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Tag Archives: Photography
Celebrating 25 Years in the Outdoor Industry
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
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Newly Published Trail Running and Backpacking Photos
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.
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John Harlin Walking the Swiss Border
Earlier this summer we posted our story & photos about John Harlin’s Swiss Border project. It was a project we were very lucky to be a part of as we would have the pleasure of meeting John, spending some days with him as he walked the entire Swiss Border, and getting to visually document part of the process. After three very long & difficult days with John, I was left thinking that in order to complete this epic journey he would need a very strong will, endless endurance and bomber knees. Apparently, he has all these things as yesterday, September 12, at exactly noon, he summited Mont Dolent – this, after 104 days of being on the move . By doing so, he completed a very large circle that offered him countless geographic and weather challenges, but also an endless stream of memorable trailside human encounters and support via social media.
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.
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Posted in Climbing, Photography, Profiles
Also tagged Documentary, Europe, hiking, Photoshoots, Switzerland
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A Busy Week in the Life of PatitucciPhoto
We live a busy schedule of combining work with play - for us, they are one and the same, we call it life. Living and working in the mountains is simply what we do. But the last week was particularly dense with activity and has finally ended on a drizzly day in Switzerland where I can finally sit and get all caught up – for not only were we on the move, we had no phone service for much of the last 6 days.
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
Posted in Climbing, Photography
Also tagged alpine climbing, Climbing, Europe, Mountain Sports
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How Working as a Professional Mountain Sport Photographer has Changed
In a fairly remote part of Switzerland’s Wallis Alps last week, I caught myself knowing about a little water hole around a coming turn in the trail. Sure enough, moments later, there it was. The fact that I knew about it made me realize just how much time I have spent in this part of the world. In fact, since 2000, we have spent the vast majority of every spring, summer and fall in the European Alps. All this had me reflecting on our time working in the mountains and how we, as professional mountain sport photographers, have evolved in the last 10 years.
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..
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Climbing Magazine Photography
Like so many of the sports we photograph, we are passionate about the subject matter. We not only make images of these sports, but also enthusiastically take part, allowing for great memories of the images produced. So to see our work published is to see great experiences and friends get some attention – perhaps no more so than in our climbing images.
Our latest cover of Climbing Magazine is of one of our closest friends, Steve Elia, from a trip we did together in Chamonix. And the Gallery Image of Christof Ursch comes from just this past spring and a sport climbing trip to San Vito lo Capo, Sicily.
Kalymnos Greece Climbing
As we are back to climbing this year, there is one phrase that keeps coming up over and over again, “You must climb in Kalymnos, Greece”. With the need for a holiday break from, well, mountain sports, we thought we’d go on climbing holiday. All we ever do is mountain sports, but always with the camera and the necessary focus that goes along with shooting for work. This trip was for us, climb everyday, make some friends, enjoy ourselves. But one day, in the famed Grande Grotta I had to pull out the camera, and for obvious reasons.
So was Kalymnos worth all the hype? YES! …and come November you will know where to find us for our end of season getaway.
LowePro Photo Sport 200 for Mountain Sport Photographer Athletes
Both Janine and myself are professional mountain sport photographers. We are also very dedicated, serious athletes in many of the sports we photograph. As such, we regularly combine what we do for sport with what we do for work. With all of this centering around mountains, photography, performance, reliability and results – we need the best gear.
Quick, easy access to a protected camera and long lens in a dedicated compartment
In the last 12 years of our career, we have made it a specialty to photograph real trips; ski tours, climbing, trekking, and especially trail running. For much of this, we have been both the photographers and subjects. We’ve run across Iceland, around Patagonia, through the Dolomites, around Mont Blanc and done countless day trips throughout the Alps, Sierra Nevada and Rockies. All with camera on hand. For years I dreamed of a pack that would allow me to run/hike/bike comfortably while having a camera safely protected, easily accessible, yet in a real backpack… for an athlete.
Finally, a few months ago, Lowepro contacted us to help test a new pack that they had been developing; the Photo Sport 200. Designed specifically for active mountain sport photographers or for anyone needing a superlight pack to carry camera gear. With all of our experience, they wanted to know what we thought.
We think it is perfect.
The key with this pack is that it is a go to bag for when you want to go shoot in the mountains, and getting to where you need to go is involved. It isn’t going to be your standard pack for mountain biking or running, it isn’t meant to be. It is simply the ideal system for being a working photographer in the mountains.
We’ve used it hiking, trail running and mountain biking and can honestly say it functions perfectly for what it was designed for.
Lowpro Photo Sport features and how we use them
We carry the lighter, more compact Canon 5d when we do these longer, more difficult trips. On the body we keep the 17-40 f4.0 and below it fits the Canon 70-200 f4.0. Both fit snugly in the padded internal case. There is a drawstring closure to cinch the entire system tight inside the pack to prevent shaking, and the camera bag is low enough to keep the weight balanced on the body – brilliant.
The pack has another, external sleeve specifically for a hydration system. The design is well thought out in case it leaks, the water will not get to the camera system. There is also a built in rain cover.
The rest of the pack is pretty much just a backpack, super light, a couple of pockets, all with enough room still inside for clothes food or more camera gear. The suspension & padding system allows for the pack to be worn comfortably for long periods. It carries up to about 15kg very well. External straps allow you to attach a tripod.
I tried out the Lowepro Photo Sport 200 while mountain biking in to scout a location
So as bloggers writing a gear review, aren’t we required to now admit that we were given free gear and that this fact might influence words of praise…? Yep, the pack was a freebie. And yep, if you run into me in the mountains while I am working you’ll see a bright orange Lowepro Photo Sport 200 on my back. Because… I really like it.
Want to get your own? Lowepro says June. For more information – visit Lowepro
To see what we have done as running photographers, visit our Running Portfolio
Follow what we do, as we do it in the mountains – via our Twitter feed @patitucciphoto
Posted in Gear Review
Also tagged Adventure Sports, Digital Photography, Mountain Sports, Photoshoots
19 Comments
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