Meeting Galen Rowell....

**rlmartindale** · 05-16-2021, 01:16 PM - **1 Like**

I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work.

As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES.

I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture.

I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on.

Galen Rowell - Wikipedia

Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III

stevebrot · 05-16-2021, 02:52 PM

So true...

The request I always make of those I meed whose work has influenced me is "may I assist for you at some point?"...so far always results in bemused expression and a vague response.

Steve

shyrsio · 05-16-2021, 03:16 PM

interesting photographer, I really get an Ansel Adams like vibe prom his pictures.

Baxter · 05-16-2021, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by rlmartindale

I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work.

As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES.

I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture.

I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on.

Galen Rowell - Wikipedia

Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III

Never heard of Galen before, sorry for your loss.

**DWS1** · 05-16-2021, 05:16 PM

As happens often, the best questions are the ones we never ask.

**UncleVanya** · 05-16-2021, 07:17 PM

I have one of his designed bags. He was a friend of my dad’s best friend. As I recall I may have met him once but I don’t recall for sure.

Kendra59 · 05-16-2021, 08:02 PM

By all accounts he was a great outdoor photographer. Galen, his wife Barbara, and two other people died in a plane crashon August 11, 2002. I never met the man, but love his photographs. If I had met him, I probably would have been tongue tied...

I have three of his books:

The first two are great coffee table books showing Galen's work

Galen Rowell - A Retrospective
Galen Rowell - The Art of Adventure

The third book is filled with short articles (and some photographs) Galen published in his column in Outdoor Photography magazine, and it has a lot of useful information for outdoor photographers

Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography

**Biff** · 05-16-2021, 08:49 PM

I attended a workshop at UC Berkeley given by Galen Rowell and Frans Lanting. It was just at the time when film was still the primary medium, but digital was becoming more popular. I remember someone asked if they they thought digital would ever replace film. One or both of them replied pretty confidently that they didn't see that happening.

At the time I was more familiar with Galen's work, just becoming familiar with Frans'. Two great artists. Galen's work in the Sierras is groundbreaking. Frans Lanting is my favorite wildlife photographer. He has a great philosophy about approach to photography, nature in particular.

**barondla** · 05-16-2021, 11:48 PM

Originally posted by rlmartindale

I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work.

As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES.

I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture.

I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on.

Galen Rowell - Wikipedia

Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III

Attended his seminar in St. Louis, Mo. Knew him from reading his columns in Outdoor Photographer Magazine. He revolutionized landscape photography. Everyone should see his work Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape. Awe inspiring.

He gave a great presentation and answered lots of questions. A very nice person.

Thanks for being back the memories,

barondla

**Pål Jensen** · 05-17-2021, 02:06 AM - **1 Like**

Mountain light is the best book on landscape photography ever written.....

peggers · 05-17-2021, 04:05 AM

Yes, great question to ask, why? Must remember that. And, what were the challenges? What did you do to overcome them?

TaoMaas · 05-17-2021, 11:29 AM - **1 Like**

I came really close to taking a workshop from Galen Rowell back in 1988 up in Maine. Even though I was totally blown away by "Mountain Light", I opted to take a different workshop instead. A number of years later, I got to meet Galen when he spoke at the opening of an exhibition of his work here. Seemed like a super nice guy.

05-16-2021, 01:16 PM - 1 Like	#1
rlmartindale Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 176	Meeting Galen Rowell.... I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work. As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES. I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture. I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on. Galen Rowell - Wikipedia Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III

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05-16-2021, 02:52 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	So true... The request I always make of those I meed whose work has influenced me is "may I assist for you at some point?"...so far always results in bemused expression and a vague response. Steve

05-16-2021, 03:16 PM	#3
shyrsio Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Tirana Posts: 780	interesting photographer, I really get an Ansel Adams like vibe prom his pictures.

05-16-2021, 04:43 PM	#4
Baxter Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 34	Originally posted by rlmartindale I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work. As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES. I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture. I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on. Galen Rowell - Wikipedia Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III Never heard of Galen before, sorry for your loss.

05-16-2021, 05:16 PM	#5
DWS1 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 1,169	As happens often, the best questions are the ones we never ask.

05-16-2021, 07:17 PM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	I have one of his designed bags. He was a friend of my dad’s best friend. As I recall I may have met him once but I don’t recall for sure.

05-16-2021, 08:02 PM	#7
Kendra59 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 187	By all accounts he was a great outdoor photographer. Galen, his wife Barbara, and two other people died in a plane crashon August 11, 2002. I never met the man, but love his photographs. If I had met him, I probably would have been tongue tied... I have three of his books: The first two are great coffee table books showing Galen's work Galen Rowell - A Retrospective Galen Rowell - The Art of Adventure The third book is filled with short articles (and some photographs) Galen published in his column in Outdoor Photography magazine, and it has a lot of useful information for outdoor photographers Galen Rowell's Inner Game of Outdoor Photography

05-16-2021, 08:49 PM	#8
Biff Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Photos: Albums Posts: 1,084	I attended a workshop at UC Berkeley given by Galen Rowell and Frans Lanting. It was just at the time when film was still the primary medium, but digital was becoming more popular. I remember someone asked if they they thought digital would ever replace film. One or both of them replied pretty confidently that they didn't see that happening. At the time I was more familiar with Galen's work, just becoming familiar with Frans'. Two great artists. Galen's work in the Sierras is groundbreaking. Frans Lanting is my favorite wildlife photographer. He has a great philosophy about approach to photography, nature in particular.

05-16-2021, 11:48 PM	#9
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,715	Originally posted by rlmartindale I met Galen Rowell once at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. They were having an exhibit of his work. As a young news photographer, I asked him some questions, but they were technical (what camera, what film, etc). He was obviously disappointed in me for not asking about the PICTURES. I think back on that and make sure, to this day, always to ask a photographer WHY they took a picture. I swore that, if I ever got the chance, he would be told how he influenced me.....unfortunately, Galen Rowell was killed in a plane crash before I could do that...but his lesson lives on. Galen Rowell - Wikipedia Lets all keep this in mind as we work our way, with Pentax, towards a better K3III Attended his seminar in St. Louis, Mo. Knew him from reading his columns in Outdoor Photographer Magazine. He revolutionized landscape photography. Everyone should see his work Mountain Light: In Search of the Dynamic Landscape. Awe inspiring. He gave a great presentation and answered lots of questions. A very nice person. Thanks for being back the memories, barondla

05-17-2021, 02:06 AM - 1 Like	#10
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Mountain light is the best book on landscape photography ever written.....

05-17-2021, 04:05 AM	#11
peggers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Endeavour Hills, Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 210	Yes, great question to ask, why? Must remember that. And, what were the challenges? What did you do to overcome them?

05-17-2021, 11:29 AM - 1 Like	#12
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	I came really close to taking a workshop from Galen Rowell back in 1988 up in Maine. Even though I was totally blown away by "Mountain Light", I opted to take a different workshop instead. A number of years later, I got to meet Galen when he spoke at the opening of an exhibition of his work here. Seemed like a super nice guy.