claire lutz

This girl has gotten so much better. Always great to see the progression of a rider for me.

The overall level of women in fact has gone through the roof this last year. Fourteen women competed in the Slider Project's RoSham Event, where as only 4 did 2 years ago. That event is defining the direction of kiting's wakestyle progression like no other. Great to see the ladies charging with style!

Native Crew Selected

I've been selected as part of a local team to tell the story of Hood River for an upcoming ad campaign for Native Eyewear. I have to say a big thanks to everyone who voiced their support of me to Native and their agency ThinkMotive. I am super excited to participate in the sharing of this amazing place and the incredible people here.

I am also stoked to work with a diverse and talented group of writers, specifically Temira Wagonfeld and Phineas England.

In the next few weeks we'll be asking the locals to assist in the effort by helping identify places of interest, incredible local businesses, the special hangouts and adventure zones deserving recognition. It wouldn't be totally fair to just do it ourselves. This project is about involving the community too.

We'll be seeking local top athletes in all sports to profile (bike, ski, windsurf, skate, kite, climb, kayak), as well as looking for the unsung local who breathes Hood River in their daily lifestyle. Artists, musicians, surfboard shapers, brewmasters, who ever they may be.

I'll also be seeking input for any local events between the shoot dates of August 18-21 worthy of recognition (like Post and Pint), and especially the local organizations that are working to make the community better (such as The Slider Project, Gorge Freeride Association, Columbia River Keepers).

But most importantly I'll need feedback regarding the stories and tales of the Hood. The unique the bizarre, the legendary stuff of Hood River's past. That lore deserves to be documented and shared.

We all know this place is special. I want to hear why it is from you. You can do this by emailing me directly (lance@ionimagery.com), calling me (503.544.6387) or just stopping me on the street.

You can also do it by clicking this link and posting your suggestion on the Tales from the Hood Facebook page. There the Native peeps will be giving away sunglasses. I think it's a weekly give away, I also think the more you post the better your chances to win are.

Thanks again everyone for the support.

Rest in Peace- Aaron Robinson

Aaron was a rising star on the international snowboarding extreme scene and a great person. I had the opportunity to shoot with him the last couple years in Snowbird. He will be sorely missed by many.

Below are a few images from my work with him on The North Face Masters extreme tour.
-lk

From First Tracks
El Colorado, Chile -Snowboarder Aaron Robinson, a two-time winner of The North Face Masters of Snowboarding, has perished in a fall in Chile.

Robinson, 24, was riding in a popular backcountry area known as Santa Teresita, adjacent to the El Colorado ski area, on Tuesday when he fell and hit his head on exposed rocks. It’s accessible via one of the resort’s lifts and delivers skiers to the resort’s access road, where a quick thumb or a spotted car provides return to the ski area.

Robinson, of Whitefish, Mont., was a team rider for K2 Snowboarding, Volcom and Airblaster.

Gitty Up

Another sneak look at the Slingshot Team shoot. Here Alex Fox get's his cowboy on.

Sneak Peek- Slingshot 2012 shoot

Triple 14 hour days- the Slingshot shoot going on right now is a brutal one. I am so stoked on the results however... the talent, locations, personalities make doing my job a total dream.

We had some pretty cool clouds late into the evening our first day... the results were pretty dramatic. In this shot Eric Reinstra rips a fat railey in far eastern gorge secret spot.

Support your native photographer

Native Eyewear is on the hunt for a photographer to document the unique, the bizarre... and I could use your help to be a part of it. "Tales from the Hood" is an online event seeking to find the perfect photographer/writer combo to capture the essence of the Hood River community.

To document the personalities and characters would be an honor. But beware Hood River locals- if selected I will come a calling to capture your story.

So click the LINK and like Native and like me.

Thanks for the support!

Slingshot Peek- SUP

A sneak peak at the new ad and line of Stand Up Paddleboards (SUP) developed by Slingshot Sports. The ad will be featured this month in Standup Journal, and marks their official launch into the market.

Slingshot creative director Gary Huck really wanted something edgier than the traditional SUP photograph to set the stage for the company's move. Their brand has long strived to be an innovator in kite, wake, and surfboard design. There is no doubt they will change the way SUP's are perceived, built and used.

A big part of that comes from the fact they are bringing their development and manufacturing back to the United States.

Taking a fresh look at the status quo and aiming to do something different is always a tremendous personal motivator. I was stoked to be asked to be apart of it and am looking forward to developing their image further.

Cranking

Too much work going on for updates! I am sorry about that- there is so much to share.

Been pressing the shutter for some of the biggest commercial projects I have ever done, with some incredible agencies and creative people. Stay tuned!

adidas originals

Packing gear and headed to Portland for a couple days where I'll be on location shooting for adidas originals. Their retro line blurs 70's-80's designs with a urban soulful vibe. I totally dig it... they've worked hard to craft their brand with texture 'n grit, and it totally shows.

They've been great clients to work with in the past. A lot of fun.

Will post up some images as the shoot progresses if things are a manageable chaos. Somehow things always work a little better for me when the unknown shows up in a shoot. I wouldn't want to be a part of something completely controlled and sterile as there's nothing real about that.

Chaos ultimately rules anyways... submitting to it is very liberating experience. My mantra- hold on for the ride.

A peek at the streets of adidas originals.

Patagonia Catalog

An honor and lifelong dream for me to find my work included in the Summer 2011 Patagonia catalog. Jane, Suz, Jenning, and Andrew at Patagonia have made their seasonal mailer something everyone looks forward to no matter what aspect of nature or sport they are into.

Through their hard work sourcing imagery, stories and the pertinent environmental issues of the hour, their edit and resulting catalogs are much more than a consumer purchasing resource. It is a uplifting and positive look at what drives the passion behind Patagonia and the reason they exist.


caption information-
Australian Dano See smacks a September lip on the Central Oregon Coast. The first winter swell of the season had everyone scrambling as clean wind and massive waves rolled into the south jetty of Newport.

Taking a break between kite sessions I saw a helicopter buzz over the beach. A couple phone calls later I found myself strapping in to a cockpit with an old timer named Wally who was absent mindedly preparing to pilot our toy of a helicopter out over the pacific ocean in winds gusting over 40 mph.

I've flown in helicopters in Valdez and the Alps persuing mountains, but never hanging out with my feet on the skid shooting friends smack double overhead swell. Still wet and salty from my session in the waves, the change of perspective from being to seeing rider and kite in motion- working together, has never before been more evident.

This shot is representative of an epiphany. There is so much more at work than just the body, board, wave relationship in kiting. A true kiter moves the kite as an extension of them self. The wave a canvas... a perfect moment shared with the elements of nature.