on an original photograph by John Sutherland from the 1968? What mountain is pictured? Sites in Montana have been discussed.

FOR 2 LINKS, MOUSE HOVER BELOW.


LEARN MORE ABOUT ROGER KASTEL:

Official Roger Kastel Website

“How Roger Kastel’s Jaws Artwork Became One of Cinema’s Most Famous Images”

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Pirsig Pilgrim and Filmmaker Lee Glover.

In a September 27, 2021 email concerning the back cover of ZMM, Lee Glover said,




…”I think this was an artist rendering based on John Sutherland’s photo. Perhaps that is why they thought no credit was needed. …. The mountains in the background, especially Emigrant Peak, are too accurate to be just a drawing. It was clearly based on a photo. Plus, John said he took the photo.”

Hence ZMMQuality's Henry Gurr encouraged Lee to return to the location, that he had previously filmed, to take more photos. to see if he could find better fits to the back cover of the Bantam edition of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. (ZMM).
********************

FOR 2 LINKS, MOUSE HOVER BELOW.

About ZMM Enthusiast Lee Glover.

…A) Click here for a Facebook page showing a photo of Lee Glover and a description of his effort to make a documentary film called “MERIDIAN.”.

…B) Click here for a Montana State University webpage which gives the stories of “Pirsig Pilgrims.” Scroll down the page to find Lee Glover’s story. … .

Photo Credit: Kelly Gorham/MSU News Service.

File = Lee-MSU,jpg

A Satellite View Of The Area Surrounding The Small Town Of Emigrant, MT. This View Also Has Marked 5 Important Camera Locations where ZMM Enthusiast Lee Glover Took Photos Oct 12, 2025.

Lee was going to various camera locations to achieve “a good fit” to the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM) Bantam paperback back cover image, many of which are shown & discussed in the following 22 photos in this photo album.

….The goal would be to show that, indeed, the Bantam back cover image showing a river, a Bridge, and a mountain scene VERY WELL coincides with a real physical location, which, as Lee Glover suggests, is at the Montana Yellowstone River Bridge, along Murphy Lane, at Emigrant, MT.

… Such a photo “good or perfect fit” would essentially PROVE the Bantam back cover started with an actual real photo!!

…As you will see in the forthcoming photos, Lee Glover’s photos are taken at 5 good Camera Location Points, which are indicated => IN THE /\ABOVE/\ SATELLITE VIEW ..... AS FOLLOWS =>

NOTE1: At Lower Left, To Right Of US-89,
you will see Murphy Lane, and just above you can see at the Circle Marker over the river labeled “River & Bridge… with Emigrant Peak Beyond,” which, as Lee Glover discovered, fit what are shown on the back cover of the Bantam paperback edition of the ZMM book.


1) PHOTO LOCATION #1:
At Lower Left, to the right of US-89, you will see Murphy Lane, and just above you can see at the Circle Marker over the river labeled “River & Bridge… with Emigrant Peak Beyond,” a location which, as Lee Glover discovered, fit what are shown on the back cover of the Bantam paperback edition of the ZMM book. Lee Glover shot video here on August 7th, 2008.

At the lower left, see a white dot marker superimposed over the river labeled “Third Place To Pull Off And Park.” This road is Murphy Lane, which that goes over the above-mentioned bridge. In the /\Above Satellite View/\ Photo, this lane runs East from the white word “Emigrant” labeling the town. Lee Glover shot video here on August 7th, 2008., finding this location fit what are shown on the back cover of the Bantam paperback edition of the ZMM book.


NOTE2: ….Many years following his pioneering August 7th, 2008 video filming at this location, Lee Glover returned to Emigrant, MT on Oct 12, 2025 to find even better fits to the Bantam back cover. His 4 Additional Photo Location Points follow:

2) PHOTO LOCATION #2:
This location along US-89 is marked, “First Pull Off And Park.” In an email dated November 28, 2025, Lee Glover says, “The location that looks the closest to the illustration on the ZMM book is where I took the photo of the highway reflector. That location is: 45.374599°N 110.727626°W.” … In this album, see the FIFTH photo => “Paradise01ipad”.jpg

3) PHOTO LOCATION #3:
… Starting at the marked => “Second Pull Off And Park.” In his November 28, 2025 email, Lee Glover says, “I took several photos [where] I was parked at the turnout parking lot east of the highway. That location is: 45.376343°N 110.725866°W.” (However, because Lee did not take any photos here, a Google Street View shows what there can be seen of the river.)
..In this album, the TWENTY SECOND PHOTO is thIs Google Street View => “GSV EmigrantMT LeeGloversTurnoutFmUS-89 SeeYellowstoneRiverButNotBridge”.jpg

4) PHOTO LOCATION #4:
…After Photo location #3, Lee next walked West, crossed US-89, then walked Northwest along the short Canal Crossover road, which was partly UP a slope, to a high enough elevation, so the river and bridge can be seen without being blocked by trees. Thus, he got a good photo of “the Mountain, River & Bridge part of the scene shown on the back cover of the Bantam New Age edition of ZMM. …. In his November 28, 2025 email, Lee Glover says, “Where I was west of the highway is at: 45.380386°N 110.722916°W.” In this Album, see nine photos, starting with the THIRTEENTH photo => “Paradise Overlook Photo Location”.jpg

5) PHOTO LOCATION #5
…From Photo location #4, Lee next went part way Southwest along Capricorn Drive to where he could walk down the slope, and get a series of six good photos. In his email dated November 28, 2025, Lee Glover says, “My overlook photos were taken at: 45.378951°N 110.726439°W.” … In this Album, see these six photos starting with the SIXTEENTH PHOTO, photos => “Paradise Valley From Above:.jpg

..*******************
Lee Glover Has Given Further Guidance =>
… “Another problem is the perspective and distance to the bridge and mountain. The perspective seems to be compressed which would indicate a long lens was used which makes both the bridge and mountain appear closer and larger than they actually are.”
…Thus, to get good photos, one must have a high resolution camera with a telephoto lens. .
******************

NOTE3: In the /\Above/\ Satellite View Photo, the town center of Emigrant, MT is above and to the right of thef white word “Emigrant.” …. GPS = 45.369371187371925, -110.7335408994851

NOTE4: The /\ABOVE/\ Satellite View, and the FOLLOWING TopoZone Map are duplicated from the “All Four Parts: Photos Illustrating ZMM”Part 2 Gallery, which you may have already seen.

A TopoZone Map Showing The Same Area As The PREVIOUS Satellite View Photo Marked With The Same 5 Camera Location Points Where Lee Glover Took His 22 Photos Shown & Discussed In This Photo Album, Following.




It Surely Will Be A Rewarding Task To Get Good Photos Of The Mountain, & River, & Bridge Part Of The Scene Shown On The Back Cover Of The Bantam New Age Edition: And Certainly Worth The Effort.




******************** 

General Considerations For Taking Photos That Are A “Best Fit” To The Back Cover Of The Bantam New Age Edition Of The Book ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE (ZMM):

. 
…1) Take earlier photo shots at locations, which are NOT the estimated best locations. This way, the earlier shots are practice for the following shots, for which you want to be in your best Quality State Of Mind.


…2) Of course, to get a “Best Fit” to the back cover, one will need to move around to get a useful camera vantage point, which has the correct view of the River + Bridge, which are aligned with the slopes on the right flank of Emigrant Peak in the background..


…3) When arrive at any one Camera location Point, because of trees, it is NOT likely to see both the river & bridge, as shown ZMM Back Cover. …. Of course, here starts the arduous job of finding places where a shot will have both the bridge with the river close to the left. 


…4) On the /\above/\ TopoZone Map, potential Camera Points are marked wherever you see a Black Dot + Examination..


…5) Extensive exploration with Google Street View shows that any photo taken from along highway US-89 will mostly NOT have a full view of the Yellowstone River (or Bridge), because there is not enough elevation for a view of the river above the many trees.


…6) A good place to gain the necessary elevation, AND have the correct alignment of the River + Bridge, with the slopes on the right flank of Emigrant Peak: Start at the above TopoZone Map marked Black Dot + Examination saying “Paradise Valley Overlook,” then from Canal Crossover Road walk Southwest along the Capricorn Drive, which will climb UP the slope to a high enough elevation, so the river and bridge can be seen without being blocked by trees. 



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A View Of US-89 And “Reflector” Where Lee Glover Stopped For Photos.
…At Right, You Can See There Is A Wide Grassy Area For Lee To Park His Vehicle.  

…… In his November 28, 2025 email, Lee Glover says,

“The location that looks [to me] the closest to the illustration on the ZMM book is where i took the photo of the highway reflector.  That location is: 45.374599°N 110.727626°W.”

….This photo shows US-89 looking away from sun, Google Street View on Latt 5590 approximately finds camera location, about half way from the Canal Crossover Road to the town of Emigrant, MT. Henry Gurr thinks this is the location of Lee’s lowest camera elevation picture, the \/below\/ file named Paradise Pano1.jpg.


*******************

FOR 2 LINKS, MOUSE HOVER BELOW.

About ZMM Enthusiast Lee Glover.

…A) Click here for a Facebook page showing a photo of Lee Glover and a description of his effort to make a documentary film called “MERIDIAN.”. .

…B) Click here for a Montana State University webpage which gives the stories of “Pirsig Pilgrims.”. Scroll down the page to find Lee Glover’s story. … .

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A View Of The Yellowstone River And Bridge With Gloomy, Stormy Emigrant Peak In Background.

…But, to break the gloom, Lee quickly captured a nice, white sunshine illuminated snow area !!

…At right, note the larger than normal, big, bushy shrub, which can help orient the viewer in Lee Glover’s other photos.

FOR LINK, MOUSE HOVER BELOW.

…… Click here for a satellite view of this location where you can even see this shrub a bit below the Red PinPoint. .

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