Blog
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How to Do a Polaroid Emulsion Lift on Watercolor Paper | Step-by-Step Film Transfer
In this video, you’ll learn how to create a beautiful Polaroid emulsion lift onto watercolor paper using simple tools and instant film. This classic analog technique lets you peel and transfer the delicate emulsion layer from a Polaroid photo to create one-of-a-kind, textured prints. Perfect for artists, photographers, and anyone…
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Dad & Son Escaping the Noise – Just Us and the Wild 🌲
As a creator, I love finding ways to share experiences others have from
their unique perspective. This was a fun way to do just that escaping
the noise and getting outside at the same time. I wrote the script and
used an AI generated voiceover. I thought the old man’s…
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Wall Art and Calendar Spring “reFRESH” Sale - automatic 30% off
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Excited to share new work with you all this spring!
Hyalite Canyon Panoramic Series has been released, showcasing public lands that are special places to many who want to connect with the land.
The images show the East and West Faces of the canyon which show popular ice climbing routes.…
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Polaroid Scans Combined with Photoshops and Premier Pro Animation
This was a concept shoot to capture images using a Polaroid camera in
skiing conditions. I then scanned the ploaroids importing them into
Photoshop to create animated layers. Adding video shot on an iPhone was
inserted by bringing the Photoshop animation into Premier Pro for the
final iteration.
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Parallax Effect 2.5D - Skiing in Chamonix
Sean Cochrane skiing in the Chamonix Valley with Mount Blanc and the
Aiguille du Midi in the background. This parallax effect offers a unique
animation that leverages still images into motion assets for brands.
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“We Paid for the Photos—Why Do We Need a License?”
I hear this question a lot from creative directors and marketing teams or startups navigating the industry. Here’s the simple answer
When you hire a photographer, you’re paying for their expertise and time—not automatic ownership of the images. Just like music, software, or stock images, photography is intellectual property that…
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The Hidden Risk of Using Unlicensed Photos
Your brand’s visuals set you apart—but are you sure you have the right to use all your images
Many creative teams unknowingly misuse photos because they assume:
🚫 “We found it online, so we can use it.”
🚫 “We paid the photographer, so we own it outright.”
🚫 “No one…
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Is Outdoor Photography Facing a Race to the Bottom?
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Anna Pfaff on the last pitch of Winter Dance an ice climb in Hyalite Canyon Montana
With AI transforming creative industries, outdoor photographers face a critical choice: compete on price or lean into creativity and connection. Can artistry and authenticity carve a path forward in this shifting landscape?
I was…
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Order The 2025 Adventure Calendar - be inspired and organized
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The 2025 Adventure Calendar Has Arrived!
**12 x 18-inch spiral bound vertically oriented**
“People” is this year’s theme and the project - “Portraits of a Connection”
Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to experience humanity, with my
camera as my passport. Looking at people through the lens of love and…
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Capturing Outdoor Family Adventures with the Osprey Poco LT Baby Backpack
Inside My Latest Spec Shoot: The Osprey Poco LT Baby Backpack in Action
Imagine a rock climbing adventure through Spain’s breathtaking landscapes, from the cliffs of Mallorca to the rugged charm of Chulilla. Now, add a seven-month-old baby into the mix—our little Stone, who found peace napping and swinging at…
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Bringing the pixels to paper becomes an entirely different experience for me to critique my photography.
To hold something in your hands creates an emotional bond to an object that is fundamentally different than viewing a digital screen
Bringing the pixels to paper becomes an entirely different experience for me to critique my work. But more importantly to bring my audience closer to connecting with the…
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The Story Behind The Image - Fireworks From The Top of Mt Rainier (14,410 ft)
Story Behind the Image - Fourth of July Fireworks from Atop Mt. Rainier
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This image from my archives was captured on July 4th, 2012. The location? The summit of Mt. Rainier, also known as Tahoma, at 14,411 feet. Looking north, the view overlooks the Puget Sound and downtown Seattle.
Let…
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That Time Mike Wolfe Ran Up Mount Baldy, in the Bridger Range, eight times in a 24 hr period.
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Using mixed media effects combined with still images to create a
timelapse and parallax effect made with Lightroom, Premier Pro, and
Photoshop. I enjoy revisiting work in my 300K photo and video archive of assets to reshape a story with new tools that come online to us creators. It’s a…
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Spring reFRESH Sale Ends April 30th
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Chamonix France
Bringing
pixels to paper becomes an entirely different experience for me to
critique my work. But more importantly to bring my audience closer to
connecting with the land. Currently, my “Spring reFRESH Sale” is happening right now. I have two sales a year, spring and fall when I…
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Photo Gallery: My Favorite Images
Photo Gallery of my favorite timeless images I’ve captured during spec and assignments.
The more I travel the more common ground I see between all of us wild
humans. Life is beautiful when the spectrum of awareness is open.
Enjoy!
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What similarities exist between UX Design strategy and being a commercial photographer? Are there overlaps in methodologies?
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I’ve been asking myself what similarities exist between my training in User Experience Design and being a Photographer. What overlaps in methodologies have I been using? I have LOVED my journey and expanding my scope in design thinking. Learning and discovering is what I love. To be an artist to…
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What Is Usage And Licensing?
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In the outdoor photography industry, usage and licensing terms are essential considerations for both photographers and clients. These terms define how the photographs can be used, distributed, and reproduced. They vary widely depending on the intended use of the images, such as digital use, print use, or a combination of…
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Why Personal Photography Projects Matter
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Curious kids checking out skis and a backpack while in the Far Western Development Region of Nepal
Personal photography projects matter for a variety of reasons, both for the photographer and for the broader community. Here are several key points:
1. Creative Expression and Exploration
Photography projects offer a medium…
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Photo Gallery - Pakistan 2019
Being a photographer to me is a way to expand my mind. To expand my worldview. To be a citizen in the melting pot of humanity. Here are a few of my favorite images from a climbing expedition to the Hispar Glacier in 2019 attempting to climb Pumari Chhish with…
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How I Got My Job, As an Adventure Photographer
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Unveiling the Lens: My Journey into Photography
When I’m asked about my career as a photographer, I often jest that I’m a 20-year “overnight” success story. But the truth is, my path into this captivating world was anything but conventional.
The Beginnings: A Mix of Naivety and Grit
Let me…
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Photography Licensing Terms and Usage, Oh My!
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This image was used by Patagonia at the ISPO outdoor convention in Munich Germany.
A common question I hear, as a photographer, is: “Company X wants to use my image, how much should I charge them?”
Well, it depends.
Licensing and usage terms are muddy topics (especially in the outdoor…
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Story Behind The Image - Katie Bono
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4 hours and 58 minutes.
That is how long it took Katie Bono to run from the Paradise parking lot to the summit of Mt Rainier and back down. That is fast. Her speed record still stands (as far as I know). Katie set this time in the summer of…
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An Expanding Horizon - A Powder Magazine digital photo gallery feature
When Dave Reddick asked if I would be
interested in writing a small piece for a Powder Magazine digital photo
gallery feature, I was all in, but I wasn’t exactly sure what to write. So
I began at the beginning.
Read the article here
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Two Camera Related Takeaways From Alaska Shoot
Recently I returned from the Kahiltna glacier in the central Alaska
Range, where I was for five weeks. Alaska is probably my favorite big
mountain range in the whole world. Alaska is uniquely situated for
amazing experiences and adventure for alpine climbers. As a visual
creator I wanted to highlight…
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2024 ADVENTURE CALENDAR ON SALE!
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Shop Here
