Corey Rich Productions

Russian Photo Magazine - Profile

As a follow up to last year's Photographer's Day in Moscow, Russian Photo Magazine has published a profile of my work and career. The layout looks great, though I could use some help in translating the article to English. My Russian is a bit rusty.

This also represents a cool little milestone in the Corey Rich Productions office. Nearly six years ago when Blaine Deutsch joined the crew, he started the tradition of hanging each new magazine cover on the office wall in chronological order. This newest addition to the wall, featuring our good friend Mikey Weir enjoying the cold Sierra powder, on the cover of Russian Photo, represents my 75th magazine cover. Once we hit 100, beers are on me. Party at the CRP office!

Trail Runner - Dean Karnazes Cover

This past fall, I had the good fortune of shooting with my friend, Dean Karnazes. Dean is a hero in the endurance sports world and one of the top role models and advocates for fitness in America. This was also a great opportunity to reconnect with writer and fitness model Sarah Lavender Smith, and spend some time with an extremely overqualified assistant, Chris McNamara. This all made for a very fun day in the Marin Headlands, certainly one of the most beautiful places in California. Check out the current issue of Trail Runner for the full story and more photos.

Tahoe Quarterly - All Stars

Despite the fact I'm seldom there (except during the winter), I proudly call Lake Tahoe home. I can't imagine a more wonderful place to return after many weeks, sometimes months, of endless travel. For this reason, I'm honored that Tahoe Quarterly has named me amongst the local "All-Stars". Be sure to check out the 2011 Ski & Ride issue for a quick bio and a few quirky facts. (No exaggeration, I eat at least one burrito a day.)

Making this even more special is the fact that I'm featured on this page along with Heavenly's very own John Wagnon. He's a true champion of skiing in the Tahoe basin, advocate of adventure across the state of California and one of the finest athletes I know. Everyone in town owes this man a drink! John is not only a great client, but someone I count among my friends. Thanks for everything John!

 

PDNedu - Photographer Q&A

As a way of educating the next wave of up and coming photographers, PDNedu reached out to pick the brain of some of today's pros. Ten of us were all asked the same question: "What is the most important action you've taken in support of your photography business?". See the spread above for my response, as well as thoughts from Leesha Quigg, Matt & Agnes Hage, Mark Humphrey, Steve Simon, Manjari Sharma, Doug Menuez, Ami Vitale, and fellow Aurora Photos contributors Stefan Chow and Michael Clark. Everyone here provides some very valuable insight! 

"The most important business decision I've ever made was to not become too focused on the business of making money! I know this sounds counterintuitive, but from the beginning, I adopted a simple philosophy. Remain focused on three core values: 1) Have fun every day, 2) work with great people and 3) be creative! I figured that if I did all of that, the money would follow. As it turns out, I was right!"

 

Rock & Ice Spotlight - Hayden Kennedy

Pick up the new issue of Rock & Ice for a nice little profile on Hayden Kennedy and his recent project, illustrated by one of my images of Hayden in China. I've had the good fortune over the past year to work on several projects with Hayden, a true climbing prodigy and offspring of royalty of the sport. Along with these projects has come the opportunity to learn more about and become better acquainted with his parents. Michael Kennedy is a very accomplished alpinist and one of the most influential figures in the history of climbing publications. Julie Kennedy is the founder of the 5 Point Film Festival and knows EVERYONE in the climbing world. It's always a pleasure to work with an inspiring person, but it's a rare treat to be inspired by an entire family.

Click below for a few more images of Hayden in China.

Ascent - Tommy Caldwell

In 1967, the world saw the very first magazine dedicated solely to climbing, Ascent. Though published only sporadically, Ascent was dedicated to providing high quality photos and literary prose to a passionate group of climbers that were helping to define the sport. The magazine had eventually faded away, but was never forgotten. Thanks to the publishers of Rock & Ice, Ascent is back and I'm excited to be a part of the inaugural issue.

The feature story, No Free Ride tells of Tommy Caldwell's work over the last few years to free climb the world's hardest big wall route. The article was written, as no one else could, by Tommy himself. While I have spent merely a fraction of the time Tommy has on El Cap, I've been very fortunate to be there with him during some pivotal moments in this project. A nice collection of my photos taken over the last few years, as well as a few additions by Tommy's wife Becca, illustrate the story. See it all, from Tommy's first examination of Mescalito, to his most recent attempt at a full link up with Kevin Jorgeson. Stop by your local gear shop or subscribe to Rock & Ice to get your copy of Ascent.

 

Climbing - Alex Honnold

Each year around this time, Climbing magazine awards the Golden Piton, recognition of the past year’s "hardest, highest, fastest and best" accomplishments in the climbing world. Considering the fact that Alex Honnold's recent tick list has embodied all of these adjectives, and then some, it only seems fitting that he’s featured on the opening spread.

I shot these images of Alex last year, in the midst of his record setting week in Yosemite. No matter how long I’ve been at this, I am continually amazed by ways athletes continue to redefine the capabilities of the human body. Congrats to Alex and all of this year's winners.

Men's Journal - Tahoe Rim Trail

If you're looking for a BAD ASS multi-day mountain bike trip, there is no better choice than California's Tahoe Rim Trail. This gem of the Tahoe Basin promises amazing views, lots of sweat and a burn in your legs that will help you to remember this trip for a long time. The July issue of Men's Journal has a write up by great friend Dan Duane (also responsible for the Budget Travel article two posts down) on navigating the Tahoe Rim Trail. Complete with a few of my images of Tahoe local, Jay Sell, taken during a spin on the Flume Trail (a slight detour from an area of the Rim Trail on which bicycles are restricted), the article shares all the necessary details for a five day trip around the lake (and where to grab a beer along the way).

A trip like this starts with a a good tune up or rental, and the piece does well to point people to Tahoe legend and all around great guy, Gary Bell, owner of Sierra Ski & Cycle Works. You'd be hard pressed to find someone with more knowledge or passion for bikes than Gary. If you happen to be in the area on Friday, be sure to stop by the shop and congratulate Gary on 30 years of business!

Budget Travel - Sierra Backcountry

In the spirit of Summer vacation, Budget Travel just published a project I shot last Summer. I had the great fortune to travel into the Sierra backcountry near Mammoth Lakes, CA with my dear friend Dan Duane, joined by three generations of his family, as well as my favorite stylist, assistant and tent mate, my wife Marina. It was so rewarding to see Dan and his wife, along with their daughters and Dan's parents, hike the stock trails, lounge alongside alpine lakes and take in the views of nearby peaks. Watching the girls marvel at their surroundings, far away from a computer or TV was a great reminder that there is no substitute for the great outdoors.

It is always a pleasure to spend time with Dan's father, Dick Duane. This is a man for whom I have a great deal of respect, and as do all climbers, owe a huge debt of gratitude. In 2003, Dick led the legal team responsible for establishing Camp 4 in Yosemite National Park as an historic site. I feel truly honored to call this entire family, not only amongst my colleagues, but also my friends.

Climbing - Photo Annual

Climbing magazine has been a part of my career from the very beginning. My first ever photo published in Climbing was the cover of issue no. 173 in 1998, featuring Rikke Ishoy at the Happy Boulders. As it turns out, this was, and still is, the best selling single issue ever of Climbing magazine. I like to think that the draw was the composition, the moment and my subtle use of light in the photo. As it turns out, over the years I have learned that it has much less to do with my skill, but rather more with the bikini Rikke was wearing in the photo.

I'm honored to have been given a few opportunities to talk about my life and work in the Climbing 2011 Photo Annual. Read about my career in Perspective (20+ years of self-imposed unemployment), my gear in Point and Shoots (I carry a point & shoot everywhere I go), and a very close call in Bloopers (Tommy Caldwell saved my life!) Pick up an issue for all of this, as well as some tips, tricks and tales from a great lineup of my peers — a celebration of the tradition of photography in rock climbing.

Many thanks to Amanda Fox, James Q Martin and especially Andrew Burr for making the trip out to Tahoe to shoot the back page Perspective photo. In a funny contrast to the years that led up to this, that photo was taken in a back hallway at Northstar-at-Tahoe. I was on my way to a lifestyle shoot at the Ritz Carlton. It sounds fancy, but at the core, I'm still a dirtbag climber.