Conversations with the Inspiring Lindsay Fisher

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Fisher.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Before I started grad school, I moved from Ohio to Colorado to be a ski bum for a season and was sitting in the ticket office at Keystone, where I worked that season, listening to some of my coworkers talk about hiking the 14ers, which are the peaks over 14,000’ high. I thought to myself, ‘why would anyone want to do that’ and went on with my day. Fast-forward to five years later, I had climbed all 58 of them.

I remember hiking my first, Grays Peak, and was on the metaphorical struggle bus the entire way up. But when I got to the top and saw a whole other world open over the horizon, I then understood why people did these climbs. At that point, I had no real intentions to hike the whole list but over the next few years, I hiked several more and certainly enjoyed the views and the sense of accomplishment.

During my last year of school, I got a husky puppy named Dillon, who quickly became my very best friend. After I graduated, I moved back to Colorado for good and we were both at home in the mountains. He climbed over 40 of the peaks with me, and I can’t think of one where he didn’t beat me to the top. As much as I loved getting outside for myself, it was more fulfilling to see how happy he was on the trails. Soon, I stood atop my final peak with him, and many great friends I’d met along my journey, by my side.

My love of photography stemmed from my quest to climb all the 14ers. I always enjoyed taking photos in the mountains as the views were so breathtaking, so eventually, I bought a DSLR to replace my cell phone camera and began teaching myself new techniques. I never really considered myself a photographer, but I enjoyed learning and now look back and see how much my skills have improved over the years. Many of my friends and family are still in Ohio, so I love being able to share my experiences with them and views that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to see. After some pressure over the years, I finally created a website to display my work for the world to see!

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not. Anyone who has climbed the 14er list will tell you it’s a mentally and physically taxing endeavor. Even the ‘easy’ 14ers are not easy. All involve high altitude which makes physical activity far more difficult, and some of them involve some pretty unnerving climbing. The day I climbed Capitol Peak, a man fell to his death which was obviously heartbreaking. Storms also move in unexpectedly in the high alpine and I’ve had some close encounters with lightning. From the photography sense, it’s just a harsh environment. Hauling equipment, dialing camera settings and having the patience in sometimes hostile conditions to get the perfect shot isn’t always easy, but it’s usually worth it!

I unexpectedly lost Dillon over the summer, which is one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with. He was my best friend and my muse, and not having him by my side on the trails has been really tough. One day, he was acting off, and a week later he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, at the age of 5. I was hoping to have surgery to remove it, but he went downhill fast after the diagnosis and was gone within a month. I would have done anything to save him, but it wasn’t in the cards. He wasn’t here for a long time, but it was definitely a good time. It’s been really difficult to hike without him, but I know that’s what he would want so I’ve kept at it.

For those starting out, I think tenacity and perseverance go a long way. There are going to be hurdles and the ability to move on from setbacks is critical. Not everything is going to work out the way you intend, but that’s okay! Stay positive and set your sights high.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Switchback Shutter story. Tell us more about it.
I specialize in landscape and adventure photography and offer photos in outdoor destinations as well as landscape prints. I also love photographing pups in the mountains!

I am certainly always learning when it comes to photography, but I think what sets me apart is the lengths I go to for the destinations I photograph. There aren’t a ton of people who want to start hiking in the dark at 3 am to be on a summit for sunrise or backpack for 50+ miles.

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I follow photography blogs like Fstoppers and a number of landscape photographers for inspiration and new tips and tricks. I’m a firm believer in continuous learning and love new ideas and applying them to my photography, with both shooting or editing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.switchbackshutter.com
• Email: contact@switchbackshutter.com

Image Credit:
Personal photo taken by Katie Botwin

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