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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