Perfection and obsession in the name of art
Perfection and obsession in the name of art
On the recommendation of talented author and adventurer Al Humphreys I recently watched one of Vimeo's picks, Ski Photographer / The Shadow campaign. And it got me thinking.
A lifelong ski bum, resident of a Swiss ski mountain who heads out around his home mountain day in/out with friends and athletes in search of the perfect shot, to tell a story. It’s a formula present in much of sport photography: surfers work with trusted photographers in search of killer images. Mountain bike riders climb and descend, climb and descend with someone to bring home the proof and picture. Skaters, free runners, base jumpers, wing suit flyers and climbers; it’s the same formula.
And why? To bring you, the viewer, a shot that in all its glory holds your attention for a few seconds further, slots into your favourites, most liked/shared. A shot that sums up the essence of that sport. A shot that transports you. Makes you feel ‘that could be me’. That should be me.
It’s no different for me and my passion for Trail Running and adventure. I’ve worked at this long enough to be able to call some very talented and hard working athletes at the top of their game friends. To be able to put the call out, when conditions align or a new trail presents itself, so we can head out in the small hours before sunrise in search of that perfect shot.