Russ Bishop Photography | Nature Photo Blog

January 12, 2017July 12, 2018

That Extra Something

Mount Rushmore and fall color, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

I always strive to find the unique angle or foreground subject in my landscape and travel photography, and most of the time this is simply a matter of scouting the location before the sweet light arrives to find that special element. But sometimes the options are limited and even the subject itself has really only one angle. Mount Rushmore is a classic example.

The sculpture created by Gutzon Borglum in the 1930s is an icon of Americana, and has probably been photographed more times than Old Faithful or Yosemite Falls. Of course I too had to capture my version, but with limited access to the monument my choice of lens was about the only option. Tight telephoto images are captivating and show the skill and detail that went into Borglum’s creation, but in the end it was a simple splash of fall color and a wide field of view that captured the essence of what I felt and gave the image that extra something.

So the next time you find your vision is hampered by the limitations of your surroundings go long or go wide, but try to include something unique within the frame that imparts a sense of time or place – and sets your image apart from the crowd.

February 9, 2016February 9, 2016

The Sky’s the Limit

Digital photography offers many benefits over the old days of film, but one area where the new technology falls short is the constant need for power. Manual film cameras like the classic Nikon FM and FE2 could be used with no battery at all, but today’s hi-tech devices are just fancy paperweights without a battery. I’m often asked how I manage this challenge when traveling in the wilderness and the answer is the sun!

In addition to bringing a good supply of fully charged lithium-ion batteries (which perform remarkably well in the cold) I have a solar panel made by Brunton that rolls up into a small tube and cranks out a powerful 14 watts. That’s enough juice to power a laptop or sat phone and will even charge batteries on overcast days. So with an unlimited source of power and several large capacity memory cards the sky really is the limit when shooting in the backcountry.

December 8, 2015March 8, 2018

Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of France’s most recognizable landmarks. Known as the “Wonder of the Western World”, this island fortress was built in ancient times and since the 8th century has been the seat of the monastery for which it is named.

Perched on a rocky islet at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches, the island is just 600 meters from shore. This unique location made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but also provided an excellent defense against invasion. Through the ages, the Mont remained unconquered even during the Hundred Years’ War.

During the French Revolution the abbey was closed and converted into a prison, but influential figures including Victor Hugo launched a campaign to restore this national architectural treasure to its former glory. The prison was finally closed in 1863, and the mount was declared a national historic monument in 1874.

Throughout the centuries, the abbey became a renowned centre of learning and attracted some of the greatest minds in Europe. Today Mont Saint-Michel has a population of just 44 permanent residents, but is visited by over 3 million tourists each year.

The winding cobblestone streets and fascinating architecture of this medieval town still lead to the Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael at the islands apex, But the pilgrims now come to enjoy the fine dining and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside, and ponder the rich history within these walls.