Editor’s note: Our colleague and design director Rick is looking forward to attending his next adventure with the Summit Series of Photography Workshops. He’ll head to Jackson, Wyoming September 22 to join other wilderness shooters for an active week of photographing climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and more. He’ll share highlights of his trip this fall.
A couple months ago I wrote about my terrific experience at the Summit Series Aurora Multimedia Workshop in Boulder, Colorado. I wanted to let you know about the Adventure Photography Workshop on the Summit Series schedule this September in Jackson, Wyoming. I’ll be attending along with Kendra our outdoor designer. We’re both looking forward to it.

They have an awesome group of instructors scheduled, including editors from The North Face and National Geographic Adventure, as well as photographers Corey Rich, Lucas Gilman and Sadie Quarrier – to name just a few.

Jackson will be a spectacular photography location at the end of September. The schedule includes plenty of time for shooting with guidance and techniques from the pros, as well as learning from the editors about the keys to success. Other topics such as career development, workflow and general insights into the business will round out the week.

If you’re looking to expand your photography in the world of outdoor adventure, this promises to be a full week of experience. Check out their site for more details and to sign up. The workshop takes place September 22 through 27.

Kendra and I will share insights we learned from the workshop and include imagery from this amazing part of the West when we get back. Stay tuned!

- Rick

We’d like to thank Cristina Mittermeier for her generosity and insights, as well as Sony for co-hosting the Shooting Your Vision webinar with us. If you missed it, please check back to view the full webinar by going to our Ask the Pro page.

Here are a few highlights from Cristina’s presentation. She uses Lowepro’s Pro Roller Lite AW and SlingShot 302 AW as her go-to bags. And she is a big believer in being prepared and organized – in everything from packing redundant gear (“accidents can happen”) to cleaning supplies to a camera manual.

Cristina shared her ten ideas on unleashing creativity and telling stories with images. One fundamental idea is: research. Cristina is an advocate of spending the time and effort to know where you’re going and how you’ll get by once you get there. She spends hours on Google Earth looking at sunrise and sunset times, learning about ecosystems, memorizing a few sentences in a foreign language – all in order to be prepared and enjoy the shooting experience.

Shoot more than you need is idea #6. Even though it may seem like you’re shooting the same scene, you’re looking for something to change (the light, the perfect subject to move into the frame, an animal action). “Just keep shooting it. And when you think you’re done; shoot some more.”

One of Cristina’s most passionate photographic stories is to convey how people depend on marine ecosystems. She is always amazed “how much effort it takes people to pull out of the ocean just a handful of fish.”

Cristina Mittermeier is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), a consortium of some of the world’s best photographers who are actively working for conservation. Her work is represented by National Geographic Stock. See more imagery on her web site and learn about the work of the ILCP.

Editor’s note: Lowepro friend and sports photographer Kohjiro Kinno is shooting in London now with colleague Robert Beck for Sports Illustrated. We caught up with him (just for a nano-moment; his schedule is busy as you might imagine) to get a few impressions.

Men's Field Hockey, © Kohjiro Kinno

Your schedule must be pretty exhausting. What’s it like to cover the world of amazing athletes in this fascinating city?
The first few days were the most challenging. Opening ceremonies ended around 12:30am and after everything, I got back to my hotel around 3:30am. On the shuttle to our first venue by 6am. Some people didn’t even sleep. Probably got back to the hotel that night around 1am. Then back on the shuttle around the same time. This went on for 3 days. Everybody looked like zombies. After awhile you get used to not sleeping. Tempers are shorter; patience is put to the test. Little things start to irritate you. People are a little… edgy. You fall asleep on the shuttle bus and miss your spot. But after a week or so, things calm down, you start making good photos, all is good, you love everybody. You see world-class athletes with tears of joy, tears of defeat, the music of your national anthem plays…. Great Britain’s national anthem plays with EVERY Brit singing along. It’s the best.

What’s the most challenging venue so far? Why?
So far I’ve been to the Olympic Stadium (Track), Aquatic Center (Swimming, Diving and Synchronized Swimming), Field Hockey Stadium, Basketball Arena, and the Marathon Area. It’s been all easy to get to and easy to get in and out quickly. The photo staff the London Olympic Committee put together has been very helpful to make nice pictures. The most challenging part, no matter what the venue, is just finishing the day with a set of nice photos.

Swimmers Underwater, © Kihjiro Kinno

Favorite Brit-food snack to keep you on-the-go?
Wine Gums (kinda like gummy bears) and McDonald’s. Yup, we’re living large.

Most surprising moment you captured?
Being able to photograph from underwater during the Aquatics Competition. Especially the Synchronized Swimmers from underwater; it’s very surreal and yet very beautiful.

We’re extremely excited to present an exclusive (and free!) webinar with renowned conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier. She’ll present Shooting Your Vision on Thursday, August 9 at 11am PDT and 2pm EDT.

Cristina will share some of her techniques and insights, including how to sketch your shot, relying on research, the 30-60-10 rule, how to articulate your story and learning to appreciate and learn from failure. Passion and vision—as she so clearly demonstrates in her own work—will be key themes to inspire your photographic pursuits.

Cristina is the founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP), a consortium of some of the world’s best photographers who are actively working for conservation. Her work is represented by National Geographic Stock.

Please join us for this very special webinar co-sp0nsored by Sony and Lowepro. Sign up here.

Our thanks go out to Jesse Kalisher for presenting The Photographers’ View: Composition & Design. We’ll give you a short recap here, but we invite you to watch the entire webinar at your convenience.  This video along with previous webinars may be viewed when you visit our Ask the Pro page.

Jesse covered a lot of territory – from reading the light to seeing your shots in black & white to looking behind you, and the power of details to tell a story. His black & white images demonstrate the power and beauty of this genre. Like this image Jesse shot in Egypt with its focus on scale and perspective.

Jesse often works with the Pro Trekker 300 AW backpack (it’s a real hardworking, outdoor-inspired design) and fills it with this gear:

Nikon D3x
17-24mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens
24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens
70 – 200 2.8 Nikkor lens
105mm macro Nikkor lens
SB-900 Nikon flash
Spare batteries
Lexar pro compact flash cards

Jesse Kalisher was a successful advertising executive who had an epiphany, walked away from his career and began traveling and taking pictures. Today his imagery may be found in places as diverse as the world’s luxury hotels and in the permanent collections of museums like the Louvre and the Smithsonian. Visit his web site to see more of his work.

Ty Wivell gets hydrated at Tough Mudder, © Andrea Greeley

Editor’s note: Ty Wivell is an avid adventure photographer and Lowepro’s National Sales Manager for the Outdoor Channel. In our completely biased opinion, he truly embodies the spirit of the Lowepro brand. Just a few days ago he participated in Vermont’s Tough Mudder adventure challenge, and along with friends Andrea Greeley and Jerry Monkman (a pro photographer and videographer from New England) documented the nerve, verve, sweat and determination of some of the 6,000+ athletes who gave it their all.  Here’s his account.

Every photo assignment has its peculiar challenges, but when I signed up to capture the ‘Tough Mudder’ from the perspective of a participant, I knew I’d be pushing my body and my gear to the extreme.

Muddy course at Tough Mudder, © Ty Wivell

Billed as the world’s “premiere adventure challenge”, the Mudder pits enthusiastic participants against a 10-mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test “all-around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie.” And, with obstacles like “Everest”, “Devil’s Beard”, “Firewalker”, and “Electroshock Therapy”, the event certainly lives up to most of the hype.

The Electroshock challenge at Tough Mudder, © Ty Wivell

Firewalking at Tough Mudder, © Ty Wivell

But surviving the Mudder laden with an extra 25 lbs. of camera gear was  the least of my concerns. As a ‘participatory journalist’, I was mostly worried about ‘getting the shot’ while also protecting and readily accessing my camera gear in the midst of rock-strewn mud, bone-chilling water, dust, smoke, and fire. Not to mention running, leaping, sliding, crawling, falling, and getting zapped with 10,000 volts of electricity!

Thankfully, my Photo Sport 200 AW not only met the challenge, but proved to be a perfect companion for this shoot. The pack’s protective Ultra-Cinch Camera Chamber secured my kit in rough terrain and frequent water sprays, but also provided rapid, off-the-shoulder access to my DSLR. And, the dedicated hydration pocket was essential to augment my water supply in the 90-degree heat.  But, perhaps the pack’s most useful feature for this outing was the convenient side pockets on the hip belt, which provided quick, frequent access to my soft cloths to wipe the grime from my lenses.

Completing the Tough Mudder was an extremely satisfying experience. But, capturing its essence from the inside out was even more rewarding.  Of course, like any dedicated photographer, I’m a glutton for self-punishment, consternating over the shots I missed, and training my eye (and legs!) toward next year’s event.
Shocking…

- Ty Wivell

Watch Jerry Monkman’s Tough Mudder video and check out his site for a review of Flipside Sport 15L AW.

The distinction of having the first images of Barack Obama to be acquired by the Smithsonian belongs to professional photographer Jesse Kalisher. In this upcoming webinar, he’ll share the tools that have served him well on his quest to create images that have both impact and meaning.

Jessie Kalisher

He will cover what to look for through the lens—be it composition or light—and how to use the space you’re working in to the best advantage. And he’ll also share tips for landscapes and for photographing people.

Jesse Kalisher was a successful advertising executive who had an epiphany, walked away from his career and began traveling and taking pictures. Today his imagery may be found in places as diverse as the world’s luxury hotels and in the permanent collections of museums like the Louvre and the Smithsonian.

We hope you join us for this informative webinar on A Photographer’s View: Composition & Design. It takes place Thursday, August 2 at 11am Pacific and 2pm Eastern time. Sign up here.