Corey Rich Productions

LitePanels - New Gear

I'm excited to announce I have partnered with Litepanels! For far too long, I have had a difficult time finding continuous lighting gear that fit within my "light & fast" philosophy when shooting both stills and video outdoors. Thanks to Litepanels, this has all changed and I couldn't be happier with the gear. This satisfaction in not limited to the field. I am just as pleased with the line of "traditional" lighting gear, allowing for a controlled, sophisticated look when shooting interviews or in a studio.

Litepanels are the Rolls-Royce of lighting gear (without the six-figure price tag). Not only are all the pieces (small and large) easily portable, they're powerful and almost all can be adapted to battery power - a rare combo. The lights offer a nice color tempature range, smooth dimming and are entirely flicker free. Thanks to the use of LEDs, Litepanels has developed an entire line of cool lights. No more waiting around before I can pack up. Once I wrap, the light goes into my pack and I'm on to the next location. Plus, they're built to withstand a bump here and there, which is sure to happen while in my backpack or under the care of a luggage handler. Add to all of this a wide variety of light modifiers and the ability to mount the smaller units on camera or to any available stand or boom and you've got a great new addition to my kit.

See the Lightpanels Croma featured in the photos above and below. Many thanks to Trevor Clark for capturing the images of me (and the lights) in action.

liveBooks - Homepage Feature

Several months back, after a discussion amongst everyone here in the studio, we decided it was time to update our website. We were still happy with the overall look and feel, but we needed more control and functionality. We wanted the ability to feature video work and change content down the road, without the need to bring a developer in house. The search for such a platform quickly led us to liveBooks, provider of websites built specifically for creatives. Hesitant at first that we would end up with a site that looked like any other photographer online, our minds were soon at ease as we talked through the option of a custom site. I'll admit, some of our requests were a bit off scope and required some coding magic, but they made it work—and we couldn't be happier wit the results!

The team at liveBooks, must share our satisfaction with the outcome, as they have integrated our site into their newly redesigned homepage. I'm featured there along with some great company - Joe McNally, Embry Rucker and Christopher Micaud. Hit refresh on the home page to see all of our sites.

Be sure to check out my Facebook fan page for more info on the feature photo.

Job Opening at Corey Rich Productions

Big news at Corey Rich Productions - After 6 years, my dear friend and colleague Blaine Deutsch is moving on, having accepted a university teaching position. The search has begun to fill his shoes though I'm not sure if this is possible :) He's not leaving right away, so we've got time to find the right person. Please see the job description below and feel free to pass along to any friends, family or colleagues that may be interested. Stay tuned for more info about the going away party!


Producer/Studio Director

Looking for a passionate, hard working, extremely organized team player to be part of a small but very busy and successful photo/video studio in beautiful South Lake Tahoe, CA. This position often demands long  hours in a fast paced environment to meet deadlines, yet is very rewarding. The company mantra is " work hard - play hard". We make frequent use of the kegerator in the office and hold meetings on the back deck overlooking evergreen forest, from the seats of our mountain bikes or on chairlifts; depending on the season. Come with a desire to live in the mountains and work damn hard!

Primary role of this position is to see shoots through from start to finish - engage with client in early dialogue, estimate fees and expenses, coordinate all scheduling and logistics, oversee crew, manage post production & delivery of final products and all associated billing. Additional responsibilities include the management of internal staff and freelancers, communication with clients and artist's representative, collaboration with the team on marketing strategy and management of the day to day operations in the studio. Required experience: Still and/or video production, client management & communication, marketing/brand development, and office administration. Knowledge of action sports/outdoor adventure and familiarity with Apple systems are a major plus. Position requires occasional travel. Salary is dependent upon experience.  Visit http://www.coreyrich.com/ and http://news.coreyrich.com/ to see some of our work and learn a bit more about the studio.  This position is NOT a shooting position; photographers and filmmakers need not apply. Please send your resume and a cover letter explaining why you're the right person for this position to info@coreyrich.com. No phone calls please.

Road Runner Sports - Spring/Summer Catalog

I've often said that being a photographer is actually a combination of professions - marketer, bookkeeper, travel agent, baggage handler, and animal wrangler, just to name a few. I'd like to add one more to the list - meteorologist. I am often called upon, not to predict the weather, but rather, to "change" it - make the most of the surroundings so that it looks like the season required for the shoot. This can mean going as high as possible in the mountains to find snow in July, or towards the coast to imply warmth in December. The whole team here in the office constantly monitors conditions around the globe so that at any given time, we know where we can find the right backdrop, whether that means going to a different state, a different country or sometimes, a different hemisphere.

Though I was shooting "Winter" last week, the new Road Runner Sports catalog arrived yesterday, helping to remind me that it is in fact Spring. I shot this photo on the cover last October. It may have been cold and rainy in Tahoe, but Summer was only a few hours away in Santa Monica.

Winter in June - Mammoth Lakes, CA                      Spring in October - Santa Monica, CA

Outside - David Lama Free Climbs Cerro Torre

Over the last three years, I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with David Lama on behalf of Red Bull, witnessing history unfold. I've watched firsthand as he has attempted to free climb Cerro Torre. After the struggles and difficult conditions during year one and a brief hiatus during year two, this third year of the project could not have come together any better. A perfect weather window and four strong climbers made for a monumental season.

As I was en route to meet up with David and his climbing partner Peter Ortner in El Chalten, things started to get really interesting. I got word that my good friend Hayden Kennedy and his partner Jason Kruk had just completed the first “fair means” ascent of the Compressor Route on Cerro Torre. Though, the bigger news surrounding this team is what came next. During their descent, Kennedy and Kruk chopped nearly a quarter of the bolts that made up the infamous bolt ladder on the route. While this made for some spirited conversation throughout the climbing world, it also added to the amazement of what was to come. Three days later, David Lama and Peter Ortner made the first free ascent of the route. It was such a fun experience to help record climbing history. At the core, this is what I love doing the most.

It has been a blast to get to know David over the years and I look forward to watching his trajectory from here. I’m certain we’re going to see more great climbs from him in the future. As with every project, this could not have been possible without a great crew. Many thanks to Florain Klinger and Guide Kruetschnigg at Red Bull, Director Thomy Dirnhofer, heli pilots Ken Robinson & Pablo Stornini and great friend & fellow camera operator Lincoln Else (who, much to my jealousy, climbed Cerro Torre ahead of the team to capture David’s summit). Also, many thanks to all of the friends I’ve made in Argentina over the years. Chalten is a place that I figured I’d go once and never return, yet it has become a big part of my life.

Visit Outside Online for the full story and some of my photos, along with images from Lincoln Else and Mikey Schaeffer.

Nikon - COOLPIX S9300 Launch

Last year, I traveled to Veracruz, Mexico three times within the course of a month. After the first trip for the production of WHY and HOW of WHY, returning for a project with the State of Veracruz and Jackson Kayak, the last trip was part of another exciting product launch for Nikon. This time around, it was in support of the COOLPIX S9300, Nikon's newest addition to their point & shoot collection. The two previous trips were extremely valuable going into this project. When asked to pick a beautiful travel location for the shoot, steeped in culture, Veracruz was the obvious choice. After a few days back there with the S9300, I was sold and this is now my go-to camera during my "downtime."

It was so liberating to travel for a week with a full kit that consisted of nothing more than a rolling bag for clothes (and room for carrying some tequila back home), an ultra lightweight Manfrotto tripod and a Lowepro Inverse 200 AW holding five point & shoots and a card wallet. This level of freedom made for a very fun project. It's a rare trip that I can move amongst the locals without a half a dozen cases of gear to blow my cover. But don't let the size fool you. These cameras are powerful! Full HD video, a 16 megapixel sensor, high ISO / low light sensitivity and a serious telephoto lens. Plus, a panorama mode, in-camera effects and geotaggging, all in a form factor that fits in your pocket. Check out the Nikon site for all the details.

As an added bonus, this project gave me the opportunity to work with Marcos Ferro, a Mexico City based Aurora Photos contributor and new addition to the Aurora Select roster. It's always a pleasure to connect with more members of our global network of talented photographers. We first met during the previous trip to Mexico with the Jacksons. After seeing him work for a few days, I quickly decided to bring him on as an assistant on my return. Aside from his photo skills, his bilingual abilities were key. I've traveled quite a bit through Central and South America, convinced I could speak Spanish. This project, traveling closely with a native speaker proved me wrong. 

Aurora Multimedia Workshop 2012 - Boulder, CO

If you are a still photographer looking to make the jump into video, look no further than the Aurora Multimedia Workshop. Hosted by Rich Clarkson and Associates from May 29 - June 1, this workshop is catered towards pro photographers looking to enter the world of multimedia. Returning to the University of Colorado campus in Boulder, CO for a second year, the program includes not only hands-on practical elements to get you up to speed on the state of the art tools, but also a look at the future of story telling and communication in this visual age. I will be among the faculty for the week, joined by some of the most impressive names in the industry:

José Azel - Photographer and founder, Aurora Photos
Bob Dotson - Producer, NBC Today Show
Rob Finch - Professional in Residence, MediaStorm
Jeff Graham - Vice President, Crispin Porter + Bogusky
Kevin Moloney - NY Times contract photographer and photojournalism professor, University of Colorado
Peter Mortimer - Founder, Sender Films
Rich Clarkson - Legendary photographer and founder, Rich Clarkson and Associates

As well, Mark Kettenhofen and Mark Suban will be on hand from Nikon Professional Services, bringing with them the new D4 and D800.

Visit the workshop website for all the details. SIgn up soon, as space is sure to fill up quickly. Hope to see you in Boulder!

Ski Lake Tahoe - Print & Web Campaign

Winter is certainly closing on a high note this year. It was very difficult mentally to leave Tahoe this past weekend as I dusted a foot of cold snow off of my car and loaded bag after bag. On my departure out of the basin, it was snowing at a rate of 3 to 4 inches an hour. And yes… rest assured, all of my ski buddies managed to text me Sunday morning about the epic conditions I was "missing" while in airports, planes, and taxis. Ahhh, if only the weather adapted to my travel schedule!

In celebration of our recent "Miracle March" and beyond, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the work I've done for Ski Lake Tahoe for this seasons campaign. Shooting for them over the course of several seasons, hitting all seven member resorts along the way (Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose, Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Squaw) has provided quite a library of images to pull from. This year's print ads and website update once agin show how amazing the Tahoe basin is in the winter (both on and off the slopes). But according to my calendar, it is now time for spring corn!

 

It was quite a surprise, when looking through the website, to see this photo of me with my wife Marina, tubing at Kirkwood. Shot by my Studio Director Blaine Deutsch, this image is testament that sometimes it is all about the camera and the operator. Even when presented with less than ideal conditions and very challenging talent, the Nikon D3s pulled through.

 

Be sure to Like Ski Lake Tahoe on Facebook for all the latest conditions and resort updates, and checkout my cover photo while you're there! 

Mentor Series - Upcoming Treks

The current issue of American Photo features a look back at last year's Mentor Series Trek to Arizona. Revisiting this trip gets me even more excited for the treks on the schedule for 2012. Join me in May along with fellow mentors Reed Hoffman and Bill Durrence for an amazing experience, traveling through the wonders of China. For something closer to home, Mark Alberhasky and I will team up in early June, guiding a trek through the historic cities and along the beautiful coastline of Maryland.

Visit the Mentor Series site for more information on these and other available treks. Also, stay tuned for news on an upcoming trek that is near and dear to my heart.

Nikon - Deep North: The Story Behind the Story

This time last year, I traveled with an incredible team on an expedition to the Arctic Circle. Our objective, as featured on our friend Tommy Baynard’s show Flying Wild Alaska, was a first ascent of a virgin granite wall. Beyond filming for the TV show on the Discovery Channel, the most ambitious task was to create a video for Nikon, providing an in-depth look at what really happens on an adventure from a climbing, filmmaking and photography perspective.

The result is Deep North: The Story Behind the Story, providing great insight with regards to equipment, technique and my methodology on how to capture adventure, while working in a truly wild place. The video is just under 20 minutes long and is pretty entertaining. Sit back with a coffee or beer (dependent upon your time zone) and enjoy our journey.

Like many expeditions of our time, in the end we were responsible for delivering a wide variety of assets to our sponsors. What resulted was a multi-faceted media project about the adventure. We produced an expedition journal video for Patagonia, as well as a product testimonial video & 30 second TV spot for Polartec. We also provided Nikon with 90 second and 3 minute cutdown versions of Deep North to be used at trade shows, conferences and online, a narrated slide show for the Nikon Learn & Explore site,a 6-page feature in Nikon World magazine (excerpt shown below) and an expedition summary for the American Alpine Journal.

Capturing all of this required hauling quite a bit of gear in to the wilderness. Dane and I each shot with a Nikon D7000, carrying a third body as back-up. These were paired with duplicates of the following lenses:

• AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED
• AF DX Fisheye-NIKKOR 10.5mm f/2.8G ED
• AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

Additionally we shared a 300mm f/4.0, 50mm f/1.4 and a 24mm f/1.4. Each climbing team was issued a Nikon Coolpix P300. This was used by Tommy Caldwell and Hayden Kennedy to capture all of the footage of me shooting on the wall. Pretty amazing HD footage out of a point & shoot camera!

To compliment all the Nikon gear, the production also required the following:

• SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB SD cards
• Manfrotto carbon legged tripod with 701 head
• Litepanels MiniPlus
• Seniheisser G2 wireless lavalier and MKE400 Shotgun Mic
• Zoom H4n compact 2 channel audio recorder
• Kessler Cineslider
• Super secret 15ft lightweight aluminum jib
• Zacuto Z-finder
• Schneider Optics filters

To keep us safe, warm, dry and well fed, we packed our bags with:

• Patagonia outerwear built of Polartec fabrics
• Revo eyewear
• Therm-a-Rest sleep pads
• MSR stoves and cookware
• SealLine dry bags
• Platypus hydration systems
• Clif Bars, Shots and Bloks.
• Dynafit boots and bindings
• La Sportiva mountaineering boots and climbing shoes
• Black Diamond tents, packs, climbing harnesses, ice tools, crampons, gloves and lanterns.
• BlueWater Ropes static and climbing ropes

A huge thank you goes out to the team at Nikon for supporting this adventure. Nikon’s longstanding commitment to education has provided endless inspiration and continues to help raise the creative bar for us all. Another thanks to an amazing team in the field - Tommy Caldwell, Hayden Kennedy, Todd Offenbacher, Tommy Thompson and Dane Henry. Not only was Dane an integral part of the adventure, it was his vision and work with Novus Select that made this edit possible. Special thanks goes to Jim Tweeto for his fearless flying, getting us into the mountains, and back home again safely. Last, but certainly not least, a thank you to Tommy Baynard and Trans-Global Group for making this entire project a reality.