Forest | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

May 12, 2010November 6, 2015

Winter Giants

This image was made on a backcountry ski trip through the Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. A storm had just passed in the night and although we were anxious to reach our destination, I knew the fresh snow in the trees wouldn’t last. As I wandered through the grove scene after scene unfolded before my lens, but after only an hour or so the delicate flocking was already beginning to melt.

It’s always a humbling experience to walk among these stately giants – to ponder the fact that they’ve been here long before us and will be here long after we’re gone. But the winter season adds a heightened sense of clarity to the scene and these magnificent trees seem to peer out from their cloaks of white as if to say, “I am wise”.

March 10, 2010November 5, 2015

Light Painting

Light painting is a photographic technique where artificial light is combined with ambient light (typically at dusk or after dark) to enhance the features of a foreground subject and add a sense of mystery. It is often used on Indian ruins, unique rock formations, or trees to enhance the dramatic qualities already present in the scene.

This image of an ancient Bristlecone Pine in the Patriarch Grove in California’s White Mountains was made at dusk when the stars were just starting to shine and the sky still held some color. A Maglite flashlight with a directional snout and an amber gel was used to paint the tree during the 2 minute exposure, and a wide-angle 17mm lens allowed me to fill the frame with the large tree and still include plenty of sky.

These images are fun to create because, as Forrest Gump would say, “you never really know what you’re gonna get”. Fortunately with the advent of digital the wait is considerably shorter than the old days of film and any mistakes can be corrected before leaving the scene.

November 1, 2009February 3, 2012

Change is in the air…

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. Everything in the natural world is in a state of flux and the woods of both coasts are a patchwork of color. Mention fall color though and many people naturally think only of New England and its glowing maples, but the quaking aspen of the west are equally vibrant especially when back lit.

This image was made in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado shortly before an early snow fall blanketed the landscape. A 180mm lens compressed the scene across this narrow valley and emphasized the contrast of aspen and evergreens.