California | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

September 23, 2010April 24, 2015

Queen of the Missions

Just a short drive from my home yet worlds away, the Santa Barbara Mission is an icon of Spanish architecture and the crown jewel of the 21 California missions established by Father Junipero Serra in the late 18th century. The I Madonnari chalk drawings (an Italian art festival that occurs each summer) add an artistic flair and Old World feel to this classic setting.

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.

August 2, 2010March 9, 2018

Sea Nettles

Sea nettle at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, California

The sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) is one of the most fascinating creatures of the open ocean. These jelly fish, as they are commonly known, are invertebrates with tentacles up to 15 feet long and a bell of up to 3 feet in diameter. Their deadly sting paralyzes their prey which includes pollock, plankton, and other jellies, and they can travel as much as 3,600 feet up and down in the water daily in search of food.

This image was made at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is a wonderful place to experience the undersea world without getting wet! The graceful movement of the jellies is mesmerizing to watch and the large displays offer unlimited possibilities for creative photography.