Posted by Eric A. Rosen on August 11, 2006 at 8:25 PM
Hi all, I just wanted to mention if you didn't remember that August 11th, 2002 was the day when Galen and his wife died in a small plane crash near Bishop,Ca.
I dont' know about anybody else but I love his pictures and essays. He was a great writer, climber and photographer.
Posted by Richard Wong on August 11, 2006 at 10:59 PM
Galen was definetely the biggest influence on my photography. In turn, that's had a big impact on my life. His influence on me wasn't so much the photography, but his philosophy and his writings. I think he was very underrated as a writer. He's by far the best photographer / writer I've ever read.
Posted by Warren Xato on August 12, 2006 at 4:58 PM
The Ordover Gallery in Solana Beach (or maybe in San Diego in Balboa park) is having a restrospective and also, of course, to sell a book. It should still be worthwhile if you haven't gone to Bishop to see his gallery.
Warren
"Galen Rowell
August 23, 1940 - August 11, 2002
Born in 1940 in Oakland and raised in Berkeley, California, Galen was introduced to wilderness before he could walk. He began climbing mountains at the age of ten on Sierra Club outings, and at sixteen made his first roped climbs in Yosemite Valley. Over the next fifteen years he logged more than a hundred first ascents of new routes there and in the High Sierra backcountry.
Taking photographs began as a way to share his high and wild world with friends and family. In 1972 he became a full-time photographer after selling his small automotive business. Less than a year later he did his first major magazine assignment - a cover story for National Geographic.
Galen pioneered a special brand of participatory wilderness photography in which the photographer transcends being an observer with a camera to become an active participant in the image being photographed. His emotional connection to his subject matter came across clearly in his early mountain climbing photographs that first drew public recognition, but his landscape imagery, often made on the same adventures, has proven even more evocative because of the visual power he created from what he described as "a continuing pursuit in which the art becomes the adventure, and vice-versa." In 1984 he received the Ansel Adams Award for his contributions to the art of wilderness photography. In 1992 Galen received a National Science Foundation Artists and Writers Grant to photograph Antarctica."
Posted by Dan Truong on August 14, 2006 at 4:14 PM
He was a good climber and technical photographer: When I see his work, I marvel at how he manages such stunning colors in his compositions. I have yet to be able to shoot exiting compositions at the "magic hour" like he was able to.
The Mountain Light gallery has a very nice collection to see, the invited photographers are also exiting to see.
If you are interrested in some nice "El-cap" climbing photos, Sept. Rock&Ice (# 153) has a special on it with historical action shots and a historical review: "El Cap Confidential". Climbing photographers are often unsung heroes that are really strong climbers and dedicated. They must climb ahead of the stars to catch them in their moment of glory.
Posted by David L. Smith on September 15, 2006 at 2:26 PM
Galen was also the biggest influence on my work. He died about the time when I really started getting serious about my photography. But I have several of his books and have studied many of his photographs. Living here in Yosemite Valley - and being in many areas where he would have been - has been especially helpful in walking in his steps and becoming better at photography.
Discussion
4 repliesI dont' know about anybody else but I love his pictures and essays. He was a great writer, climber and photographer.
Warren
"Galen Rowell
August 23, 1940 - August 11, 2002
Born in 1940 in Oakland and raised in Berkeley, California, Galen was introduced to wilderness before he could walk. He began climbing mountains at the age of ten on Sierra Club outings, and at sixteen made his first roped climbs in Yosemite Valley. Over the next fifteen years he logged more than a hundred first ascents of new routes there and in the High Sierra backcountry.
Taking photographs began as a way to share his high and wild world with friends and family. In 1972 he became a full-time photographer after selling his small automotive business. Less than a year later he did his first major magazine assignment - a cover story for National Geographic.
Galen pioneered a special brand of participatory wilderness photography in which the photographer transcends being an observer with a camera to become an active participant in the image being photographed. His emotional connection to his subject matter came across clearly in his early mountain climbing photographs that first drew public recognition, but his landscape imagery, often made on the same adventures, has proven even more evocative because of the visual power he created from what he described as "a continuing pursuit in which the art becomes the adventure, and vice-versa." In 1984 he received the Ansel Adams Award for his contributions to the art of wilderness photography. In 1992 Galen received a National Science Foundation Artists and Writers Grant to photograph Antarctica."
The Mountain Light gallery has a very nice collection to see, the invited photographers are also exiting to see.
If you are interrested in some nice "El-cap" climbing photos, Sept. Rock&Ice (# 153) has a special on it with historical action shots and a historical review: "El Cap Confidential". Climbing photographers are often unsung heroes that are really strong climbers and dedicated. They must climb ahead of the stars to catch them in their moment of glory.