Tutka Bay Lodge & The Road to Alaska
Why take on a 7,000-mile, 120-hour round trip drive from Colorado to Alaska? Because there's no better way to fully immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of the Rocky Mountains and connect with vibrant communities hidden off the beaten path. Also it gave me a great excuse to finally finish the Infinite Jest audiobook.
My route to Alaska connected with the Alcan Highway, a legendary route stretching over 2,500 miles through some of North America's most remote and awe-inspiring wilderness. Truly a photographer’s paradise, especially in the fall. Built during World War II to link Alaska with the lower 48 states, the road meanders through the rugged beauty of Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and into the heart of Alaska. This past September, I embarked on the journey from Colorado to Homer, Alaska, with only my two dogs and my camera gear, seeking adventure and the vibrant fall foliage that blankets the Rockies in hues of red, yellow, and gold. The towering peaks, vast boreal forests, and shimmering lakes all seemed to tell their own story, offering endless inspiration for capturing the raw, untouched nature of the North. Each mile of the highway presented new, dynamic scenery, from the rocky vistas of the Canadian Rockies to Alaska’s coastal grandeur, making it an unforgettable adventure.
Upon arriving in Homer, the end of the road, I partnered with the team at Tutka Bay Lodge for a week-long project that would showcase the best of the Kenai Peninsula. It was a whirlwind of incredible experiences: remote bush plane bear viewing, helicopter glacier landings, lagoon kayaking, porcini foraging in ancient growth forests, and gourmet cooking classes with James Beard-nominated chefs. Tutka Bay's breathtaking surroundings and luxurious offerings made for an ideal backdrop as I worked to revamp their website and media package, capturing the essence of adventure and refinement in Alaska’s rugged wilderness.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Campaign
Earlier this fall I was hired by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife for a multifaceted campaign promoting Colorado Lands. Focusing on engaging personalities living in Colorado, we spent a few days with a renown painter as he travelled the state and a famous arctic explorer and his family on a mountain camping trip. The campaign will use images on Billboards, website advertising, and social. It’s always so fun getting a chance to work in my home state, especially for a client that I am passionate about. I spend a lot of time in Colorado’s State parks, and maintaining them is a high priority for me.
Smith Fork Ranch: Brand Launch
Over the past year I visited the luxury ranch property: Smith Fork Ranch to film and photograph for their rebranding. Including website, advertising, and social. Because of the remoteness of their location, Colorado’s rugged and beautiful Western Slope, I worked primarily as a one man band: In charge of both photography and videography. This enabled the art direction team and me to be flexible to weather and environment and let the location dictate what we were able to film and photograph throughout the different seasons.
Santner Pass: Val Di Fassa
Can a location be on a bucket list if it hasn’t existed for more than a year? This past June I travelled to Northern Italy to photograph the newly constructed Santner Pass Hutte. This incredible hut was originally built in the 1950s, but recently remodeled and overhauled in to what has to be the most stunning mountain hut in all of the Alps. The owner is a professionally trained chef and upon our arrival up a long and grueling approach, we were greeted with beet canaderli, and select spritz. Images and video from the shoot will be used for Santner Pass Hut’s website and advertising, in addition to advertising for the particular region of the Italian Dolomites.
Foco Fondo: Video
This past July I filmed the gravel bike race: Foco Fondo. The 118 mile race winds through the Northern Colorado Front Range, near my home of Fort Collins. It was a pleasure getting to work with a completely local team and one of my best friends as the opposite camera on an event and sport I am passionate about. Chasing professional cyclists on a mix of dirt roads and trails was a real challenge. I worked with a number of producers and expert drivers to map out the route and keep tabs on where leaders were. It was particularly important for the client to capture the range of people that attend and race the event. Inclusion is one of their main priorities and what makes the gravel cycling scene so exciting. While scouting the race, I was able to get a test shoot done with the professional cycling couple Whitney and Zach Allison.
5280 Magazine: Rodeo Feature
For the July Issue of 5280 Magazine, I visited some of the Rocky’s most famous rodeos. Rodeos are some of my favorite events to photograph. It is rare to go to an event nowadays were there is a uniform dress code of cowboy hat, clean jeans, and a nice shirt. In addition to photographing rodeos, the all encompassing story required set portraits of rodeo royalty and still life of historic rodeo artifacts.
Colorado Board of Tourism: Campaign
Throughout the summer I have travelled around the Centennial State for the Colorado Board of Tourism. The productions required photographing experiences in towns and regions all over Colorado. From the mountains, to the plains, to the red rocks of the western slope. The shoot put to use my unique skill of being able to photograph mountain biking, fine dining, and lifestyle, all within the same day.
Coppola Hideaways: All Movie
Over the course of the summer I travelled to Georgia to photograph the launch of the new Coppola Hideaway: All Movie Hotel. The hotel, a unique concept, was purchased a few years back and transformed in to a post production studio and hotel for Francis Ford Coppola to finish his most recent film: Megalopolis. It was an honor working along side the legendary director and the Hideaway’s team.
