3 Questions with Rab Cummings, National Geographic Expedition Leader, Photographer, Naturalist

Rab on a Lindblad/National Geo Expedition (British Columbia)

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And Rab in Bozeman!

Rab Cummings splits two worlds. Half the year he travels with Lindblad Expeditions / National Geographic as an Expedition Leader, Naturalist and Photo Instructor (which is how I met Rab last year on my Nat Geo trip to Alaska). The balance of the year he’s home in Bozeman, Montana where he works as a successful editorial and portrait photographer. “Sometimes I feel like I have a split personality” says Rab “but I’ve chosen this life. It works for me and my family and allows me to indulge in the powerful forces of art, photography, travel and nature.” You can see examples of Rab’s work at www.rabphotography.com. I also highly recommend you follow Rab’s instagram account – I travel vicariously through his expeditions, last week to Baja with wonderful baby whales!!

Read below for Rab’s sources of inspiration, his favorite brands (Patagonia features prominently!), tips on what to do/see if you get to Bozeman (I’ve been and it’s fabulous!) and my favorite images from his portfolio.

YOUR 3 FAVORITE SOURCES TO GET A FIX ON WHAT’S NEW, INFLUENTIAL, INSPIRATIONAL

Storytelling Podcasts

I spend a lot of time in airplanes, cars and ships as well as parked behind the editing screen. I am social by nature but these places are not always conducive to lively conversation. I survive by listening to storytelling podcasts like Invisibility, Radiolab, This American Life, Death, Sex and Money and the Moth.

Boing Boing

I’ve been a reader for over ten years. I really connect with the countercultural and DIY nature of this technology blog. I read the science, art and project articles but skip the computer game and digital policy articles. There is almost always something that tweaks my way of thinking or helps me to re-evaluate the world. http://boingboing.net

Instagram

I’ve pretty much given up on Facebook and I’m healthier for it. Instagram gets straight to the point with photos, a little text and virtually no click-bait or cat videos. (Follow Rab for fantastic images from his expeditions – most recently baby whales in Baja.)

3 BRANDS, STORES, SERVICES YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

Bozeman Community Co-op

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Bozeman Food Co-op Photo by: Rab Cummings

I’ve been shopping at the Co-op so long that all the employees feel like family. It’s an institution in my town. They have healthy local food at a fair price (if you know how to shop those bulk bins). I have sat in on the board meetings and this organization walks its talk. I can sit upstairs and drink a cup of coffee and dozens of people I know will walk by and chat. At the downtown Co-op you can feed your family a hot, prepared organic meal and spend seven bucks a person. I’ve been shooting editorial portraits for the Co-op for many years now. They are a pleasure to work with and I’m proud to partner with them. www.bozo.coop

Patagonia

I’m a practical kind of guy. I’m happy to pay for quality if it will last. That being said I’m 43 years old and I still wear clothes made by Patagonia that I purchased in high school. I work in Southeast Alaska and you don’t mess around when it comes to raingear so just buy a kit from Patagonia and forget about it. When it comes right down to it they make great gear that lasts forever. If it breaks down they’ll replace it and when it wears out they’ll recycle it. They have been on the cutting edge of design while striving to keep their ecological footprint as small as possible. My cousin received a grant from Patagonia to do stream restoration in southern California 20 years ago. Companies giving grants to do good works is common now but 20 years ago? Nobody. That’s what I’m talking about. http://www.patagonia.com

Subaru

Say what you want about yuppie families in Subaru wagons with a ski rack on top but I’m telling you that, unless you’re towing a horse trailer, this is all the car you need in Montana. We joke that it’s the “standard issue vehicle” for Bozeman but it’s pretty much true. I’ve been driving them since 1987 through ice, snow, deserts and worse. If you change the oil, get an alignment once a year and keep an eye on the axle boots they will go for 175,000 miles no problem. http://www.subaru.com

WHAT’S NEW IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE SHOULD CHECK OUT

Bozeman Fencing Association

I’m biased because my wife Michele is the owner of this upstart fencing school but it really is the best new thing to happen in town. Olympic style fencing (foil, sabre and epee) is a unique year-round sport for all ages and genders that keeps you fit and active while whomping on people with swords. Michele must have tapped some much needed vein here in Bozeman because people are coming out of the woodwork to be part of this sport. The coolest thing about this school is that parents and kids are in classes together. It is a very intentional move on Michele’s part to get families active together. http://www.bozemanfencingassociation.com

Country Bookshelf

OK, it’s not new but this store has remade itself several times to stay new to the people of Bozeman and that works for me. We purchase nearly all of our books at this downtown pillar of literature and gladly so. Author readings, a knowledgeable staff and fair prices keep us coming back. Michele and I routinely find ourselves at Country Bookshelf during date nights. That’s just how we roll. http://www.countrybookshelf.com

Highland Glen Nature Preserve

This is one of the newest trail areas in Bozeman protected by the Gallatin Valley Land Trust http://www.gvlt.org . It’s on the east side of town and just a five minute walk from my house. Several miles of walking trails which are groomed in the winter for cross country skiing. Areas like this are what make Bozeman such a great place to live and work. Everyone should be a member of GVLT.

EXAMPLES OF RAB’S PHOTOGRAPHY FROM HIS PORTFOLIO:

Portraits