Sunrise | Russ Bishop Photography

2025 – The Year in Pictures. Continuing a tradition that began over ten years ago here is a selection of a few of my favorite images released in the past year. These are not necessarily my best or most popular, but each represents a special moment in time in which the beauty of this amazing world revealed itself before my lens.

Please share and enjoy! I’d love to know your thoughts and if any images resonated with you or conjured up good memories. You can click on any image for a large high quality view, to learn more about it or purchase a fine art print.

I look forward to seeing your favorite images, and most of all I wish everyone a healthy and Happy New Year!

-Russ

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Cascade on the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, California USA — Cascade on the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, California USA

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Motmot bird (Momotidae) eating a praying mantas, Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica — Motmot bird (Momotidae), Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Sunset at Playa Matapalo, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica — Sunset at Playa Matapalo, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Splendid Leaf Frog (Agalychnis calcarifer), La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica — Splendid Leaf Frog (Agalychnis calcarifer), La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Rio Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica — Rio Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Arenal Volcano, Arenal Volcano National Park, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica — Arenal Volcano, Arenal Volcano National Park, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Rio Celeste Waterfall, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica — Rio Celeste Waterfall, Tenorio Volcano National Park, Costa Rica

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Morning light on Mount Cook, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand — Morning light on Mount Cook, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Rainbow Falls, Wailuku River State Park, Hawaii USA — Rainbow Falls, Wailuku River State Park, Hawaii USA

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Powerful surf on the Puna Coast, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii USA — Powerful surf on the Puna Coast, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii USA

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Jungle stream on the Hamakua Coast, The Big Island, Hawaii USA — Jungle stream on the Hamakua Coast, The Big Island, Hawaii USA

2025 - The Year in Pictures. Sunrise at Mather Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona USA — Sunrise at Mather Point, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona USA

A Sense of Place. Silhouetted palms at sunrise, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California USA (Russ Bishop/Russ Bishop Photography) — Palms at sunrise, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California

Compelling landscape images stand on their own and connect the viewer with a sense of place or time. They can be displayed alone or in a series to tell a story, but they all have one thing in common. They make a statement about a location that defines its uniqueness.

The use of color or form in a composition can provoke an emotional response. Leading lines draw the viewer into the frame, creating tension that guides your audience towards the important elements you’re presenting. Shutter speed can illustrate the passing of time to create mood. These are all-powerful creative tools that when applied thoughtfully can result in strong imagery.

Another technique is the silhouette, which uses a graphic approach to convey an idea. Any object or scene that is backlit and appears dark against a lighter background will work, but the key is to find a subject with highly defined edges. A diffused yet colorful background like a sunrise or sunset often works best as it compliments the scene and reinforces the message.

Try adding this technique to your visual toolkit to create powerful images that stand on their own and strengthen your visual storytelling.