Had a great opportunity from the good folks over at Stokelab Magazine to take on a callorative project with pal/writer/cocky outdoor extremist, Sean Prentis. Stokelab is the brainchild of Mike Horn (Former editor of Backcountry Magazine & contributing writer for Outside, etc…) and photographer Justin Cash. Sean and I wanted to highlight some of the companies in Michigan that were making some kick ass outdoor adventure equipment and product. The story is a work in progress, but the first portion of the project is now live over at http://www.stokelab.com/magazine Surfing mate and photo school buddy Justin Bruursema owns and operates a rad surfboard company called Burly Surfboards. The article explains it all…check it out!

I had the opportunity back in February to head to Summit County in Colorado to photograph Jess Sporte for the spring/summer issue of Solace Magazine (Funded and distributed by the Amway Corp). Jess is one of the most inspiring subjects I have had the opportunity to meet and photograph. The following is a brief bio from her website:

“I was born in Korea on the 4th of July 1987. It is believed that my birth parents dropped me off at an orphanage when they realized I had a medical condition that they could not afford to take care of. I had cancer in my leg. The orphanage sent me to a hospital where I had my leg amputated at four months old. I was adopted at 24 months old, by an American family and have been cancer free for the past 24 years. In 2000, I began taking 3-track lessons, balancing on my one leg and using outriggers to ski, at Cannonsburg. However, I had to quit a year later due to arthritis in my hip. Consequently, I had to have a hip replacement in 2005 at the age of 18. Wanting to get back on the mountain, I’ve attended two ski programs. One in January of 2011 in Steamboat Spring, CO, and I recently attended the Hartford Ski Spectacular where, after mono-skiing (sit-skiing) only 10 days, I was approached by several Paralympic coaches saying I have the potential to reach the 2014 Winter Paralympics.”

I had an amazing day hanging out with Jess at Keystone Resort… She is fast, determined, and a true inspiration to all. The publication is out now and will soon be available for viewing online here in the coming weeks. For more information on Jess you can check out her website at http://www.jsporte.com/ Enjoy a few outtakes from the shoot.

The last few weeks have been a blast and the next few look more of the same. Hope to share some recent work very soon. Stay tuned!

Recent tears from AAA Living Magazine. Image was captured last year during the Labatt Pond Hockey tournament in West Michigan. The story can be viewed here. See you on the ice.

New year-Fresh start. Explore, create, experience, raise the bar. WORD

Tomorrow photographer buddy Ryan Pavlovich and I will make the trek to Ann Arbor, MI to take part in Help-Portrait 2011. For those unfamiliar with the H-P event,  it was founded by photographer Jeremy Cowart as way to “use photography skills to give back to their local community”. Now in its second year, Help-Portrait has gathered groups of photographers all over the world to take part in this one day event.  Check out the H-P website at www.help-portrait.com The stories on the website are pretty moving. Both Ryan and I are stoked to join the team of  photographers in Ann Arbor and take part in this great cause. Check out the H-P Ann Arbor group here: Help-Portrait Ann Arbor.

Solace

Chicago Sky

Journey 4H