Behind The Cover – FREESKIER Volume 27 Issue 1

Featured Picture: Christoph Johann | Skier: Ben Richards | Intro: Jordy Grant-Krenz

In ‘Behind The Cowl,’ we take you into the minds of the photographer and athlete featured on the quilt of our newest difficulty. In FREESKIER Quantity 27 Situation 1, or the Purchaser’s Information, we showcased the work of Christoph Johann (photographer) and Ben Richards (skier.)

These are two of our favourite artists within the sport proper now. Johann’s physique of labor displays a surreal, usually enigmatic view of the mountains. His masterful placement of skiers leaves you questioning the place they got here from and the place they’re going. By enjoying with lighting in his pictures, he makes use of darkness to emphasise the topic, not detract from it.

Richards enhances Johann, together with his energetic and artistic snowboarding proving to be an asset in entrance of the lens. He has demonstrated over the previous couple of years that he can ski with unbelievable technicality whereas sustaining a artistic edge. Richards has showcased his skills all over the place, from the Freeride World Tour to movies with the LINE Skis crew and now, on the quilt of FREESKIER Journal.

We see behind-the-scenes segments from movies on a regular basis, however not often will we get to listen to in regards to the painstaking effort that goes into bringing a photograph to life. That’s why we contacted Richards and Johann to listen to their views on how this unbelievable shot got here to be. Try each of their full solutions under.

Photographer Christoph Johann

On how the shot got here to be:

We had deliberate this shoot a number of months earlier than. Our foremost purpose was to seize the glacier at Engelberg and play with these ice options. The situations have been a bit sketchy so we needed to keep away from steep terrain. The snow was nonetheless actually good. On our option to the gondola, we discovered a small pure hit with excellent mild from the background. Ben went for a classy hand drag 360 and executed it completely. 

Truthfully, we didn’t brainstorm such a shot. We had some concepts in our thoughts and a particular model we wished to archive. As soon as we have been within the area we have been trying to find options and good mild. It was a spontaneous concept and we went for it. It was positively price it!

On print media in at this time’s digital world:

I like print media, particularly as a result of increasingly magazines are stopping their print productions and that makes it much more particular should you rating a cowl or a terrific narrative in {a magazine}. In the present day with social media the world has turn out to be a busy place. Images get posted and are forgotten after a number of days. Not with print.

It’s nice to carry {a magazine} in your hand, particularly when it feels virtually timeless. 

Skier Ben Richards

On how the shot got here to be:

We had deliberate this shoot for a very long time, however the concept for a hold drag was principally simply stumbled upon on our approach again to the raise. Avalanche hazard was limiting what terrain we have been about to get into that day, however with good mild and Christoph behind the lens we have been nonetheless in a position to get some cool stuff. 

We have been planning to spend a few days in Engelberg. However on our first day of the shoot, I bought a message saying I wanted to be in Verbier the following morning as the ultimate cease of the [Freeride World Tour] was going to happen sooner than anticipated. Fortunately, we managed to get rather a lot achieved in at some point. 

On print media in at this time’s digital world:

Print to me is so particular. A ton of labor goes into getting the precise picture, so having someplace they will stay, and you’ll maintain them in your fingers makes placing in that effort really feel so price it. It’s much better than having them find yourself on Instagram for everybody to swipe previous and by no means take into consideration once more. Honored to be featured on this yr’s FREESKIER Purchaser’s Information!

Hold an eye fixed out for FREESKIER Quantity 27 Situation 2 dropping quickly!