Photography | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

April 4, 2014October 30, 2015

Visual Abstraction

Bare trees, Yosemite National Park, California USA

As landscape photographers the natural world provides us with an unlimited source of subject matter and inspiration. Much of the time we choose to let nature dictate the scene, creating “straight photography” as Ansel Adams referred to it, by selecting a lens and exposure that will faithfully record the natural beauty we see before us.

Unfortunately conditions in the wild are not always ideal and often we’re forced to adjust our approach to image making. Flat light, wind, or a recent fire can all derail our idea of the perfect landscape. But, as I’ve mentioned previously, this is where we need to think outside the box and go with the flow creatively. The pure images might have to wait for another day, but the glass is half full. A whole new world of visual storytelling is waiting to happen for those willing to give their tripod the day off and think of their camera as a brush and canvas.

The term abstraction (from the Latin abs, meaning away from and trahere, meaning to draw) is the process of taking away or removing elements from something in order to reduce it to a set of essential characteristics. Merriam Webster defines abstraction as “art unconcerned with the literal depiction of things from the visible world”. In short, we want to know that it’s a tree or a flower, but beyond that we’re free to roam aesthetically.

Abstract photography is becoming increasingly popular these days as a form of self-expression. By imparting mood and feeling, in many ways abstracts provide a stronger emotional bond between an image and its audience than a straight image. Much like seeing the world through a new lens, the idea here is to intentionally create art and not document reality. Motion blurs, pans, and zooms at a slower shutter speed are typical techniques for creating natural abstracts, but the possibilities are endless.

The next time mother nature is being uncooperative and the straight photography is leaving you uninspired, take a detour and have fun with this liberating technique. Your inner child will thank you, and all you have to remember is that there are no rules and you can’t make any mistakes.

“Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.” -David Alan Harvey

August 20, 2013July 17, 2018

Outdoor Photographer September 2013 Cover

OP September 2013 Cover

I’m excited to share my September 2013 cover of Outdoor Photographer Magazine!

The eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California are my backyard playground as many of you know. With an amazing variety of rugged peaks, alpine meadows and gorgeous light, they offer endless opportunity for photography and those with an adventurous spirit.

Here, my wife Maureen, is enjoying the view of the pristine lakes below Bishop Pass on our way to Dusy Basin. It’s honestly hard to say which side of the pass is more spectacular! In case you missed it – check out my recent profile piece in OP here.

April 19, 2013November 6, 2015

The Common Thread

I’ve been fascinated by history for as long as I can remember. So when I ran across the finish line at the Boston Marathon three years ago it only made sense to clean up, grab the cameras and head out to explore the wealth of history in our nation’s birth place. One of the first stops we made was Minute Man National Historic Park in Concord where, on the old North Bridge, the shot that was “heard around the world” was fired at the start of the Revolutionary War. I got a chill as I looked at the monument and realized that the date was April 19th, the same day I had just run 26 miles across the Massachusetts countryside and stood on that bridge.

While there’s little comparison between resisting an oppressive government and running a marathon, the spirit is the same. The desire to be our best and the resolution to make it happen are the necessary fiber. The tragic events of this year’s marathon have been heavy on my mind, but I find a certain irony in the fact that for the better part of its 117 year history, the race has always coincided with Patriot’s Day, a celebration of our country’s founding in the face of adversity.

The marathon itself, like any endurance sport, is a challenge that thousands of people, young and old, fast and slow, rise up to meet each year at races around the world. As anyone who runs will tell you, it’s not so much about the physical act, but the sense of accomplishment and collaborative spirit against the odds that fuels the desire. Thousands of volunteers make the race possible, thousands more come as spectators to support family members and strangers alike, and the feeling on the course is always one of encouragement – all of which makes it feel like a giant family reunion.

It is often said that history will teach us nothing, but I think that it has. It’s no coincidence that each time we’re faced with a tragedy, we see that same spirit that founded our country rise up to meet the challenge and squelch the forces that attempt to stifle our way of life. As a photographer, a runner, and an American, I’m grateful for that common thread called freedom that we all share, and which gives each and every one of us the opportunity to be our best by whatever avenue we choose.