Carson Peak Sunrise

Winter dawn on Carson Peak, June Lake, California (Russ Bishop/Russ Bishop Photography)

It’s almost June and the Sierra Nevada is expecting another winter storm this week – amazing! Here’s a recent image of early morning light on Carson Peak above June Lake. This quiet eastern California hamlet could easily pass for the French Alps with views like this.

©Russ Bishop/All Rights Reserved

Winter Giants

Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) in winter, Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park, California (Russ Bishop/Russ Bishop Photography)

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”.

©Russ Bishop/All Rights Reserved

Tioga Pass Ski Trip

Backcountry skier in fresh snow below Tioga Pass, Inyo National Forest, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California (Russ Bishop/Russ Bishop Photography)

This image was taken on a backcountry ski trip over Tioga Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For adventure photography one of my favorite lenses is the Nikkor 16mm. Its small size and easy handling make it a perfect choice for fast action and its wide field of view really lets the viewer connect with the scene. An added plus is the beautiful sun star that is achieved when the lens is stopped down to its smallest aperture.

©Russ Bishop/All Rights Reserved