Documenting Glen Canyon as it Emerges from below Lake Powell.

Dawn Kish received her first camera, a Nikkormat, when
she was 17 years old from her mentor Sue Bennett. For over 25
years she has been shooting adventure, commercial, and
conservation photography. “If it is outside,” says Kish,
“I’ve probably photographed it.”


She creates photos of her journeys, whether they are stories of
Native Americans in her Arizona homeland or hanging off a cliff
wall in Yosemite.  Dawn’s life is full of adventure
activities: snowboarding, rock climbing, backpacking and white
water boating. She has worked as a river guide in the Grand
Canyon for the USGS. “The river is part of me. It is in my heart
and soul.”


Dawn was inspired at a young age by the National Geographic
Magazines her mother subscribed to and kept on a bookshelf in her
bedroom. Then in 1999 she started shooting for them. “It was
a dream come true.”


For Kish, photography is all about the people and their
stories, their emotions, and the honor of the photographic
moment. Direct and honest, this playful self-taught photographer
has a way of bringing out the genuine and expressive ways of the
people she works with. “My subjects give me so much, that I get
charged up. That is why I keep traveling, learning, and telling
stories.”


Kish started a portrait series on conservationist of the 22
Tribes of Arizona called Connected. A long term photogravure
project influenced by the famous work of Edward Curtis. It
documents the Arizona native conservationists and the land they
protect. “We must promote advocacy and save our natural
world.”


Her lovely clients are Arizona Highways, Audubon, Grand Canyon
Trust, National Geographic, Patagonia, and Sports
Illustrated. “I feel so honored. I love being a
photographer,” says Kish. “It’s the best job ever and I get
to work with awesome clients.”


Kish has many awards and is a featured photographer in the
book, National Geographic Field Guide to Adventure
Photography, plus, honored in the top 30 photographs in 30
years of National Geographic Traveler, and the top 50 photos ever
in Arizona Highways Magazine. Kish also received the
Red Bull Illume award for the photo Climbers Hand.


Kish loves to direct and tell stories and turns her photo
projects into film.



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