photographer
the
Oliver Palopo
Oliver Palopo is an Asian American California native who enjoys spending his free time exploring and admiring nature. If he is not reachable, you can bet he is either trekking through the woods, or climbing a mountain, rain or shine, snow or no snow. His dedication to the outdoors goes beyond his adventures off the grid; his "nine-to-five" is centered around the mission to make the outdoors more accessible to communities and to encourage folks to get out, explore, and protect.
@opalopo
My Story
My admiration for nature and outdoor activities began in my early childhood. Back then, it was mostly family camping trips and ski trips. The fond memories of those trips kept me tethered to the outdoors. However, it was not until sometime in college, closer to 2014, that I really began delving into outdoor activities of my own, with friends and coworkers. Working for a local outdoors shop, I had the opportunity to meet so many other outdoor enthusiasts. And from there, I was introduced to the many outdoor activities, some of which became hobbies.
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Among those hobbies is photography. My first exposure to photography was in 2012 when my dad purchased his first DSLR camera. I dabbled in it here and there, mostly just out of curiosity and for fun. A handful of years later, my dad got his second DSLR, which meant I had a camera I could take on my outdoor excursions. By 2017, I was hiking and camping--knee deep in snow--in Sequoia National Park, spending nights under balnkets of stars in Joshua Tree National Park, and finding myself at the peak of Lassen Volcanic National Park. To remember these spectacular experiences and views and to share them with friends and family, I began my journey into landscape photography.
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And as with most things in life, growth happened. My photography went from the small, digital grid of squares that was Instagram to my first prints that now hang on my walls. There is an incomparable kind of experience and joy that prints offer. And I hope that you, too, find those joys from my work. And for those of you who are able, I hope my work inspires you to embark on your own adventures.
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May we never stop exploring!