My guest blogger today is Russ Bishop. I am so happy to have this talented photographer as my guest!

Russ is an outdoor photographer/writer living in Ventura, California. He picked up his first camera at age 14 and has been exploring the world through the lens ever since. His award-winning imagery can be seen in advertisements, posters, books, and national publications with clients that include National Geographic, Sierra Club, Toshiba, Sunset, and Rodale Press. He lives in Ventura, California with his wife and two children.

Here are some of his outstanding photographs.

Take it away Russ.

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Opening image: Lightning, Organ Pipe, AZ - They say lightning doesn’t strike twice, but on this stormy evening in Organ Pipe Cactus NM the bolts continued to hit the Ajo Mtns about 10 miles away. With a 300mm lens I timed the rhythm of the strikes while opening the shutter for about 30 seconds, enough to record the drama.

Horsetail Falls, Yosemite, CA - This unique phenomenon occurs each year during the latter part of February if conditions are right. The winter snowpack needs to be substantial enough to allow spring runoff to create the falls on the south side of El Capitan. With clear skies to the west and for a few moments before sunset, the falls are back lighted to create this natural fire fall. I used a 180mm lens to capture this fleeting moment.

Bryce Canyon, UT - A winter storm was just clearing as I setup this shot at Bryce Point looking across the amphitheater to Sunset Point. I captured this scene with a 180mm lens as the fog was beginning to lift, revealing the hoodoos and tree-lined ridge below.

Watchman Peak, Zion, UT - This image was taken on a crisp fall evening from the classic view above the Virgin River. A 2-stop ND filter was used on a 24mm lens to hold the detail and color in the sky, while a 6 second exposure gave the water a silky look.

Mist Trail, Yosemite, CA - The Mist Trial is a classic hike in Yosemite that ascends hundreds of stone steps adjacent to Vernal Falls. True to its name it’s a popular hike in the summer when the cooling mist is a welcome respite from the valleys soaring temperatures. A fast shutter speed revealed the power of the falls and a 300mm lens compressed the scene to create a dynamic image of man and the environment.

False Kiva, Canyonlands, UT - This sensitive archeological site is perched in a cave a thousand feet above the classic White Rim trail and is an iconic view of the southwest. The extreme contrast of the scene made it a perfect candidate for HDR. With a 17mm lens backed up against the wall of the cave, I captured seven brackets, which were then combined in Photoshop CS5 to create this blended exposure that accurately represents what I saw with my eyes that evening.

For more info, see:

Web: www.russbishop.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RussBishopPhoto
Blog: www.russbishop.com/blog