Rangely’s Steve Cochrane wins prestigious photography award

Rangely resident Steve Cochrane is an honorary member and award-wining photographer of Rocky Mountain Outdoor Writers and Photographers, an organization that held its 47th annual conference in Alamogordo, New Mexico in September. Cochrane won several awards including best in show and first place in the fauna category for his photo “Hibernation Stare Down.” Cochrane also won first place in the member’s choice for a black and white image of Corona Arch taken near Moab, Utah.

Cochrane’s award-winning fauna image was taken in Yellowstone National Park with a Canon 5D Mark III camera as the grizzly bears were preparing for hibernation. Cochrane fondly describes the time he spent in Yellowstone and capturing photos of the Grand Tetons, fog and other animals including moose. Grizzly bears prepare for hibernation by eating as much as they can until they become almost intoxicated and this is how Cochrane describes the grizzly he photographed. When the bear looked up, Cochrane caught the perfect opportunity for “Hibernation Stare Down.” He states he was not intimidated as grizzlies offer plenty of obvious warning before attacking and cited moose as being more intimidating.

Cochrane has been a member of the Rangely community for approximately 15 years and resides here with his wife. His father was a photographer who tried to inspire Steve with older equipment. It wasn’t until after college while living in central Colorado in the heart of the Rockies, a place known for its photogenic attributes, that he found his own passion. He enjoys photographing action sports, such as Rally Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Sled Dog races in Meeker and Grand Junction, pets, nature/wildlife photography as well as partnering with agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management when they are involved in wildlife management.

He holds the Rangely community close to his heart and has inspiring dreams, most notably of merging community and his passion for photography. He has created a local group for photography enthusiasts to come together and gain experience; whether they are professionals, hobbyists or dreamers sharing their work with others. Cochrane holds photography guiding and workshops and can provide the experience of guiding people to the “good spots” for wildlife viewing where the “perfect shot” can be captured. He compared this to hunting in that the strategy is similar but the tool for shooting is different. The first meeting will be held in January. Email [email protected] for more information. He hopes to take this group abroad by leading photography safaris in Africa. Cochrane has had his work published here and there, including the Waving Hands publication from CNCC. He is also in the early stages of creating a book combining his photographs and the Book of Proverbs. He credits the RMOWP organization with inspiring and developing his dreams through the learning curve. To find out more about Steve’s photography or purchase prints visit www.stevecochranephotography.com or follow him on Instagram @SteveCochranePhoto