Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

March 1, 2010April 5, 2016

Anza-Borrego Desert

At first glance the desert can seem like a barren desolate place, void of life and beauty. But upon closer inspection it often reveals itself as a delicate world of endless variety and complexity, especially in the spring after a good winter like the one we’re having now.

This image of a natural garden in Plum Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was taken with a Nikkor 180mm lens to isolate the scene and emphasize the colors of the cholla and wildflowers. The late afternoon backlight completed the picture by accentuating the detail of the cactus needles and setting them apart from the other elements as if to say, “look, but don’t touch”.

Exploring the balance between these contrasting worlds of beauty and danger is what makes the desert so fascinating. Visually it’s not as accessible as an alpine meadow or tropical rain forest, but for those willing to take a closer look the rewards are often just as great.

February 5, 2010January 10, 2020

Chaos Theory

Windblown rocket contrails at dusk, Ventura, California

Chaos is a term often used these days to describe our lives or our economy, but it’s also a natural concept that describes the non-linear ways in which nature moves. Chaos theory has its origins in the 1960’s when meteorologists first studied weather patterns and determined that the smallest factors could dramatically change the outcome. Edward Lorenz discovered that something as subtle as a butterfly’s wings could create an extreme variation in weather simulations, which became known as “the butterfly effect”, and explains why it’s impossible to predict the weather with 100% accuracy.

Examples of chaos theory in nature include the movement of the ocean and wind, the escape pattern of an animal, water flowing down a river, and climate changes. They all have unpredictable but logical results, which means that we won’t know exactly what’s going to happen next but it will make sense when it does. From a photographic standpoint chaos often creates a wonderful palette of form and color that leaves us with a sense of awe at the natural world around us.

December 7, 2009November 6, 2015

Human Nature

One of the more curious natural phenomena is the occasional tendency for nature to mimic human form. Anthropomorphic images (meaning human characteristics in inanimate objects) can appear in rocks, plants and animals. Typically they appear only for a fleeting moment or from a unique perspective, but like finding an Easter egg they are a photographic treat.

This image of Lady in a Bathtub Butte in Valley of the Gods, Utah was taken late in the day to create a strong silhouette and emphasize the outline of the rock against the blue sky. The back-lit clouds added a nice balance to the whimsical scene.