Southwest | Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

January 9, 2012November 6, 2015

Southwest Seduction

The southwest desert of the Colorado Plateau is one of the most sought-after locations for landscape photographers in North America and rightly so. With a higher concentration of jaw dropping parks and wilderness than almost anywhere else in the US, you could spend the rest of your life here and still not see all of its wonders.

But winter brings a special element as the first snows blanket the red rock country giving its prominent features a fairytale look. This image made at Bryce Canyon National Park highlights its famous spires or “hoodoos,” which have formed over a millennia as ice and rain wear away the weak limestone that makes up the colorful Claron Formation. High on the Grand Staircase at an elevation of over 8,000 feet the air is especially cold and dry, and the park’s azure skies can often provide visibility up to 100 miles.

So if you’re thinking about a southwest road trip, consider the quieter winter months. With much fewer crowds and unique photo opportunities, you’ll be glad you did – just don’t forget the spare batteries and the cold weather gear.

November 3, 2011November 6, 2015

Figures on a Landscape

Hiker at the colorful Cedar Breaks Amphitheater, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah

There’s a popular climb at Joshua Tree called “Figures on a Landscape” that got me thinking about the connection between man and the environment. Not so much from an environmental standpoint (this could fill numerous posts), but photographically speaking. The climb is not long by Yosemite standards, but the lack of apparent holds on the colorful granite creates the illusion of climbers floating on a much larger stone palette.

Landscape photography can often portray the natural world in abstract even with the best intentions of preserving its true form. It’s the nature of the beast – and that’s fine when you’re creating intentional abstracts or scale is irrelevant. Perspective control lenses and software can correct bending horizons and converging trees to create a more accurate representation if necessary, but there isn’t much else in nature that conforms to our linear way of thinking.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s a good thing! Nature should be wild and chaotic and unpredictable, and in most cases that’s exactly what we’re hoping to capture. But there are times when this can also lead to confusion with our audience. When you’re trying to convey a sense of scale such as the immensity of the Grand Canyon or the vastness of the night sky the simple inclusion of a person in the frame can give your image an instant focal point and more importantly, a sense of perspective.

April 19, 2011November 6, 2015

Old World Classic

San Felipe de Neri Church, Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico

I’ll be making a shift from my usual subject matter while visiting many of the classic locales in France and Italy during the next few weeks. I’m looking forward to the challenge of creating unique images at some of the popular landmarks as well as just immersing myself in the culture and stepping outside of my photographic comfort zone.

This image of San Felipe Church in Albuquerque isn’t quite on the same timeline nor does it possess the architectural grandeur of the likes of Notre Dame or St. Marks Basilica, but it does represent the old world of the American southwest and the spirit that it evokes. Classic lines, classic beauty.