Landscape photographer Galen Rowell

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Landscape photographer Galen Rowell (1940 – 2002)

Landscape photographer Galen Rowell
Born in Oakland, California, in 1940, Rowell was a talented landscape photographer. He has created an inspiring art gallery of landscape scenery from around the world, including portrait and still life. Remembered as one of the best American landscape photographers, Rowell was in fact, a self-taught photographer.
According to his biography, Galen Rowell enjoyed a long marriage with Barbara Cushman, with whom he lived in California and had two children. In 2002, 62-year-old Rowell and his wife tragically died in an air crash between Alaska and California. In order to recognize the great and intangible value of his body of work, Galen Rowell posthumously entered the International League of Conservation Photographers (2009).

Landscape photographer Galen Rowell (August 23, 1940 – August 11, 2002)

Meanwhile, the stunning locations in his home state gave him plenty of opportunities for developing a love of the natural world. He went on to enrol at the University of California, and spent two years engaged in studying physics. But at that point he decided to drop out – restless to spend more time climbing and enjoying the outdoors.

He dabbled in photography, with increasing enthusiasm, and began laying the foundations for a photographic career. By 1972 Rowell had become a highly accomplished photographer, and he sold his business to pursue a full time career in photography. In under a year he had completed a cover story for National Geographic Magazine: a photographic journey through the Yosemite National Park in California.

Landscape photographer Galen Rowell

Rays of sunset

Throughout his prolific career, Rowell published a total of eighteen books on mountaineering and photograph. Rowell’s conservationist and humanitarian concerns are evidenced by by his close involvement with various organizations, including the Committee of 100 for Tibet and the World Wildlife Fund.

Noteworthy, Rowell was not only a magnificent landscape photographer, but also a pioneering climber. And he had significant achievements in the field of mountaineering. In particular, the first single day ascent of Denali in Alaska and the first single day ascent of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Besides, the first ever ascent of Great Trango Tower in the Pakistani Himalayas.