Photo Annual 2013

It was a tremendously cold day at Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah. “The last bits of moisture were being squeezed out of the air creating the ‘diamond dust’ that led to the sun dog formation around the sun,” says photographer, Liam Doran. He recalls his boots were so cold; it took the exhaust of his car to get them off. However, those boots certainly weren’t coming off until he and Todd Ligare got a good shot.

Photographer » Liam Doran

Skier » Todd Ligare

Location » Alta backcountry, Utah

Buy » liamdoranphotography.com

“With the Winter X Games in particular, there is so much anticipation and expectation for the one jump, or one trick, or one run. What I found more compelling, and what I ended up focusing on, were the pauses—the moments before the athlete descends.” Emily Chaplin went to the X Games with much different goals than other photographers, and came away with this beautiful portrait of Canadian Roz Groenewoud.

Photographer » Emily Chaplin

Skier » Roz Groenewoud

Location » Aspen, Colorado

Buy » emilychaplinphoto.com

“Photos like these take work… period,” says photographer Gabe Rogel. “The gear was heavy and the conditions were cold. But, the more I play around with strobes, the more I love the effects they create.” This shot was taken after the lifts closed at Grand Targhee, and captures Eric Anderson exploding through Wyoming’s infamous powder.

Photographer » Gabe Rogel

Skier » Eric Anderson

Location » Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Buy » rogelmedia.com

It was Martin Soderqvist’s only trip of the season with old time friend, Daniel Jomansson. He wanted to take advantage of their time in Val d’Anniviers, Switzerland, and come back with something good. This amazing photo lived up to his expectations. “I suddenly spotted this feature where the background was totally in the shade,” Soderqvist says. “I thought it would create a sort of dramatic contrast to have a skier spray white against the blue-ish backdrop, and I was right.”

Photographer » Martin Söderqvist

Skier » Daniel Jomansson

Location » Val d’Anniviers, Switzerland

Buy » martinsoderqvist.com

“It was one of those days where the weather cooperated with us,” says photographer, Ryan Creary. “We spent all day shooting. Toward the end of the day, light was starting to fade quickly, but we were able to hit this spot.” After climbing below a hefty cliff, Creary tucked himself into a snowdrift, and was set up perfectly to capture this shot underneath Carter McMillan.

Photographer » Ryan Creary

Skier » Carter McMillan

Location » Revelstoke Backcountry, British Columbia

Buy » ryancreary.com

Photographer Re Wikstrom recalls this photo as “a happy accident.” What began as a girl’s ski trip in Montana, turned into one of her best photo opportunities ever. “It was our first night in the yurt, and somewhere around the stroke of midnight, someone suggests we go for a night ski. I swear you’ve never seen five girls motivate so fast,” she says. They scurried up into the woods, and returned with this unexpectedly awesome photo.

Photographer » Re Wikstrom

Skier » Rachael Burks

Location » Swan Range, Montana

Buy » rewikstrom.com

Steve Lloyd has multiple published photos of this spot, but they were all of people riding bikes. So he figured it would only make sense to get some photos of people riding skis too. He and Mitch Brower teamed up to build this feature, and clearly it went well. “This location gets some good evening light,” Lloyd says. “But where the skier is on the wall is totally in the shade. So flashes were a must to light this shot up properly.”

Photographer » Steve Lloyd

Skier » Mitch Brower

Location » Salt Lake City, Utah

Buy » stevelloydphoto.com

Mattias Fredriksson wasn’t kidding when he called La Grave, France “a very special place.” This photo captures the genuine beauty that accompanies the sport of skiing. It’s these moments on the hill we never want to lose, and Fredriksson knew he had to capture this one. “I almost left the camera behind for the last run of the day,” he says. “But I’m happy I didn’t “

Photographer » Mattias Fredriksson

Skier » Lars-åke Krantz

Location » La Grave, France

Buy » mattiasfredriksson.com

Erik Hostetler shot photos of Mike Wilson on this rail years ago, and ever since he’s been eager for a “rebate shot.” With the help of skier, Mitch Brower, and four flashes set up around the water hazard rail, he nailed this photo first try. Note: Brower is sliding both of the bridge’s handrails here; one on the tips, one on the tails.

Photographer » Erik Hostetler

Skier » Mitch Brower

Location » Salt Lake City, Utah

Buy » erikhostetler.com

Garrett Grove can find a way to get creative photos just about anywhere. A standard tent shot wouldn’t do, so he made the best out of the crew’s close quarters by shooting from above. “Tent life is a big part of trips like this,” says Grove. “So trying to really get the viewer a feel for what its like was a big priority of mine.”  

Photographer » Garrett Grove

Skiers » Noah Howell, Andrew McLean, Mark Holbrook, and Garrett Grove

Location » Ruth Gorge, Alaska

Buy » garrettgrove.com

“I had always wanted to see what the night skiing was about,” says photographer Garrett Grove. “So we ventured forth with 1,600-lumen bike lights mounted to us, allowing us to navigate the darker woods that still held powder.” After mounting his camera overhead, Grove snapped this excellent shot of skier, Carston Oliver in Niseko, Japan.

Photographer » Garrett Grove

Skier » Carston Oliver

Location » Niseko, Japan

Buy » garrettgrove.com

We’re familiar with the grueling packing process behind skiing, but we may not remember it looking this cool. Pictured here is Stephan Drake, owner of DPS Skis, loading up his product for his seventh consecutive year skiing in Haines, Alaska.  He and photographer Oskar Enander call Haines “their second winter home,” and go there with the main goal of testing prototypes.

Photographer » Oskar Enander

Skier » Stephan Drake

Location » Haines, Alaska

Buy » oskarenander.com

“I packed my gear up, loaded the car, and headed down to the beautiful land of pizza and pasta,” says Christoph Schöech. The photographer was ecstatic when he got the call to shoot at the Nine Knights Contest in Livigno, Italy. Schöech was one of four photographers to get an invite, and proved himself worthy with this shot of his longtime friend, Luggi Brucic.

Photographer » Christoph Schöch

Skier » Luggi Brucic

Location » Livigno, Italy

Buy » christophschoech.com

When photographer Brent Benson and his crew began their six-day trek along the Haute Route in Chamonix, France, the weather did not look promising. However, as this photo was taken, they approached the blue skies and sunshine that would stay for the remainder of the trip. Taken atop of Col du Chardonnet, this photo captures that feeling of relief when the weather caters to our skiing needs.

Photographer » Brent Benson 

Location » Chamonix, France

Buy » brentbensonphotography.com

After a 60-inch storm at Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado, Jeff Cricco and Aiden Sheahan found themselves patiently waiting for sunrise and face shots. When the sun came up, Cricco “pulled the trigger” and captured Sheehan’s skills in the powder. “These kind of shots are tricky,” Cricco says. “But you always come away stoked.”

Photographer » Jeff Cricco

Skier » Aiden Sheahan

Location » Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado

Buy » jeffcricco.com

Photographer Grant Gunderson is infamous for his amazing black and white photos. Shooting early season at Mt. Baker, Gunderson decided to “break out the flashes and do a few shots at the end of the day, before sitting in a long line of traffic down from the ski hill.” A classic Mt. Baker powder shot of Utah skier Sam Cohen.

Photographer » Grant Gunderson

Skier » Sam Cohen

Location » Mt. Baker, Washington

Buy » grantgunderson.com

The Mall of Emirates in Dubai has indoor skiing, and Chad Sayers, Chad Manley, and Daniel Irving wanted to see and ski it for themselves. “Of course, it’s a boldly bizarre place to ski,” says photographer Jordan Manley. “Even the route to the ski hill, which we were taking, is a harsh lesson about the local environment which modern Dubai has grown out of, and in spite of: the sand.”

Photographer » Jordan Manley

Skiers » Chad Manley, Chad Sayers, Daniel Irving

Location » Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Buy » jordanmanley.com

Clearly, heights are not a fear for photographer Jordan Manley. “Since early in my photography career I’ve had a keen interest in aerial perspectives,” he says. After long travels and a “small clunky T-bar,” Manley climbed up in a tree while Forest Coots did his part by slashing the Bulgarian snow in proper form.

Photographer » Jordan Manley

Skier » Forrest Coots

Location » Malyovitsa, Bulgaria

Buy » jordanmanley.com

According to photographer, Jordan Manley, Niseko, Japan has the world’s best night skiing. He explains, “few other places can you find such amazing snow, illuminated, and un-crowded.” This photo captures Chad Sayers enjoying a brief pause from the action to ponder this beautiful place. “I thought it was a compelling scene,” says Manley. “With the snow swirling in the wind, the incandescent light from the hidden pole above, and the single chair stopped under the bull wheel.”

Photographer » Jordan Manley

Location » Hokkaido, Japan

Buy » jordanmanley.com

Last April, it seemed like winter would never end for photographer Blake Jorgenson. Lots of snow fell, and many photos were taken. Cold and dry conditions served well for this wind-lip jump, where “the guys had one of the best days skiing of their lives,” Jorgenson says. With the help of a helicopter, and some great skiers, Jorgenson snapped this excellent aerial shot before calling it a season.

Photographer » Blake Jorgenson

Skier » Josh Bibby

Location » Whistler Backcountry, British Columbia

Buy » blakejorgenson.com

Photographer Ross Downard wasn’t afraid to admit how difficult night shots really are. Trudging around in the dark, finding a spot, and setting up lights is no walk in the park. “Everything has to be aligned perfectly,” he says. “I’ll often visit the same spot we have tried to get photos at numerous times.” He also says its equally challenging for the skier for this type of photo. “Trieb has to know how to ski a pow shot, which isn’t really skiing. It’s skiing in a perfect form and knowing how to get the right amount of snow to kick up”

Photographer » Ross Downard

Skier » Brendan Trieb

Location » Deer Valley, Utah

Buy » rossdownard.com

Believe it or not, this photo was taken on Adam Barker’s last day shooting of the 2012-13 season. After what he calls “an exceptional storm,” 18 inches of fresh snow fell on April 18 at Snowbird Resort. Skier Ben Wheeler also took full advantage of the spring snow, and “his teeth are probably still thawing out,” according to Barker. “This is still photography at its finest,” he says. “It is neither a highlight of the man behind the lens, nor the man in front. It is simply a testament to the power of a medium as timeless as the sport itself.”

Photographer » Adam Barker

Skier » Ben Wheeler

Location » Snowbird, Utah

Buy » adambarkerphotography.com

After getting a tip from a friend about this beautiful spot in Engelberg, Switzerland, photographer Oskar Enander hurried up to his home mountain for this classic backflip shot.  “Olof Larsson has one of the best backflips I know of, ” Enander says. “So one try was enough.”

Photographer » Oskar Enander

Skier » Olof Larsson

Location » Engelberg, Switzerland

Buy » oskarenander.com

After a long dry period in the Swiss Alps, photographer, Mattias Fredriksson was eager to capture some deep snow. Fortunately 24 inches of powder graced Engelberg, and skier Kaj Zackrisson was equally fervent. “Kaj is one of the most passionate skiers I know,” says Fredriksson. “He loves skiing in any conditions, and you always hear him hooting and hollering when he comes down the mountain. This deep, epic day he was especially loud.”

Photographer » Mattias Fredriksson

Location » Engelberg, Switzerland

Skier » Kaj Zackrisson

Buy » mattiasfredriksson.com