Adventure Photography | Russ Bishop Photography

June 18, 2013July 17, 2018

July 2013 Outdoor Photographer Profile

Outdoor Photographer July 2013 Profile

Sunset over Canyon de Chelly, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona

I’m honored to have a six-page profile piece in the July 2013 issue of Outdoor Photographer Magazine!

You can view the online version of the article here.

November 3, 2011November 6, 2015

Figures on a Landscape

Hiker at the colorful Cedar Breaks Amphitheater, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

There’s a popular climb at Joshua Tree called “Figures on a Landscape” that got me thinking about the connection between man and the environment. Not so much from an environmental standpoint (this could fill numerous posts), but photographically speaking. The climb is not long by Yosemite standards, but the lack of apparent holds on the colorful granite creates the illusion of climbers floating on a much larger stone palette.

Landscape photography can often portray the natural world in abstract even with the best intentions of preserving its true form. It’s the nature of the beast – and that’s fine when you’re creating intentional abstracts or scale is irrelevant. Perspective control lenses and software can correct bending horizons and converging trees to create a more accurate representation if necessary, but there isn’t much else in nature that conforms to our linear way of thinking.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing! Nature should be wild and chaotic and unpredictable, and in most cases that’s exactly what we’re hoping to capture. But there are times when this can also lead to confusion with our audience. When you’re trying to convey a sense of scale such as the immensity of the Grand Canyon or the vastness of the night sky the simple inclusion of a person in the frame can give your image an instant focal point and more importantly, a sense of perspective.

October 13, 2011August 23, 2016

High and Wild

Climbers on the classic traverse of Matthes Crest, Yosemite National Park, California

Exploring the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California is a magical experience. The Range of Light, as John Muir affectionately called it, is essentially in my backyard (just a few hours drive away) and I try to make the most of it throughout the year. Winter is a fantastic time to discover the vast solitude that awaits the backcountry skier, late spring and summer provide ample opportunity to backpack to secluded lakes and hidden valleys, and autumn, my favorite time of year, is perfect for sharing the lofty summits with good friends.

Many of the peaks in the range average over 13,000 feet and the views stretch far and wide. Photography in the crisp, clear alpine air needs no polarizing filter to faithfully reproduce the deep indigo hue that looks as if it must have been tweaked in Photoshop. My go-to lens in these high and wild places is the Nikkor 16mm, which has a wide field of view, provides maximum depth of field with extremely close focusing, and is very compact making it especially easy to climb with.

Climbing photography is challenging as vantage points are often limited and safety always comes first. But the heightened sense of awareness that is a requirement when scaling the peaks has a dual benefit – that of visual clarity. Great shots have a way of presenting themselves, and capturing those images is often just a matter of living in the moment.