No matter how many times I get an email with the line, “We’d like to use the attached image as… in our…”, I anxiously scroll down to see what image has been chosen. In our case, it isn’t “just” a photo, it’s a piece of our lives, a memory that is going to be shared and used to hopefully inspire others to get out and have some fun.

Recently, upon receipt of an email from the editor at the Netherlands edition of  Runner’s World, I nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the image selected for the next cover of a trail running special. It’s me, but not only this, it’s from a day in the mountains that Janine and I remember as quite possibly the best we have ever had together. Rewards come in many forms, but none greater then knowing you are living the life you always dreamed of.

To see the whole story behind this great day, please visit our Mountain Sport site : DolomiteSport : A Masterpiece

_______________________________________

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

Patagonia 2009 Calendar Cover

Saying “Yes” to try climbing changed my life. I grew up racing sailboats, but the first day I climbed rocks I was an all new 18 year old. Turns out I had an inner dirtbag that was set free when I discovered the yacht club & topsider free world of the crags. My calling had been answered. Shortly thereafter I had myself a job in the bike department at an REI. I didn’t really know squat about climbing, but I did know bikes, so with an eye on the wall of cams and carabiners, I started my career in the outdoor industry. That was 1987.

Now, 25 years later, many of the same people I knew then, like myself, are still in the industry. A kind of family. By 1991 I was a full fledged dirtbag climber. I lived in my truck, sold espresso while on the road to make some money, dined in the bin aisles of grocery stores and actually wore white lycra (It’s back in, but not for climbing). Suddenly, I even had companies willing to “sponsor” my choice of lifestyle. My duties to them; climb, be a nice guy, make some photos and do some slideshows. One thing led to another and I got really into the making photos part.

The early days, 1998, of Beth Rodden. It later became an ad on the back cover of Climbing Magazine.

In 1997 I was managing my best friend’s Climbing Gym, the Rocknasium, in Davis, California. One day a tiny little girl walked in and tried climbing for the first time. Her parents supported her, she was happy, and, she was very, very good. Her name was Beth Rodden and she would go on to become one of the best climbers on the planet. We became close friends, and it was with Beth that I started to learn how to be a photographer by documenting her career as it took off.

1998 was a turning point, I wasn’t getting any younger and I certainly wasn’t getting rich as a bike racer or climber. I was falling in love with making photos and so decided to go back to school and study photography. I went from being a fulltime athlete, climber and road racer, to living in Santa Barbara, California and going to class. Notice I didn’t say anything about any other classes up until this point… this kind of references that inner dirtbag thing.

At the Brooks Institute of Photography I met Janine. Soon, she too was sucked into the vortex of the Outdoor Industry. She also found herself living in a vehicle. A nice girl from Switzerland, with endless talent who also happened to be an architect, was suddenly getting intimate with my version of American life.

But that American Life turned into this American Dream come true.

Our vision was simple, to live and work precisely in line with what we love; to be outside, in the mountains, as athletes, travelers, and photographers of it all. We wanted to work with companies who made gear we really used and to shoot magazine stories that we’d like to read. This we continue to do, but we have also been owners of a stock agency, consultants, multi-media producers, spokespeople, and product testers & developers. Finally, we started our own online Mountain Sport Athlete website, DolomiteSport, a spinoff of our energy and love for this lifestyle.

25 years later, we both know something about the outdoor industry. It has supported our photo business for 12 years, given us endless opportunities, inspired us, challenged us and it has been the source of countless friends.

The photography that is found in our Portfolio reveals who we are as creative people. But the examples of work found on our Clips page reveals even more. It is the result of how we have combined everything we love; making photos, supporting & working with brands and still being true to our vision which is living and working in line with our passion.

PatitucciPhoto's Published Work Samples : Click to View

________________________________________________________

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

Runner's World USA Rave Run January 2012

Here are a few examples of some recently published work in American outdoor magazines, all three of of whom we have been working with for a very long time. Both Backpacker and Runner’s World are magazines we started working with back in 1999 and our first days in business. The magazine Trail Runner didn’t come along for another few years but immediately became a great friend, literally, as we have had some great times with the editor Mike Benge while on assignment, including a memorable run across Iceland in 2004, later a feature in the magazine.

The Runner’s World Rave Run (above) was shot in Norway this last winter when we were there for an ice climbing shoot with BD athlete Kurt Astner. While Kurt was off scouting one evening for this shoot, Janine and I went for a very cold run, to which we later returned to make the Rave Run photo. Temps were in the -10C range… Bbrrrr… Ice climbing, ice running, that was the deal, but Norway is truly stunning. You can read about the whole trip at our DolomiteSport site.

Below is the January issue of Backpacker Magazine and features two close Italian friends, Andreas and Alexandra, while hiking a section of the Dolomites Alta Via 2 Trail.

The Dolomites Alta Via 2

Finally, Trail Runner’s current January 2012 issue features their annual calendar with several of our photos.

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

It’s time again to round up some recent clips of our published work. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see much of where our photography ends up, so the few clips we do get are fun to show off. It also kind of justifies and explains all this traveling we do. One interesting thing to note is how our work is used by these companies. When we started in this business in 1999, everything we shot was for print ads, catalogs, point of purchase, tradeshow, etc…  Now, it seems most everything is for web usage, some print ads & POP and lots of tradeshow displays.

Our image above is from the 2012 Runner’s World Germany Calendar we did with our good friend and photographer Lars Schneider. Together we shared the whole project and are excited to see some of our best trail running images printed large and on high quality paper. To see all the images in the calendar, or to purchase (for our European friends) visit: Runner’s World Germany 2012 Kalender

Over the last winter, we were fortunate to be a part of the Gore-Tex Product Testing Team for the new Pro and Active Shells. In addition, we worked with Gore to produce some imagery used to promote these amazing new fabrics.

Every year for as long as we have been living in Europe we have looked forward to the big German outdoor industry calendar’s for all the key mountain sports. We have had many covers but none so beautiful as the Mountain Bike calendar for 2012 featuring one of our most popular images from the Italian Dolomites. It is an image Janine found and made of me riding – so it’s double fun to see our image used big and starring your’s truly.

In the amazing company category are two of our very favorites. Smartwool, above and Patagonia below. We respect both of these brands as companies working to do the right thing. They responsibly manufacture superb products and treat people well. For Smartwool, we shoot much of their advertising work, above are some of the website’s images we have produced. And below is the 2012 Patagonia European Workbook cover featuring Janine running Dolomite trails.

The extremely popular Swiss women’s mountain sport clothing brand Wild Roses has become a company we work closely with. This is a brand that has supported our relationships with their Ambassadors so as to visually demonstrate women mountain sport athletes and professionals living their dreams.

Along with Patagonia and Smartwool, brands we personally rely on and use everyday, is a company we partner with; Deuter Backpacks. Since 2006, Deuter Packs are on every trip we do as we work with them for most of their advertising photography.

________________________________________________________

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

The Via Ferrata Tomaselli

With the year’s best weather currently playing out, it was perfect timing when Petzl called needing us to shoot a Via Ferrata for their next catalog. The need; a classic Ferrata, great light, fun people and of course a dramatic landscape. I asked our good friend and Mountain Guide Alberto De Giuli what would the most photogenic Ferrata in the Dolomites be – he was quick to recommend the Via Ferrata Tomaselli, not only is it’s position very dramatic, but it is arguably the hardest in the Dolomites. Perfect, sold!

Our plan was to climb the route late, timing our arrival to the top for sunset light on the last section below the summit. Alberto suggested we take a rope so I could rappel from the top and shoot from the side. Once finished, we’d down climb the route and shoot the absolute last light on a lower section.

Our good friends Christof and Evi (of our Sicily trip photos) joined us for the fun. First stop on the way to the Ferrata was an obligatory visit to the hut with the best views in all the Dolomites, the Rifugio Lagazuoi, where owner Guido Pompanin treated us to a breakfast of fresh apple strudel and cappuccinos that we could enjoy out on his deck. Ah… bell’Italia.

Once caffeinated, it was off to work. In the end, our plan came together perfectly. A happy client, happy photographers and a great day for everyone.

What is a Via Ferrata?

These “Iron Ways” started as paths cut into the sides of some of the rock faces in the Dolomites during World War I. Soldiers were able to get around on vertical walls thanks to cables in place for security. These days, the same style is used with modern gear to allow more adventurous hikers to access rock walls and ridges that previously only climbers could do. It is tremendously popular throughout the European Alps and Dolomites, with literally hundreds of Via Ferrate spread throughout the ranges. Petzl makes a wide range of systems that allow Ferrata climbers to easily take advantage of the in place cables and ladders found on these routes. More at the Wikipedia Via Ferrata Page.

Considering a Ferrata? If you are visiting the Dolomites, famous for some of the most beautiful Ferrate in Europe, and you want to try something new and quite unique – put a Ferrata at the top of your list. But if it is your first, and you have limited or no climbing experience, guides are available to take you up and get you down.

Contact UIAGM Mountain Guide Alberto De Giuli

__________________________________________________________

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

Our friend Alberto, whom we met via Twitter, on one of our many trips together. Here, seen Twittering from his @albertodegiuli

Visit any online news source these days and it’s guaranteed it won’t take long to find an article on Social Media. For those in the business of photography, we are seemingly all onboard. What works for one may not work for another, but here, we have found that one truly does stand out. For us at PatitucciPhoto and DolomiteSport, the Social Media winner is, hands down… Twitter.

Not only have we developed a healthy following for both our accounts – we have made some very real friends with people we did not know pre-Twitter. Looking back, it seems quite simple; by actively Tweeting, getting involved, sharing and actually reading what people have to say, we have made friends – all this not because we had to, but because it is genuinely enjoyable. Thanks to having things in common, paths crossed and the rest is history – actual friendship.

Looking at who I follow, I find it interesting that there are very few companies left. In the early days I followed a lot of outdoor industry magazines and gear manufacturers – very few remain. I found them boring, clearly not engaging, too much spewing and far too many of the ubiquitous, “Our new blah blah… check it out!”. ZZzzzzzZZZZzzz – Gag. Real people willing to communicate are much more intriguing.

On our DolomiteSport account I created two lists, one of Mountain Sport Athletes, the other of Cyclists – the people on these lists were all becoming very known to me and I was finding myself actually looking forward to what their thoughts were on some topics, whether it be ski conditions, the latest cycling doping scandal, who did what and where, etc…

I recently read that the reason Google puts emphasis on blogs for search results is that blogs are often real world references of what is important, what people think, and what is happening – not just a company marketing or putting spin on something for its own benefit. This all sounds very much like how I have found Twitter to be, the personal things matter most.

But then there are the Twitter oddities. What’s up with the if you don’t follow me I’m not going to follow you rule? Are you reading what I say and finding it uninteresting? – then okay, un-follow me. But don’t just un-follow me out of spite because I offed you when all you did was tell me what cafe you’re in or what song you’re listening to. This is the Twitter dilemma, finding those truly worth friending, …much like life I guess. And then there are those who follow 20,983 and are followed by 20,352. I find them immediately suspicious. Are they really reading anything, or just looking to spew?

How does any of this pertain to what we do as professional photographers? Maybe not so much, but relationships are relationships and what goes around comes around. You never know who is lurking out there – and yes, we have received work from all of this, but better, we have had countless people inform us that our photos and words have inspired them to go to the very places where we have been. This, with the friends we have made, is the reward.

______________________________________________________

Are you a mountain sport athlete and want to get to know a great group, follow our list:

Mountain Sport Athletes

For cyclists, our fun list is: Cyclists

Not following us? – give us a try at:

Twitter : PatitucciPhoto  – Photos from work, fun and thoughts about being fulltime professional outdoor industry photographers.

Twitter : DolomiteSport - Our lives as athletes & travelers; climbing, cycling, skiing, trekking and living inspired lives in the mountains.

…And finally: Are you following us but we’ve missed you, and we really must meet? Tweet us! We’d love to hear from people.

John Harlin arriving to the summit of Mont Dolent

We joined him as he first set out this summer, then again yesterday for his finish atop Mont Dolent, which serves as the border between France, Italy and Switzerland. Also in our group were supporters & partners from Swiss Tourism, some close friends, and his host SwissInfo.ch.

The day started off with the sound of heavy rain bombarding our bivouac on the Italian side of Mont Dolent. 5 am, rain, 6am, rain, 7 am, drizzle. With drizzle being a major improvement, and John determined to close the project, we all set out. 30 minutes later as we gained the glacier the first rays of sun were streaming through the clouds. Shortly after this we had bluebird conditions and a freshly frosted mountain all to ourselves.

A huge congratulations to John for completing his journey and lifelong dream. There are some great stories from along the way at SwissInfo Border Stories. Also, a follow up summary is soon to follow and can be watched for at the SwissBorder Facebook Page. His own write up of the final day is appropriately titled, Party Time.

A few images from a great day with a superb group of people.

Inside the Bivouaco Fiorio. Too bad we had to carry all the schnapps & wine up, there just wasn't enough.

John Harlin leaving the bivouac in wet and unpleasant weather for his final day on the Swiss Border

The crew negotiating a heavily crevassed glacier below Mont Dolent

The skies cleared to a perfect last day. Here, John is on the upper glacier before the final rock ridge.

John Harlin and Friends on the summit of Mont Dolent. Congratulations John.

Even the Ibex were out in support. This big guy was on the doorstep of the bivouac when we returned.

Everyone down and happy to the bivouac with Mont Dolent behind.

Interested in following what we do, as we do it, via your favorite Social Media:

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

It started with friends visiting the Dolomites, lots of road biking and a 21 pitch climb on the South Face of the Tofana, one of the Dolomites largest walls. Then it was straight to the Graubunden Region of Switzerland where we spent some days climbing in the Sciora group. From there I rode my bike back to St. Moritz before climbing another amazing wall above Disentis, Switzerland, the Piz Cavardiras. Once down from shooting photos, and the climbing itself, I jumped back on the bike and rode over several major Swiss passes before bumping into the Bernese Oberland and calling it good. As in exhausted. Maybe I have been drinking too much coffee. A huge thanks to two friends who joined and helped us in the fun; Thomas Engl and Tim Connelly.

This then is our visual diary.

Tim Connelly on the South Face of the Dolomite's Tofana - 21 pitches that he accurately described as being more of an odyssey than a climb. Agreed.

Thomas Engl on the Sciora Group's Innominata; Via di Mezzo 6a

From dumping rain, it snowed, then in ten minutes it was sunny and warm for cragging.

Shame shame shame, but well done Thommy

Thommy Engl cragging above the Sciora Hut

Thommy & Janine in the Sciora Hut, course number 1 is soup

Thommy Engl on the upper pitches of the 22 pitch Piz Pioda, 6a, in the Sciora Group

Thommy Engl on the upper pitches of the 22 pitch Piz Pioda in the Sciora Group

The Sciora Hut sits directly beneath some impressive granite walls and spires

The walk out from Sciora after an all day journey that started, and would end, with headlamps

Above Disentis, Switzerland is the Piz Cavardiras and an amazing 6b+ direct line up one of the best routes I have done anywhere in alpine terrain

What started in blue skies on the Piz Cavardiras turned cold and dank

I opted to pedal to the next venue over the Oberalp and then Furka Passes, pictured here in heavy traffic

PatitucciPhoto and the rolling office/home

Follow what we do as we do it at Twitter:

@patitucciphoto : Our photo business feed

@dolomitesport : the Inspired Mountain Living feed

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

For us, here is a fun comparison of What Was vs. What Is.

Film

Film management has been replaced by file management

Then: Within every pack we carried was a drybag full of film cannisters. Velvia for saturated colors, Provia 100 for the go to film, Provia 400 for lower light, B&W for fun and a few Agfa 1000′s for grainy moods. Film was heavy, bulky and needed protection from moisture. Each roll needed its own care and details written with magic marker on the outside; push 1 stop? clip? shot at 160 instead of 50. If you don’t know these terms, you didn’t shoot film.

Now: A large drybag full of film has been replaced by a neat & tidy film card pocket. Where there was processing, now there is download, storage and backing up. We never really thought much about the fact that film had no backup, but now the thought of having digital files in just one spot is not an option, of course it needs to be backed up, in three places no less. Film took up space, digital takes up time.

Image Storage

Then: After shoots we would take all our film and head to the lab. There were always rolls needing special processing and so we would have them clipped, where a small piece of the film is processed separately. We would then return to the lab and make decisions about processing times. Once everything was determined all the film was run. 48 hours later it would be ready. With all our traveling, we decided to not have the slide film mounted, it took up too much room. Instead we had it sleeved which we would then edit and hand mount later. Today, this seems absolutely crazy.

Now: Return to computer from shoot. Download to Lightroom, backup on two hard drives. Keep hard drives in separate places, upload to remote storage if time and internet connection allows.

Regardless of what, how or where you shoot is to simply just be out - so you can shoot

Presentation & Delivery to Client

Then: This got interesting while traveling in Europe. We had no scanner so the film was sent off for review. Those same images we didn’t have mounted at the lab all had to be hand mounted, packaged up and FedEx’d off to the client for review. No backup. If the needed image was elsewhere, we begged the client to wait.

Now: Clients visit and order from our online Stock Site. With iPhone App we deliver ready for print hi-res files with one click.

Internet

Then: Traveling in the Alps, it basically didn’t exist. Weeks might go by without the option of checking in.

Now: Traveling in the Alps, it basically exists everywhere, and if it doesn’t, wait an hour or two and you’ll be in range.

Style

Then: We climbed alpine peaks, we hiked multi-day tours, we ran long distances – always making images of everything we did, whether it be for stock, commercial shoots or editorial assignments.

Now: Nothing much has changed here, except we stop to Facebook and Twitter about it all.

Attitude

Then: Psych level was off the chart, everything was new and exciting.

Now: Happy to report that 10 years later the psych level is still off the chart but with vastly more experience to make it all even better..

________________________________________

Interested in following what we do as we do it?

Facebook : PatitucciPhoto

Twitter : @patitucciphoto

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of joining American John Harlin for three days, as an assignment for SwissInfo.ch, during his epic project to circumnavigate the entire Swiss Border under his own power. The route is a combination of John’s decision making and the advice of a specialist in cartography, with each day more or less plotted, where to sleep/bivvy, where to re-supply, even where to take a rest day. John is being tracked for live positioning and is posting video and photos along the way.

The entire project, including the interesting question, “Why?”, is : SwissInfo: John Harlin’s Border Stories

John on the Silvretta Glacier. A solar panels sits on his pack for charging mobile devices to keep in communication.

John Harlin and a much deserved ice cream

John started the project last summer but was injured climbing. He returned later in the year for some easier sections that allowed him to use bikes and waterways. With these sections finished, he knew he would return in 2011 for the bulk of the border, the entire southerly section through the Alps. Most efforts in the mountains are measured by thousands of meters gained, for John it is hundreds of thousands of meters gained; 220,000 vertical meters to be precise. And, being Switzerland, it is precise.

The goal of the project is to see and learn about Switzerland in a very unique way. This is a country with four official languages, a rich culture of people living in the mountains, incredibly rugged & complex terrain thanks to the Alps and Jura, and of course what may arguably be the most idyllic landscape in all the world. Yet it also has thriving agriculture and a dairy industry famous for the finest cheeses and chocolates. It is all this that John has set out to see, he just happens to be on the line that contains it all.

Headed for the Dreilanderspitze, up & down. For me, usually a commercial photographer, it is a joy to shoot a journalism story and react to things instead of setting them up.

There was some irony in my joining John in that just last year I became a citizen of Switzerland. I am in love with my new country and hungry to learn everything about it. So, to be assigned this documentary project by SwissInfo.ch, which for ten years has been our favorite news source, was a true honor. And then there was John… quite an amazing character and certainly a new great friend. There we were, two American born guys who love Switzerland, walking along the border, soaking it all in and enjoying every minute. John is still out there, I hope to re-connect again soon.

Arriving to the summit of the Dreilanderspitze separating Austria from Switzerland

Lots of navigation checks are in order. The border typically follows ridges, but which one?

Hut life; Email, post video & pics, blog, wash socks

Meeting locals along the way

What are the odds? We met a Swiss couple walking the border of Switzerland's largest canton, the Graubunden. Lots of stories and route info to share

A nasty big climb to regain the border from the valley below

John happily took my bike for a long descent from Samnaun along the border to where he would begin walking again.

John telling the Border Guards that he is keeping an eye on things