2009 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Mountain Landscape
Richard Hallman: Illumination Rock
“Illumination Rock is a towering basalt pillar on the southwestern flank of Mount Hood. Named after a famed attempt to artificially illuminate Mount Hood in the early 1900s, Illumination Rock is also a rock climbers’ destination. This photo was conceived on a late spring day while climbing Mt Hood. It was a dreary cloud-covered day, but as the climb progressed I began to break through the clouds and into sunshine. From the summit I began my descent back into the clouds which had worked their way up the mountain and surrounded Illumination Rock with an eerie, surreal glow. I stayed at that spot for some time and watched as the clouds silently swirled around the peak. I snapped several photos, although I feel this one best captured the emotion of the moment. It was a magical moment, one of many I have had the good fortune of experiencing in the mountains.”
Richard Hallman has been based in Hood River, Oregon, for 16 years. His images reflect a life filled with obsession for the outdoors and outdoor sports. As an outdoor adventure sports photographer, Richard’s passion for skiing, mountaineering, snowboarding, kite boarding, windsurfing, mountain biking, and surfing allows him the rare opportunity to position himself in extreme situations and gain immediate access to the action. Whether shooting heli-skiing in Alaska or capturing kite boarding and windsurfing on the Columbia River Gorge, Richard Hallman’s images reflect an unparalleled beauty. A former ER trauma nurse and Colorado ski patroller, Richard is intimately aware of the inherent risks involved in producing these stunning images. Richard is a contributing photographer at Aurora Photos and his work is regularly published and featured in galleries around the Pacific Northwest, and has garnered him various awards through international competitions including Best in Show at the 2004 Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado. Having climbed three of the highest peaks on three different continents, few obstacles will deter him from searching out and capturing new and compelling images. Richard is currently living the dream with his dog Reina in Hood River, Oregon.
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