Russ | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

September 9, 2010November 6, 2015

Sierra Nevada Splendor

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. The crisp air and shorter days stimulate the senses, and the light takes on a magical quality. Throughout the country the deciduous trees from aspen to maple are a visual reminder that summer has passed and that winter is not far off. And for the photographer, this transition is literally a golden opportunity to capture the landscape in its finest hour.

When many people think of fall color the hardwood forests of the eastern United States immediately come to mind, but the aspen groves of the western states and the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California in particular can rival even the sugar maples of Vermont. Photographing aspens is often best on overcast days when the light is soft and harsh shadows are minimized or late in the day when the sky is clear and the warm back-light makes them glow from within. This image was made along Rush Creek near June Lake just moments before the sun dropped behind the Sierra peaks.

September 1, 2010February 3, 2012

Hawaiian Cowboys

Hawaiian cowboys? – it sounds like a contradiction, but then Hawaii is full of them. In addition to its active volcano, pristine beaches, and the world’s largest observatories on Mauna Kea, the Big Island of Hawaii is also home to one the largest and oldest ranches in the United States.

After the war of 1812 John Parker settled in the Islands and became friends with King Kamehameha I. He married the daughter of a high-ranking chief and was given two acres of land and allowed to manage the free-roaming cattle on the island. Over the next 160 years the ranch grew to thousands of acres around the town of Waimea and until 1992, it was the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the United States (including Texas and Montana!).

The paniolos (or Hawaiian cowboys) who work the ranch are descendants of Mexican vaqueros, excellent horsemen brought over by Parker to manage the growing operation. They trained local men to rope and ride a generation before the American cowboys of the Wild West learned their craft, and introduced to the local culture the sound that today is synonymous with Hawaii, the ukulele.

August 6, 2010April 5, 2016

Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on the Washington-Oregon border east of Portland is a paradise for water-sport enthusiasts, history buffs, and photographers alike. This magical corridor, which provided Lewis and Clark safe passage through the Cascades during their journey to the Pacific, today plays host to world-class windsurfing, fine wine making, and includes some of the most beautiful waterfalls in North America.

Latourell Falls pictured here is an icon of the area and one of numerous waterfalls that dot the historic Columbia River Highway. As America’s first scenic roadway, this national historic landmark is an engineering marvel from the last century and as much a destination as the lush grottos, cascades and temperate forests that surround it.