Utah photographer Johnny Adolphson belongs in the mountains. He’s spent many nights hiking and backpacking through wild terrain, with only a headlamp to illuminate his path.
He knows the landscape well, and he’s worked here not only as a photographer but also as a firefighter and a snowcat ski guide. Some nights, he camps in his Subaru, where he has a bed on one end and all his photography gear on the other. He wakes before the sun, and when the trails disappear, he uses a map, a compass, or GPS to find his way.
[sstk-pullquote align=”right”]“It’s those moments of amazing light, or the clearing after a storm, or nights in the desert chasing the Milky Way that I live for,”[/sstk-pullquote]
Adolphson devotes the hours surrounding sunrise and sunset to photography, not only because of the soft and shining sunlight over the mountains, but also because he often has another job to get to in the middle. “It’s those moments of amazing light, or the clearing after a storm, or nights in the desert chasing the Milky Way that I live for,” the artist says.
Adolphson’s daily life, like his photography, is deeply rooted in the natural world. When we asked him about his influences last month, he responded, “I find inspiration from moments spent in nature.” At home in Heber City, he can be found gardening, and when he’s not traveling alone, he takes his wife and two kids along for the adventure.
“Although I travel throughout the western United States for landscape photography, my favorite place to shoot is my home state,” the photographer tells us, “From the alpine terrain in the Uinta and Wasatch mountain ranges in northern Utah to the vast Southern Desert regions, my list of places I need to shoot is constantly growing. I find peace and clarity during this time spent in the wild.”
We asked Adolphson to share some of his most memorable shots, and he also told us some of his expert tips for capturing beautiful landscapes.
“One of the most amazing sunrises I’ve woken up to at Lake Powell.” – Utah, USA
“The golden glow in the Wasatch Mountains still takes my breath away.” – Utah, USA
“It was raining heavily five minutes before this shot. I almost bailed, but then the sky lit up.”
Tip 1
Chase and capture the best light to create strong visual impact. Get into position early and always shoot the golden hours at sunrise and sunset.
“I keep returning to this view of the Wasatch Back.” – Utah, USA
“Symmetry in nature is something I use to create visual impact.” – Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA
“I can see why the ancient people chose to live here.” – Bears Ears National Monument, Utah, USA
Tip 2
Although the landscapes of the American West have been photographed for decades, some images leave more of an impression than others. Think about how the viewer’s eye is going to flow through the image. Lead their eye to a strong focal point.
“Moments like this are fleeting, so I try to visualize them and be ready when it happens.” – Utah, USA
“Sometimes it’s not enough just to see it in my mind. I have to go there.” – Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA
“These desert badlands make me think of the moon. What else is out there?” – Utah, USA
Tip 3
I try to find elements that add another dimension to the landscape. This can be a physical element leading into a scene. Sometimes I wait for the light to hit just the right spot, or I use light and shadows to provide separation or contrast to compositional elements.
“The light was amazing that evening, but I needed something like these wildflowers to bring this image together.” – Henry Mountains, Utah, USA
“The sky just kept on burning that morning.” – Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA
Tip 4
Visualize first, and then go after the shot you see in your mind. There are plenty of famous photo spots in Utah where there is often a crowd. I enjoy all of these places, but I also try to find solitude and search for places off the beaten path. There are amazing opportunities for landscape photography outside of the national parks on public land. If you are willing to hike and drive into the backcountry, it easy to find yourself way out there.
“Most spots in the Escalante Desert take quite a bit of effort and hiking to get to. This one doesn’t. If you’re near Escalante, check out the Devil’s Garden.” – Escalante, Utah, USA
“Fall was over, but there were still a few proud aspens out there.” – Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA
“After the ten mile hike into Reflection Canyon, I couldn’t resist jumping in front of the lens for this one.” – Lake Powell, Utah, USA
Tip 5
Look for natural seasonal phenomena. Monitor wildflower blooms, fresh snow, autumn colors, etc, all of which will create images with more visual weight. There is so much diversity in this terrain, and the four seasons always present different applications of natural light and color. I try to catch landscapes during the transitional times between seasons.
