The sun sinks into the horizon, a violet curtain consumes the path of the retreating star. Narrow streaks of orange and yellow hug the peaks of Nordhoff Ridge. The view is blurry and obscured by tall grass, the focus on a glass orb nestled upon a bed of dead grass and leaves, a normally unspectacular view.
But the way that the orb in senior Corbin Muller’s photo accentuates the unique components of the sunset from an inverted perspective is a perfect metaphor for his photography.
“Corbin has always viewed the world a bit different, but since diving deeper into photography, his view of the world has definitely morphed,” said his mother Jen Muller. “With his camera, he’s able to show us the little things he sees as well as help us open our eyes to see the bigger picture of nature.”
Corbin has spent the last four years honing and perfecting his craft of photography. From snapshots of European back-alleys, to vibrant stills of beautiful parrots, to illustrious long exposures of the night sky, he has taken close to 5,000 photos since his arrival at OVS in early October of 2017. And his progress can be seen in each new photo he takes.
Corbin’s passion for photography was inspired by his father, who is also a photographer. But unlike his dad, who specializes in portraits, Corbin’s photos are focused on his love for the outdoors, which is something he has cultivated entirely on his own.
“I love to capture moments that really show what nature has in store,” Corbin said.
When Corbin was a child, accompanying his father to races, he would often find himself picking up his father’s massive professional camera that nearly dwarfed him, simply out of curiosity.
“Corbin would take a few pictures and then hand the camera back to his dad – I don’t think he wasn’t ready for photography yet,” said Jen of Corbin’s first experiences behind the camera.
As time progressed, he began to develop an undeniable passion for the outdoors, and photography became the medium upon which he was able to reflect this admiration for the grandiose landscapes that befell him on his many expeditions into the wild.
Recently, after four years of serious photography, Corbin decided to construct a website, which he and his dad created together.
The website features an “About” page as well as some of his proudest photos compiled into a portfolio with sections called “Wildlife,” “Landscape” and “Night Sky.” Another unique aspect about this new platform is that it features a page dedicated entirely to the sale of his photos.
“I love that he’s created a website to showcase his photos with the ability for people to bring his photography into their homes or for sheer online enjoyment,” Jen said. “I believe it’s a stepping stone to some really cool things that he’s going to do in his future.”
Corbin’s future is an exciting prospect for both himself and those around him, not because of any expectations laid upon him, but because of the opportunities made available to him because of this talent. Corbin hopes to someday work for a magazine such as National Geographic or Discovery, an accomplishable feat for such a decorated artist.
“I wish I could do more wildlife [photos] because, unlike landscapes, animals show so much more emotion,” Corbin admits about his photography, making him a perfect candidate for such a publication.
Those around him as well understand the calibre of his work. When Corbin picks up a camera, his peers become transfixed in the art that he creates, in the originality of every snap. The reason his photos have developed such a reputation is because of his motives; he doesn’t take pictures to win awards or get likes, he does it because it’s what he loves doing.
“I’m super proud of what he’s done with his photos and how far he’s come,” Jen concluded. “He has an incredible eye for naturally beautiful things and is able to adjust his camera settings so we see what he sees.”
Corbin continues to find inspiration and capture this hidden beauty every time he steps foot into the backcountry. You can visit his website at www.CorbinMuller.com or follow his Instagram photography account @corbin.muller where he posts snapshots captured on the same Nikon he’s been using since the beginning.