iPhone's Ansel Adams: Photographing the American West

Kevin Russ's work proves the maxim that the best camera is the one you have with you.

Kevin Russ

Kevin Russ, a professional photographer, has amassed more than 13,000 followers on Instagram thanks to his ethereal shots of landscapes and wildlife across the American West -- shot exclusively with his iPhone. This isn't the first time a social network has been integral to distributing his work; he got his start years ago when his portraits became popular on Myspace. Now, his primary website seems to be a Tumblr.

In Max Monty's documentary portrait of Russ, below, the photographer talks about his creative process and why he gravitated to the humble iPhone. Living on the road for the past year, he explains, he likes that he can shoot, process and share the images immediately, all from one device. What's his secret? The iPhone's camera, with its narrow range, seems to work well with the muted tones of fog, clouds, and snow. Instead of using all-too-recognizable Instagram filters, he seems to use other apps for editing -- on Instagram, he mentions VSCO Cam and Afterglow. More than anything, the key seems to be his commitment to spending months documenting gorgeous natural spaces, not to mention years of experience making images.  You can browse more of Russ's photographs and buy prints here.

For more work by Max Monty go to http://www.maxwellmonty.com/.

Via FStoppers and Vimeo's Staff Picks.