Russ Bishop | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

November 4, 2013October 30, 2015

Conflict of Interest

Fresh snow on fall aspens and pines, Inyo National Forest, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California USA
©Russ Bishop / All Rights Reserved ~ Click image for larger view

It’s that time of year again when Mother Nature is a bit conflicted. Autumn and her spectacular colors haven’t quite left the scene, but winter is starting to make serious inroads. They say there’s nothing like visual tension to create compelling images and this, my favorite time of year, is a prime example.

The beauty of scenes like this is what inspires us to make photographs, but on a deeper level I think we also sympathise with the underlying struggle. That emotional connection in turn creates a deeper bond with the subject and the resulting images take on a life of their own.

I feel very fortunate to be able to witness and share such beauty, but it is always my hope that my images stir an emotional response as well. Our natural world is in a state of flux as our environment is seen more and more for its monetary value and less for its spiritual rewards. The seasonal conflict illustrated here is a natural occurrence, but it mimics a larger challenge that as nature photographers we have the power to bring into focus.

October 11, 2013October 30, 2015

Magic in the Sky

Hot air balloons rising in dawn light at the International Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, New Mexico USA

There are plenty of good reasons to head to New Mexico this time of year. The fall color in the canyons of the Sangre de Christo Mountains is spectacular, and the light along the high road to Taos has a special quality found nowhere else. But equally mesmerizing are the skies over Albuquerque where hundreds of hot air balloons rise in unison in the dawn light.

This week marks the 42nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta – an event that everyone should experience at least once in their life. The mass ascension is a kaleidoscope of color as pilots from all over the world guide their giant orbs upward into the air currents known as the Albuquerque Box. What might seem like a helpless craft floating at the whim of the wind can actually be steered in any direction by skilled pilots who raise or lower the balloon to catch the right currents.

Whether you take a ride for a bird’s-eye view or simply wander amid the controlled chaos of preparation on the ground, this is a spectacle you won’t soon forget. Oh, and don’t forget the camera!

October 2, 2013July 12, 2018

Government Shutdown Alternatives

Cypress Tree at sunset, Point Lobos State Reserve, Carmel, California

It’s unfortunate that this week our government here in the US has closed its doors, especially for those who had travel plans to visit our wonderful national parks. But all is not lost as there are many beautiful locations in state parks, wilderness, and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) areas around the country that are open and often free of charge.

In California, a few of the standouts include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (the largest in California and second largest in the country). Northeast of San Diego, this sprawling wilderness park offers endless hiking and photographic potential in a remote setting of cactus covered hillsides and palm oasis. With Borrego Springs as your base, you can enjoy day hikes from numerous lodging options in town, or wilderness camp for free under a star-filled sky and not see a soul for days.

Point Lobos State Reserve near Monterey, Garrapata and Limekiln State Parks (all on the Big Sur Coast), provide some of the best views on the California coast. Limekiln includes coastal access and camping and trails through a primeval forest of old growth redwoods and crystal clear streams. Garrapata is a rugged, undeveloped park adjacent to Highway 1 offering quiet coves, sea arches, and stunning views of the Pacific.

Further north, Point Lobos State Reserve, which was a local haunt of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. It’s wind-swept shores of rare Monterey cypress are a diver’s paradise and a great place to watch migrating whales and sea otters – and the sunsets can be truly spectacular. Other excellent spots in the area include Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and Sand Dollar Beach in the Los Padres National Forest. On the east side of the state along Highway 395 in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Alabama Hills under Mount Whitney are a vast moon-scape of giant boulders and arches made famous in early Hollywood movies and a wonderful photographic destination.

So while the politicians in Washington try to see eye to eye, those who had planned to visit America’s best idea don’t have to feel short-changed. There’s still plenty of natural beauty waiting to be explored outside the confines of the National Park System.