Snowboarding Utah's Backcountry: Photography

Photographers come to Utah from all over the world to create images that just can't be matched in too many other locations. Athletes of course, follow right along and enjoy skiing and snowboarding in the epic back country that Utah has to offer. Timing is everything and fortunate for me, our group was heading down from from a third lap in the Grizzly Gulch area when we spotted a few Snowboarders just finishing the take-off of a large kicker for a little evening session. It was about 4:30pm and the sun was quickly dropping in the sky. I pulled up along side the riders and asked if it would cool if I shot them for a bit. They obliged in a thick New Zealand accent and the shooting began. A big thanks to the guys for being so cool and hopefully we can hook up for a sponsored shoot in the near future.

Fortunately, I already had a few strobes along to shoot earlier laps in the deep stuff with the Gardners (who were getting after it as well) and they definitely came in handy as the day turned to night. The riders in most of the images are lit with one strobe (580ex II) at full power and ambient light filling the rest of the scene. I was digging the little rider in big environment feel similar to this surf shot in from last year in Hawaii as well as this ridgeline mountain bike image. Designers always love lot's a open, clean space for type; an added bonus in this case.

First up, Trevor Gardner throwing a large back-flip:

And the NZ boys showing old and new school style...



fav shot of the day: