Blake Jorgenson | Action Sports Photographer

A Gathering in the Kootenays

blakejorgenson — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:34:00 +0000

I just returned from yet another amazing trip to Retallack with the Orage crew followed by a few days in Rossland for Red Mountains fourth annual Gathering event. I have come to believe that the heart and soul of skiing exists in the kootenays. With such a vibrant grass roots ski culture and characters that seem to have jumped right out of a comic book sometimes, there is no place on earth that I have been to that makes you more proud to be a skier. Skiing at Retallack is an experience that goes beyond the epic powder skiing. Its a gateway to feeling truly free with enjoyment of falling through powder, laughter, and friendship.
I was very lucky to have made it to the gathering to meet Mark Shapiro, Ace Kvale, John Faulkner, and so many other legends of ski photography from many different generations. Their slideshow of the 70′s and 80′s was incredible along with their nostalgic commentary. It made me realize why those guys come back to Rossland and the Kootenays every year for this event. It just might be the last real ski town out there. Watching Dave Heath’s and a few of the local photogs and you could see the heart of kootenay ski culture shine through with poetic pride. Such an awesome event and experience that I am happy to have been a part of. Thanks to the Orage crew, Retallack, and Red Mountain resort for keeping it real once again.

Kona Graham Agassiz Profile

blakejorgenson — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:45:29 +0000

Last fall during the Canadian Thanks giving weekend in October, I teamed up with Kona Bikes, Sherpas Cinema, and riders Graham Agassiz and Dylan Sherrard for an epic big mountain heli adventure in Bralorne BC. Here is one of the first videos out from the trip profiling Graham.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort 03/12

blakejorgenson — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:49:18 +0000

If you have not made it out to Revelstoke BC to ski the newly expanded hill with all its awesome services you should pretty much drop what you doing and head straight there. With the new Sutton Hotel right at the gondola base, heli and cat skiing right out the door, and massive vertical and terrain, RMR has put itself on the map as one of the best mountain resorts in North America. Last week the resort hosted the Rossignol and Dynastar teams for a week long shoot in probably the deepest snow of the year. (It was deep.) Thanks to everybody on our huge crew and the resort for making this stormy trip work out really well.

SBC Skier Photo Issue cover

blakejorgenson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:58:20 +0000

Currently on the news stands is SBC Skiers first Photo Issue with Sean Pettit gracing the cover. This shot was taken last April along side skier Richard Permin, plus long time friends and Matchstick camera legends Guillaume Tessier and Nate Nash. Thanks boys, one of my favorite days of the entire year!

Oakley Aspen/ Last Frontier Heli

blakejorgenson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:32:18 +0000

Over the last three weeks I was fully immersed in Oakleys “Beyond Reason” advertising campaign for both ski and snowboard in Aspen during the x-games and at Last Frontier Heil in Bell 2 British Columbia. Once again returning to Colorado to shoot Tanner Hall, Eero Ettala, Marie France Roy, Kristi Leskinen, Simon Dumont, and Maddy Schaffick in a marathon lifestyle shoot for next years clothing and eye wear. Followed by an epic backcountry heli adventure with Seth Morrison, Jake Blauvelt, and Kazu Kokubo. One of my best heli trips of all time. I highly recommend making it up there one day if you can. Thanks to everybody at Oakley, Factory Lab Agency, Scout LLC, Last Frontier Heli, and everybody who helped out on these monster shoots.

Oakley Gretchen Bleiler Copper CO

blakejorgenson — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:18:51 +0000

Last week started my month long journey to shoot Oakleys snowsport campaign for ski and snowboard. The first stop was with with snowboard legend Gretchen Bleiler at Copper Mountain CO with a gigantic crew from Oakley and Factory Lab Agency out of Denver. Three assistants, Two grips, two special effects guys, five agency representatives, four from Oakley,H & M, one awesome producer, and many others worked on this shoot that ended up to be really awesome. Im not used to working with so many people but in the end everybody worked really hard and created a really great series of images. Thanks to Gretchen for putting in the long hours and being so awesome to work with. Next will be the second part of this campaign with Eero Ettala, Tanner Hall, Grete Eliassen, Marie France Roy, and Simon Dumont in Aspen during the X-Games. After that we head to northern BC with Seth Morrison, Jake Blauvelt, and Kazu Kokubo to Last Frontier heil out of Bell 2 for the backcountry part of this campaign. So stoked to be able to take on this huge project.

Remembering Sarah Burke – January 19th, 2012

holly — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:37:17 +0000

A message to Sarah:
Thank you for all the wonderful times we got to spend together over the years. Thank you for your kindness and your patience. Thank you for always being the bright light that made everybody else feel good. Thank you for giving me advice about not giving up and doing what you love in times when I thought the dream was coming to an end. I remember when you and Ingrid took me out to take photos when I had about five dollars to my name and I was down on my luck and showed me how much fun being out in the mountains was supposed to be. That it was about friends and moments and making the opportunity to share them. I remember shooting portraits with you all day because both of us were having so much fun even though you were so busy. You were somebody that lifted everybody’s spirits all the time and always showed genuine concern and interest into everybody you met and touched. In a world that can be so difficult to stay positive and persevere, you were always at the very top with a smile. Thank you Sarah, I will always remember the things you tough me and you will be in my heart forever.

A Message to Rory:
We have been on so many adventures together over the years. You have always been the guy that made me laugh and always showed me that everything is still supposed to be fun even when it does not feel like it. Your devotion to showing everybody a good time all the time, is a strength that I have seen in none other. I know we will all give you our strength to continue being that person in the future and keep making us laugh. I know you have it in you to be that person for us and we will all help you get there. I will never forget all the times you have made me laugh and all the times you have been there for me and everybody else. You know that we will all be there for you now and forever.

-Blake Jorgenson

In the last 4 years in my time with Blake I have been fortunate enough to meet some really wonderful, talented, and inspiring people. Sarah was at the top of that list. More than her achievements in skiing I was most impressed and appreciative of her down to earth and humble spirit, and her genuine interest in getting to know me through brief encounters. It is not everyday that you meet another woman, especially one with so many admirers and ‘just click’. When you do, you wish your busy lives would allow you more time to spend together. When you take an adventurous tom-boy and put them in such a stunning beauty and then complete the package with a fun-loving and kind character, you get the rare breed of Sarah. She was simply a really really cool girl. I am grateful for the one time she made me ski with her and was patient as I climbed down the little drop and scrambled down a tree to try to follow her, the conversations about getting her back when I would take her dirt-biking even though it never happened, getting to watch her win gold at the x-games last year and celebrating with her after, and to get to be at her and Rory’s beautiful wedding and witness a genuine love. All my love to Rory and Sarah’s families and friends, and thanks to Blake for introducing me to such a beautiful person. Sarah, you will live on in so many wonderful ways. I am missing you so much already.

Post by – Holly Fraser

Revelstoke, Baldface

blakejorgenson — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:40:34 +0000

I always love traveling around the Kootenays in January. It happens every year and I always look forward to it. My next stop brought me up Revelstoke Mountain Resort to shoot with Dan Treadway, Kye Petersen, Matty Richard, and Tatum Monod for Rossignol. One day of Sledding with Dan and Matty in Eagle Pass, and one day watching Kye win the big mountain comp. Thanks to everybody at the resort for helping us out.
The next stop on the tour brought me down to Baldface lodge just outside of Nelson to do a day with Travis Rice for Contour Helmet cameras. Blue skies, awesome snow, and a few hours of heli time made this really fun day. Thanks to Baldface Lodge, Contour, and of course Travis.

Deep Woods

blakejorgenson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:46:27 +0000

If you venture south of Revelstoke and into the West Kootenays you should pick up a turn of the century mining book at you local gas station. In it you will find that during the Gold, Silver, and Copper rush that created booming mountain towns like Nakusp, New Denver, Kaslo, and Silverton. The fever created mines way up in the alpine through steep old growth forest that created a road access network that is unbelievable for sled access skiing. Combined by Kootenay powder in January and you are getting into some serious fun and an adventure that I always look forward to every year. Thanks to Dan Treadway, Kye Petersen, Greg Strokes, and Tess Weaver for making the first trip of the year super fun.

Whistler Outdoor Photography Worshops – Spring 2012 Course

blakejorgenson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:45:05 +0000

Dates:
June 22nd – 26th, 2012
Whistler, BC, Canada

Full Course: 4 days of shooting and instruction, 4 evening lectures, and presentation dinner – $800 (includes light breakfasts and lunches daily)

Evening lectures: $40 per lecture, or $120 for all.

Instructors:

Blake Jorgenson
Jordan Manley
Scott Serfas
Paul Morison
Eric Berger

Following on the popularity and feedback from last Spring’s Whistler Outdoor Photography Workshop and the previous Fall seminars we are pleased to announce dates for a Spring workshop.

“Be there, don’t NOT be there.”

The excitement of outdoor photography is that you have to get up, venture out into the unknown, visualize, communicate, and capture something so extraordinary that you might never see ever again again.

Photography is about sharing moments. Documenting an amazing visual experience and sharing it with others is the main focus. Whether sharing it though magazine, print or online media, or just sharing with your friends, capturing and sharing great moments from adventures through photography is the greatest extension to the experience of being in the outdoors.

The Whistler Outdoor Photography Workshops focus on the process from beginning to end of documenting and exploring the outdoors and capturing amazing outdoor visuals. Each day contains a new outdoor set-up centered around the awesome outdoor environment of Whistler and the sports we love. Working with professional athletes in stunning settings allows you to concentrate on learning how to capture the epic moment. That way next time when you are out on you own epic adventure, you will be able to capture and share to the best of your ability.

The day course works on being out in the field learning how to manage, direct, and communicate with your subjects to make what you are looking for come to life in all types of conditions. Concentrating on visualizing what you are looking for and how to capture it regardless of technical ability. The day ends with an in classroom edit, review, hands on software instruction and image processing.

New for this year is a series of evening lectures with one of our world class photographers showcasing their work complete with the behind the scenes story and technical notes on how they got their best shots of their career. This year we are making the evening lectures open to both the day course participants but also anybody who can make it. Evening costs are $40 per evening or $120 for all four.

This workshop is for any photo enthusiast who is particularity interested in shooting outdoor and action photography. Each day will be comprised of a combination of on location outdoor shoots that could include shooting pro mountain biking, pro skiing, landscape or lifestyle as well as classroom sessions. Whistler is the perfect location to experience the unpredictability of the elements, action from some of the world’s best mountain sport athletes, and stunning beauty of the Coastal mountains. An optional evening lecture series will also be a component of the experience with lots of opportunity to enjoy Whistler dining and nightlife experiences should you desire. Participants will meet at the Westin hotel Friday evening for registration and an introduction lecture. Smaller groups will be determined to allow for more one on one time with each photographer who will be illustrating their own techniques and approaches. Light breakfasts and lunches are included each day. Dinner is included on the last evening. Accommodations and lift tickets are available at discounted rates from Whistler Blackcomb and The Westin Hotel, or we can suggest a range of other accommodations. Lift tickets are only required on on-mountain shoot days. Discounted rental equipment is available through Whistler Blackcomb should you require it.

At this time we are accepting reservations that can be confirmed with a $400 deposit. After enrollment you will receive a complete Welcome Package that includes an itinerary and curriculum and all details about evening options.

All participants should love to be active and enjoy the outdoors, and be comfortable to ski or snowboard to the ski shoot and hike 10-20 minutes to and from locations. The ski shoot will be accessible via intermediate terrain and does not require advanced ability . A basic understanding of photography and the use of your own digital-SLR camera are required. You are asked to bring your own photo equipment and computer to process images. Applicable software such as Adobe Light Room or Adobe Photoshop should be installed on your computer or a free trial can be downloaded for use in the workshops. More information will be provided in the Welcome Packages.

For more information or to enroll please contact:

Holly Fraser
P: 604-902-2805
E: holly@blakejorgenson.com
www.blakejorgenson.com