Landscape Photography | Russ Bishop Photography

March 1, 2024March 1, 2024

Finding Balance

Finding balance. The notion of coming together to create symmetry spans the worlds of economics, mathematics, computing, and natural science. Systems that work together to form a more unified whole are greater than the sum of their parts. They are efficient and economical, and equally important on the human side they create a sense of harmony and well-being.

It is a natural human desire to find equilibrium in our lives, and for many the definition of success is living a balanced life. Landscape photography is a wonderful medium in this sense as it provides us with an outlet for creating visual harmony. What we express through our lens is an extension of our personality and our vision of the world around us.

Webster defines balance as “an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements” and, while the evolution of our photographic vision is an ongoing journey, learning to find balance in your compositions does become second nature with practice.

The juxtaposition of color and form within the frame is often the key, and learning to recognize and integrate them into your photography will translate into more dynamic and satisfying images that hopefully reflect that balance we all strive to find in life.

February 15, 2024February 15, 2024

Happy Birthday Ansel Adams

Happy birthday Ansel Adams! The master of landscape photography, who was born February 20, 1902, had a profound affect on my creative direction and continues to be an inspiration to generations of outdoor photographers.

Adams pioneered the idea of previsualization, the concept of seeing the final image in the mind’s eye before the photo is created. He also co-founded Group f/64 with other photographic masters Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham, and he developed the Zone System, a technique for translating perceived light into specific densities to allow better control over finished photographs. Though he lived well before the time of megapixels and monitors I think he would have embraced the creative possibilities of the digital age.

As a strong advocate for the environment, his iconic black and white images of the American West influenced powerful decision makers in Washington and helped preserve places like Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks and California’s iconic Big Sur coast. Ansel was also largely responsible for photography being accepted into the world of fine art, culminating in major exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 1980. And shortly after his death in 1984, the Minarets Wilderness in his beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains was re-named the Ansel Adams Wilderness in his honor.

Thank you Ansel – your legacy lives on!

“Photography is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas. It is a creative art.” ~ Ansel Adams

January 2, 2024January 2, 2024

2023 – The Year in Pictures

2023 – The Year in Pictures. Here is a selection of favorite images released in the past year. These are not necessarily my best or most popular, but each represents a special moment in time in which the beauty of this amazing world revealed itself before my lens.

Please share and enjoy! I’d love to know your thoughts and if any images resonated with you or conjured up good memories. You can click on any image for a large high quality view, to learn more about it or purchase a fine art print.

I look forward to seeing your favorite images, and most of all I wish everyone a healthy and Happy New Year!

-Russ

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Punch Bowl Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon USA — Punch Bowl Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Granite boulders at Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California USA — Granite boulders at Jumbo Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Icebergs on glacial meltwater under Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper National Park, Alberta Canada — Icebergs on glacial meltwater, Jasper National Park, Canada

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Clearing winter storm over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California USA — Clearing winter storm over Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Wildflowers at Tom McCall Preserve, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon USA — Wildflowers at sunrise, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Backpacker on the Bishop Pass Trail, John Muir Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California USA — Backpacker on the Bishop Pass Trail, John Muir Wilderness, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Giant Sequoia in the Congress Grove in winter, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California USA — Giant Sequoia in the Congress Grove, Sequoia National Park, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Kalalau Beach on the Na Pali Coast (aerial), Napali Coast Wilderness State Park, Kauai, Hawaii USA — Kalalau Beach, Napali Coast Wilderness State Park, Kauai, Hawaii

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Wildflowers in the Temblor Range, Carrizo Plain National Monument, California USA — Wildflowers in the Temblor Range, Carrizo Plain National Monument, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Milky Way over Sierra Nevada Mountains, John Muir Wilderness, California USA — Milky Way over Sierra Nevada Mountains, John Muir Wilderness, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Forest abstract, Yosemite National Park, California USA — Forest abstract, Yosemite National Park, California

2023 - The Year in Pictures. Fairy Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon USA — Fairy Falls, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon USA