Climber and photographer Bissell Hazen ’87 finds inspiration where grit meets grace
For Bissell Hazen ’87, the mountains have always been a place of striking contrast—danger and beauty, challenge and reward—and they have profoundly shaped the course of his life. After graduating from Williston, Hazen spent time living in Chamonix, France; Telluride, Colorado; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Drawn initially to skiing and mountaineering, he soon became captivated by rock climbing as well. The sport demanded focus, problem-solving, and determination, and Hazen threw himself into it fully. Photography came later, providing a way to engage with the climbing world even when he wasn’t on the rock. Through his lens, he learned to capture the scale, texture, and light of the landscapes he loved. Now back in Western Massachusetts, he continues to climb and explore, camera in hand, documenting the places and people that inspire him. The following four photographs showcase some of Hazen’s favorites, along with the stories behind them, in his own words.
Above the Void “This photo was taken at Hanging Mountain in southeastern Massachusetts. There aren’t many places around here where you get the feeling that you’re climbing above a big void, and the void is just tugging at you. I love the composition of this photo. I love the fact that it’s in the sun, but as you can see, it has a light cloud cover which acted like a lens filter. I love the lichen on the left, the fact that it’s steep, and the body position. I was definitely scared shooting this!”
The Holy Grail “This photo features my friends Kristen and Brian on a glorious fall day at Hanging Mountain. They just embody the rock climbing spirit that I admire and aspire to. The rock here is kind of like what you’d find in Yosemite or some of the great mountain ranges. It’s this kind of white-and-gray perfect granite. A lot of people feel that granite is the holy grail of rock to climb on. It’s the texture, even the way it smells. To me, it’s the most elegant-looking stone.”
Serendipity “For this shot, I used a fisheye lens. I went to a place that climbers call Farley with just this picture in mind. As soon as I started hiking up the trail, and went to the shortcut that brings you up to the base of it, I saw a guy starting this climb, and I thought, ‘This is perfect.’ I went up as far as I could to the edge of the cave. I think this might’ve been the first time that I’d looked through that fisheye lens here, and instantly I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’”
Preparing for the Climb “Here’s another one from the day at Hanging Mountain with Kristen and Brian. You can see Kristen looking up at the climb, while Brian is getting ready to lead the way up the mountain by ‘racking up,’ which is when a climber attaches a number of carabiners to his harness. The rock here is just gorgeous; it’s white, very grippy granite.”