Bivouac Blog

Nothern Exposure

2011-09-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

I grabbed my americano from the Frontside Grind this morning, something I treat myself to once or twice a week depending on the work load and the fog thickness in the brain. I strolled across the street to IME to shop talk and update Rick & Celia Wilcox about the intense experience of being at Cap Trinite under a boulder during Irene on the night of our first wedding anniversary with three of my closest friends and of course, my hot hubby. With being there a week prior, and no cell service, we had no idea Miss Irene was coming our way. While filling them in on the "Saranne Wrap Bivy", I noticed the latest Climbing Magazine was on the counter.

For the past year Pat Bagley and myself zoomed up down and all around New England to scope out some fresh New England's 5.10 gems. That being said, this piece took awhile to put together and it was really fun to see it in print this morning. While I was photographing and checking out cliffs in Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine I realized how fun it was to zoom around to all these random cliffs I had never taken the time to explore. As though I had almost forgotten that adventures can exist right in your backyard. I'm not talking big wall/Himalayan (or even Cap Trinite?) adventures, I'm simply talking about going out to a new place and new rock that is out of the normal box for you. We all get so settled into routine and convenience wherever we call "home", and it's totally understandable. However, I hope this article inspires some to get out of their normal routine bubble and it brings some fresh air to your climbing world.

Here is a sneak peek of some of the imagery from the 8 page photo spread in the October issue of Climbing Magazine. You'll have to pick one up to check the rest out!

A lil' special thanks to all those who climbed, belayed or helped in some way. It doesn't happen without y'all: Pat Bagley, Janet Bergman, Kayte Knower, Jay Knower, Kevin Mahoney, Sam Bendroth, Emilie Drinkwater, Pete Fasoldt, Eli Simon, Jon LaValley, Bayard Russell, Pat McElaney, Katelyn Dolan, Jessa Hobson, and Ray Rice.
Also a big thank you to Sterling Rope for their support and providing hot ropes throughout this project.

Urban Y'all!

2011-08-03T06:13:00.000-05:00

Ok, ok.....take that title with a grain of salt....and the "y'all" gives it away anyways don't ya think? But Urban Climber called me up to do a little interview. I was a little apprehensive at first as I haven't done too many interviews, but figured what the heck, why not. So I bought myself a pair of skinny jeans and ray bans to prep for the interview, and low and behold it just came out in the most current issue of Urban Climber. Thanks guys, t'was fun! I tried to give props to other creatives who currently inspire me, and also to our own local coffee joint- Frontside Grind. Go find a copy and check it out!

Going The Distance

2011-08-01T08:42:00.001-05:00

Just got the PDF from New Hampshire Magazine of the article Brian Irwin and I put together on Maury McKinney and his incredible swim across Lake Winnipesaukee in September of 2009. Maury swam about 42 miles in twenty six hours. Why? For his passion for swimming, teaching others, and the dream to bring an aquatic center to the Mount Washington Valley! (http://www.whitemountainaquatic.com/) This article is in New Hampshire Magazine's latest issue which also happens to be their "Best of NH 2011"- you can check out what is the best of the best throughout New Hampshire! (http://www.nhmagazine.com/) Super psyched that others can read and see Maury's passion and drive for his community and swimming, as he's a huge inspiration to so many. Big props to Brian Irwin for making this piece happen too! Pick up a copy and check it out!

2011 New River Rendez Vous

2011-05-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

Sea of tents and New River Alliance For Climbers t-shirts.

Wow- what an event. The New River Rendez Vous down in Fayetteville, West Virginia was such a BLAST. In it's 9th year it is the ultimate climbers festival- where there is always something fun going on- just to mention a few there are demos, reps, tons of climbers, clinics, dyno comp, dessertapolooza, arm wrestling, sumo crash pad wrestling, slack lining, live band, free beer, live DJ, running races, and so much MORE! The event has an attendance of 750+ climbers from all over the United States. I headed that way as I had a few shoots lined up, and also the event is great for seeing old friends, making new ones, and of course- networking a bit. But the ultimate purpose of the Rendez Vous is not just to throw on huge fun event for all- it's to raise money for the New River Alliance For Climbers. What are they? Well, in their own words they are:

A non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect climbing resources at the New River Gorge and surrounding areas. All funds from The New River Rendez Vous go right back into supporting our goals of anchor replacement, trail projects, and advocating with land owners and managers to secure access to the climbing in the New River Gorge area.

This being said, the whole event is put together by local climbers who volunteer an INCREDIBLE amount of time to make this event what it is. And they do it all in the passion for climbing and their community. Wow- it just still blows me away, and is incredibly inspiring.
Thanks for such a awesome weekend! Below are a few images from it. If you're a climber- and haven't been, well be sure to make the trip next year. It's totally worth it, and then some. I can't wait- hope to see you there.

A lil' frisbee, a little slack lining!

Elaina Smith- one of the main event planners. You go girl! Festival goers checking out the auction goods.

Outdoor Research booth was HOT!

Local hardman- Pat Goodman. And who can resist a lil' bean sack toss? Highly addictive.

Tim Keenan- 'nough said, and festival peeps checking out one of the sponsor booths.

Dessertapalooza! YUM!

More yumminess!

Alli & Regan, and Ian Achey chatting it up La Sportiva style.

Amy Pickering doing what she does best and Kenny telling the sea of climbers what's up.

The Access Fund 20th Birthday Cake and MC/DJ Odub.

Russ Clune in the Black Diamond booth, and Kartsen chatting up a storm.

Evolv Sports & Sterling Rope crew, and a portrait of JB I couldn't resist. Sorry JB!

Kris Hampton & Amy Pickering. Paul Robison chatting it up with JB from Sterling Rope.

The Patagonia booth arm wresting competition! JT & Britney get into it!

Kurt Smith right before the bouldering comp.

Dyno's & stunts were nonstop throughout the comp.

PSYCHED crowd!

Slideshow time! Amazing presentation about mountain top removal that is inching it's way towards the New River Gorge. And then a hilarious show by Matt Segal.

Night time at the booths.

Rhiannon & Ethan.....& Gus too.

2011-03-27T15:26:00.000-05:00

Rhiannon, Gus, & Ethan.

It was awesome to zoom over to Burlington a few weeks ago and do a really fun engagement shoot with Rhiannon & Ethan. Our first stop was their favorite restaurant called The Daily Planet. Next was the local market to buy carrots for their dog Gus. Some animals just do not like camera's- but the good news is you can almost always win them over with treats, and carrots are Gus's favorite. Then we headed downtown and wrapped things up by the water. Thank you and congratulations Rhiannon & Ethan! It was so much fun, and you two were troopers on that last cold weekend of February.

Inside the Daily Planet.

Outside of the Daily Planet

Downtown Burlington.

Coffee shop stop.

Playing around in the snow.

Keeping warm in the cold temps.

Making Gus pose down with carrots as his incentive.

Walking along the Lake Champlain.

Checking it out with a kiss & a hug.

Miss Tulip

2011-03-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

A month or so ago I met Miss Tulip very briefly. She is the puppy of Carrie Scribner owner and talented florist of Dutch Bloemen Winkel in Jackson, NH. I was completely smitten as I had never met a French Bulldog- and a puppy one nonetheless. Thus, I asked Carrie if we could get together to do some photos of the lil' pup, and also now the new mascot for Dutch Bloemen Winkel. She immediately said yes, and last week we got together to take some pictures. With treats in hand we had a great session with Miss Tulip. Below are some of my favorites- though it was so hard to choose!

Time To Dip My Toes.....

2011-01-23T14:13:00.002-05:00

Not into any water this time of year- it's all frozen. But into the film world. Our camera's these days are shooting HD film as well. I've been trying to get out an film some ice climbing this winter. I have to say, having a 2nd shooter almost seems essential, or would make life a lot easier- but all in all it's been a lot of fun. Got out with Kevin Mahoney & Bayard Russell awhile back and had a fun day at the Hanging Gardens at Frankenstein. Next up? Final Cut Pro- here we go! Below are a few screen grabs from what I shot that day.

Winter Shinanigans

2011-01-06T15:37:00.007-05:00

Matt McCormick racking up and getting organized.

I've gotta say the past few years I've been working more than climbing- which I wouldn't change a thing about. The last time I was on Cannon Cliff was a couple years ago when a bunch of us used to throw an annual climbing party for all who dared to make the trek, and we called it The Swamp Donkey Disco. But the actual last time I climbed on Cannon was three or four years ago in the summer time with my friend Janet. We were climbing the first few pitches of Benedictus where I kindly gave her the 5.8R pitch, and then we both took laps on the following 5.11 pitch. But the last time I was up there in winter? Well, that would be my first date with my husband to be almost eight years ago on the Black Dike. Yeah, it'd been awhile.

So, Cannon is an exfoliating cliff- and well, I don't go anywhere near it in the spring/early summer. The winter has always sounded great to me as I naively assume everything is frozen into place. Just before the holidays I headed up with my good friends Freddie Wilkinson, Rufus Lusk, Matt, and my hubby Bayard Russell. We were all psyched for different reasons. For me and Rufus we were stoked to get some cool video and footage of Cannon, climbing, and just gettin' after it with your buddies. For Freddie, Matt, and Bayard they were psyched to swing their tools, heckle, and see what Cannon had in store for them.

There was no exfoliation on Cannon that day, we got some killer footage, and somehow kept pretty warm despite it being pretty frigid up there. I mainly shot video that day- but I snapped a few stills below.

Matt McCormick scratching up Omega.

Rufus Lusk filming on Cannon Cliff.

The view from across Cannon- Mount Lafayette

Bayard snapped this one of me and Rufus- note that film crew dress code was red.

Laura's Belly

2011-01-03T16:31:00.005-05:00

I recently did a maternity shoot for Laura and Jeremy.
It was a really lovely and intimate session. We kept it simple and played with ideas and what seemed to inspire us. I'll let the images do the talkin' but I want to say "thank you" to Jeremy and Laura! What a very cool session it was. Recently Laura got in touch that she was on bed rest to keep things safe, and luckily things are looking better now. But, I'm so thankful we got these while we could! Below are just a few for you to check out.

Morning Ambitions & Sky Ambitions

2010-12-14T11:41:00.005-05:00

6am?!" Kristen asked, are you sure?
"Yep, just gotta get there early, and be ready to shoot!" I replied.

About a month ago Dave and Kristin Karl of Sky Ambitions asked me if I could help them out with some photos for the Sky Ambitions library and to add to Sky Ambitions website which they will be launching soon. We set the date, and I awoke at 4:40 to leave an ample amount of time to make coffee, feed the kitties, and tie back my hair somewhat decently. When I arrived the Sky Ambitions crew was just rolling out of bed, in their pj's, and heading straight for the coffee maker.

I set up 2 speedlite flashes with pocket wizards and had the Mark 2 hooked up with my "ol faithful" 24-70mm lens. 30 minutes later they we're primped and pimped out in their warm clothing for the shoot. There was a slight haze this morning which strongly filtered the light, but gave a warm pink glow to the valley. We nailed one with Mount Washington straight in the background and another with Whitehorse, Cathedral Ledge, and Mount Washington all hanging out in the pink morning light. Mmmmm, purty.

To wrap it up we got some great individual shots for Sky Ambitions to have in their library when they need it. For these I didn't care about the background, and the landscape. In fact I wanted the background to be abstract so it was all about the people, specifically these RAD people apart of this great copmany. For these my goals were these 3 words: simple, warm, and personable. And what does that? Any 50mm lens that shoots at 1.4/1.8 in my book. When I got back to my office around 8am, the sky was completely clouded over.

Now meet the crew below.

The man himself, Dave Karl.

The lovely, Kristin Karl.

A good-lookin' Tim Keenan.

The Ropegun, Matt McCormick.

Kevin Stephani and all his lovely pearly whites.

Went on a "mini-moon"......

2010-11-02T09:42:00.010-05:00

and it went something like this.......

soon after we went on the "MEGA-MOON" in Europe.....To Be Continued.......

KISMET Caliente!

2010-10-26T15:37:00.006-05:00

Los Sugar Kings- a premier salsa band from Boston filled the night with amazing music!

This past Saturday evening I had the pleasure of photographing at the KISMET Caliente! A night full of salsa dancing to benefit the KISMET Rock Foundation! In a nutshell KISMET:

"Enhances the physical, intellectual and emotional development of well-functioning but economically disadvantaged children by providing access to the immense value of a comprehensive and multi-dimensional education in technical rock climbing."

AND it's a four year program, so every summer the kids come back to learn more, push themselves, and have a life changing summer! It's pretty amazing how much this program adds to their lives, and how much they love it. So, this past Saturday evening there was a wonderful celebration to benefit KISMET which included an amazing auction, an incredible salsa band and dancing, and some of the KISMET kids joined the festivities and took a few moments to share how much they appreciated KISMET. It always gets very real at those moments, and also very inspiring- you remember, it's all for the kids. Below are a few pictures, in case you weren't able to come celebrate with us. We hope to see you next year if you didn't make it, and be sure to get in touch with KISMET if you want to get involved in any way!

http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/

Best,
Anne

The Caliente room right before the guests arrived and thefestivities began!

Some of the lovely KISMET ladies!

Speech time!

Just some of the KISMET kids!

Salsa time!

The crowd was even given salsa lessons!

Some of the Caliente salsa ladies! Madeline, Jenn, & Moi!

Polartec was the main sponsor for the evening- THANK YOU POLARTEC!

F-Bombs On Highway 61

2010-10-22T11:47:00.008-05:00

F-Bomb Wilkinson gettin' after it on Highway 61, 5.13a, Cathedral Ledge, NH.

Good friend and fellow climber Freddie (F-Bomb) Wilkinson has getting after it on all fronts this past year. He's written an incredible book which I'm in the middle of reading right now- One Mountain Thousand Summits. If you haven't checked it out already, well then get on it! Climber, or not you'll be hooked. In addition this kid DOES NOT STOP! He trains, he writes, he climbs, he's psyched on photos & video, he popped the question to his lover lady, does an expedition to Alaska, zooms over to Yosemite, then all over for his book tour, and now is in Nepal with Kevin Mahoney and Ben Gilmore with Nuptse on their list. He's the energizer bunny minus the pink fur, ears, and drum....but I think he's got the same sunglasses as that guy and could be pretty psyched to play the drums. Anyhoo, I clicked away while Freddie was working Highway 61 on Cathedral this summer and as you can guess he crossed that one off his list pretty quickly.

Up, Up, And Away

2010-10-13T14:50:00.005-05:00

Brian Post hard at work.

Well, I've been a little mia and also a little bit on cloud nine for the past couple of months! I got married to the love of my life and then we also took a honeymoon all over Switzerland and northern Italy in September. Now, I'm catching up! Just this morning fellow friend, colleague, and UBER talented photographer Brian Post called me up to see if I wanted to join him on a plane ride around the Mountain Washington Valley here in New Hampshire. There was a spot for one more person in the back seat. I pulled a u-turn and headed to the Fryeburg Airport. It was absolutely amazing, and I want to give a HUGE thank you to Brian as I would never have been flying in the air in peak NH foliage without a call from him! Check out his site and work because not only is this guy one of the most talented people I know, but he is also super generous, fun, and is now accepting donations for the purchase of a personal plane.

Cathedral Ledge, North Conway, New Hampshire on October 13th, 2010.

Back on the ground! Brian, Jim (our awesome pilot), and moi! And the plane in the background.

A Day With KISMET

2010-07-30T11:11:00.011-05:00

This past week I donated a day of shooting to the KISMET Rock Foundation. They had a cool idea of asking several photographers to shoot one day per week throughout their programs this summer. This leaves KISMET with an amazing resource to use for whatever they need and it also hooks up the kids up with some awesome images from their week with KISMET. I had a blast with the kids, volunteers, and the guides at the Thin Air Face the other day on Cathedral Ledge. It was so neat to help out an organization that has such a positive impact on these kids for the rest of their lives. And man, I wish I started climbing that young! Lucky ducks! Curious about KISMET or how to get involved? Check out their site and send em' a line!
KISMET Website: http://www.kismetrockfoundation.org/

TLG: The Local Grocer

2010-07-14T10:36:00.007-05:00

The Local Grocer recently opened their doors this spring and it is a full service organic market. This place is truly amazing and a gem for the North Conway community! It has organic and local groceries, herbal supplements, amazing homemade desserts, incredible sandwiches and so much MORE! You have to check it out next time you are in the area. Not to mention their breakfast burritos are fantastic too! Here are a few images from our shoot and they are currently working hard to get their new website up and running. Stay tuned!

The signs outside of The Local Grocer you want to look for!

The Local Grocer is in a big red barn like structure. Such a cool spot!

The shelves are stocked up with so many goods!

Sherman Farms milk, local eggs, kombucha, yogurts, frozen goods, ice cream, and much more!

Come on in, order a sandwich or breakfast burrito! Coffee is from local coffee shop- The Front Side Grind!

Can we say veggies? Now can we say organic AND local veggies? Yes!

Lots of fruits too! An apple a day.....

They sell amazing wine and an incredible selection of beer you can't find anywhere else! Saweet!

Quesadilla Special.

Red Curry Chicken Salad! So gooooood!

The Turkey Reuben is a local favorite.

Raw Chocolate Dessert Cake. Yes, go get some!

Master Chef of TLG, Greg Mossman.

A bunch of the crew at the Local Grocer- good folks!

Fresh Off The Press!

2010-06-30T12:19:00.008-05:00

The new guidebook- held by Janet Bergman with creative director Tagger Wilkinson in the background. A beautiful Keith Ladzinski photo on the cover.

The folks at Wolverine Publishing just sent me a copy of the newest Red River Gorge guide book that is about to come out! I was psyched to see 4 images of mine in there and also one in the table of contents. Thanks to all who let me dangle above them on these inspiring lines. This guide book is beautiful, well made, and the format is one of the best out there in climbing guidebook land. AND the Red River Gorge is one of the hottest destinations out there- so mark it on your calendar when you're going to go and pre-order your copy! It starts shipping out in July!

Sarah Garlick on Rebar, 5.11.

Kris "Odub" Hampton on The Undlerling, the 5.9 birth canal route.

Yasmeen Fowler on Autumn, 5.9.

Ray Rice on One Too Many Puppies, a classic! 5.12a.

Juanita's Tobillo

2010-06-16T11:13:00.008-05:00

Here's a little glimpse into Janet's visit to the hospital while we were in Cuba. She took a bad fall from an overhanging rock face onto a slab below when a HUGE hold broke on her. :::say "ow" now::: Thus, she messed up her ankle pretty good. Brave as a lion and strong as an oak is what comes to mind when thinking about Janet on that day. It was quite interesting to get a view of the medical situation down there, and we were definitely glad it wasn't any worse.

Frontside Grind Session

2010-06-10T09:13:00.005-05:00

Firing up the roaster for the fresh beans.

Had a great shoot with one of the best coffee shops, well in my humble opinion- in the country. The Frontside Grind knows that making coffee is an art and a craft. They roast all their own beans and thoroughly train their employees to a tee on how to make all espresso drinks with perfection. They're getting stoked to launch their new website which will be clean, sharp, and heavy on some rad imagery. First I spent some time with owners Austin & Laura while they were in action roasting beans. After all was said and done there, we headed down to the coffee shop for some other shots in the shop. Here are a few from our session, and I'm psyched to see the final product!

Austin in action.

The beans out of the roaster and cooling off before they're emptied out.

Austin on the half pipe in their backyard. Hence this passion being the inspiration for their coffee shops name.

Austin checking out the beans while they are roasting. Smell, sounds, time, and color all play a factor on how you roast different beans.

Latte & Homemade Donut. Yum.

The stages of the beans while they roast- catch my drift?

Remembering Cuba

2010-06-03T12:02:00.012-05:00

Cubana boys watching a game from the roof tops.

So much to update! Where do I begin? I'll start with recently having a full feature article in Rock & Ice Magazine (Issue 186) on our trip to Cuba in spring 2009. The article "For Cuba" was written by the amazing Janet Bergman and will give you a recap on climbing in Cuba, the scene down there, and our adventures- be sure to check it out! It was an incredible trip, except when friend and climber Janet took a huge whip when a hold broke and busted her ankle. Experiencing the medical and hospital situation was one neither of us will forget. But other than that- the country is full of life, color, culture, and so much climbing! But where do I start to share these these images? I'll start with a few a my favorites that are non climbing related.

Also, I want to thank our sponsors that not only helped us, but also helped the Cuban climbing community as we were able to to leave behind an incredible amount of ropes, harnesses, and other climbing equipment for the climbers down there. The really have no access to any of the above. Be sure to keep these companies in mind when making your next purchase because in our books- they rock. In specific: Mountain Hardwear, Sterling Rope, Julbo, La Sportiva, & Misty Mountain Threadworks.

You know it- these beautiful old cars are throughout Cuba.

Angel- local farmer and friend to all. This man had the kindest blue eyes we had ever seen. With them he shared cigars he had made from his own fields, and joined us a few times while cragging next to his tobacco fields.

Tobacco leaves being dried.

A Cubana feast! All gather around to indulge in eat jutia and drinking rum.

Janet Bergman getting aquainted with rum on the way to Viñales.

Cubana girls getting ready for a local game where the stadium was filled with songs, music, clapping, and cheers.

Local boys loving a day out of school and on the field for games.

The surrounding Viñales in the village of Viñales.

Local farmer selling pineapples on the way to the limestone climbing.

On the streets of Havana.

Early morning light in the streets of Havana.

Femme Force

2010-04-29T10:00:00.007-05:00

Hilary Sherman sticking the dyno on Orange Juice in the Red River Gorge.

Damn! Check out these moves by Hilary! I know I posted an image of Freddie on this climb not too long ago- but when I saw this sequence I couldn't pass it up. Something that I love to capture is when a climber goes for it, and as a lady myself it is really awesome when it's another woman. It's super inspiring to see a fellow climber huck a big move, run it out on gear, shove themselves in a wide crack, or witness them taking the whip! New Hampshire local Hilary Sherman has been training pretty hard this year and it showed throughout her first try on O.J. at the Red River Gorge. Do you have moves like this? If not, call this girl up and she might share her beta on how you can stick moves like this.

Breakfast of Champions

2010-04-13T17:07:00.005-05:00

I was recently on a trip with a bunch of climbers. Here is one of our breakfasts in a nutshell....or eggshell I guess. I liked this shot.

Suns Out, Guns Out

2010-04-05T08:19:00.005-05:00

Freddie Wilkinson on Orange Juice, 5.12c at the Red River Gorge.

Had a blast in the Red River Gorge. Now onto the next gorge in a neighboring state. We're trying to take advantage of the amazing high pressure days as much as we can. And you know the saying- Suns Out, Guns Out!

Miguels Manfolk

2010-04-01T07:35:00.012-05:00

Matt Hughes

Everyone has their weaknesses and their strengths, whether they admit it or not. I'll start with my one of my weaknesses- to continue to fire away when people take massive or sketchy whippers. I am constantly trying to override my ovarian instincts to help and support during these moments. Doh- darn ovaries! One strength- to twist peoples arms to let me take portraits of them. So, to kill some time one rainy afternoon here at the Red River Gorge I thought I would try to subject Dario & Pete to some portraits. They have really helped make Miguels at the Red River Gorge what it is- a world class climbing destination. Within 2 minutes of shooting the peanut gallery had gathered and started some serious heckling. What is the penalty of doing this? You become one of my subjects next.
And now....as they were calling themselves....The Dirty Men Of Miguels Pizza.

Peter McDermott

Spencer Victory

Had to include this one...Spencer, again.

Zac Sands

Keenan Conner

Dario Ventura

Night & Day

2010-03-28T11:32:00.005-05:00

Odub close to sending Golden Boy @ Solar Collector, 5.13b.

I'm in the Ol' KY. And my first day shooting here it reminded me of some ground zero basics.
There are a lot of relationships with photography. Four simple ones that come to mind for climbing photography are these: the relationship with the climber, the route, the light, and your camera. You need to analyze all of these and they all need to come together. Last year when I was here the sun didn't come out once. This year, right off the bat it was out and Odub was on Golden Boy- a well known route that glows in the sun. I had to get my fix. The shadows from the tree's were creeping up the wall in a killer way. Next, Anthony was working a route on the opposing wall that was in the shade. The huge hueco holes seemed so primal, and I caught Anthony in a moment before he crept out. The contrast that was going on between the two walls was pretty awesome- kinda like night and day. Amped to to see what the rest of the week will bring.

Anthony on Buddha Hole @ the Solar Collector, 5.11d.

Salud, Dinero y Amor!

2010-03-18T12:50:00.008-05:00

E.T. phone home?

This past week my fiance and I made the journey out to Guaymas, Mexico. This time I was not the photographer but a guest to enjoy, celebrate, and take in this special time for a friend uniting with the love of his life- Marcia. Marcia glows, inside and out. Along the way we caught up with old friends and met wonderful people, one of them being "Mike". Mike has this inner happiness that is so inspiring that we have found ourselves asking each other- WWMD? What Would Mike Do? Of course I had to snap a few shots from this wonderful weekend. Congrats James & Marcia!

Beautiful Guaymas!

WWMD? What would Mike do? Mike & his lovely wife, Pat.

Cliff jumping the day before the wedding. The best man tested it out before the groom.

Marcia, see what I mean?

An amazing sunset ceremony.

Au Naturel or Flashy flashes?

2010-03-08T11:50:00.007-05:00

Shooting into the sun, on a problem in the shade with some flashy flashes. I dig the mountains in the background.

I went strolling around in some local boulders I hadn't been to. It was a beautiful warm sunny March day. All the trees were striping the ground with their shadows. As I wandered through the boulders I was trying to figure out the best scenario to shoot these boulders on this day. When it's cloudy, it can basically make things easier as everything is in an nice even light. However if not done right it can be :::yawn::: boring too. So I decided to test things out and made these two decisions.

1. Shoot a problem in the shade and into the sun. Kinda cool- but this flashy flash photography gets so over played sometimes.

2. Try to work with the shadows, thick forest, and sun to create a cool composition that still has you focused on the climber and climbing.

Which one works for you? I'd love to know.

Sam Benderhoff on his project in the warm sun- can you blame him on this fiiiiiine March day?

Yum, Meow, Hot, Sweet, & Classic.

2010-03-04T20:46:00.010-05:00

It's true. At this point some are hanging onto winter while others are running off to find dry rock in the sun. The other day we were out craggin' with our tools still. Perhaps we should have had them tucked away and been climbing with our soft winter skin on a south facing crag. But why do that when you could have a day completely filled with shinanigans? You know what I mean? When scrolling through my images from the day I realized that I had shot a bunch of images that reveal some of the high quality entertainment I value with New England mixed climbing. Check it.

1. Pulling out bomber gear. Yum.

2. Fine craftsmanship of homemade fruit boots. Meow.

3. The newest gloves in the mixed climbing industry- women's gardening gloves. HOT.

4. Pulling out bomber gear, again. Sweet.

5. Climbing a lot of rock to get to a little bit of ice. Classic.

In 25 Seconds.....The 2010 Ice Fest!

2010-03-01T16:15:00.013-05:00

Well, as though things aren't busy enough for a full time photographer, I make myself even busier with an event I love. In my spare time (haha, laugh now) I also help put together an Ice Climbing Festival here in North Conway. It is 3 days full of sponsors, demos, a climbing competition, slideshow, beer sponsor, Super 80's Dance Party, Apres Climbing Hours, Guided Clinics, and tons more. PHEW! Catch my drift? Somehow I managed to snap a few photos while helping to pull it all together.

Doug Madara running the La Sportiva & Sterling booth.

John Shortt getting some of the baked goods that his wife's company, The Good Loaf sponsored for the Apres Climbing Hour. YUM!

John Fowler, Pat Goodman, and Freddie Wilkinson enjoying the Apres Climbing Hour @ IME. John & Pat came all the way from West Virginia & North Carolina for the event. Damn!

Happy Ice Festers enjoying the Apres Hour!

Doug Millen from NEice.com and his "Soup Kitchen" during the Apres Hour @ IME!

The Cranmore Climbing Wall packed in with climbers for Steve House's show and the Face Off Comp.

Face Off Competitors scoping out the route before it all went down!

MC Freddie Wilkinson hamming up the audience.

MC Freddie giving the rules to the competitors.

Peter Doucette starts off the comp by showing the audience how it's done.

Pee Wee from Quebec shows us that the big guns can make up for a little lack of height.

Matt McCormick getting damn close!

Rob D'Anastasio using ice tools for only his third time....ever! Damn boy! We'll be seeing you up north more next winter?

Whit Magro doing it MOG MANtana style!

Bayard Russell is not afraid of monkeying around and contorting himself at the same time.

"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiya!"

The winner! Bayard Russell smoked it!

The AAC Super 80's Dance Party time!

Hot shades, high ponytails, and neon colors. It was heaven!

The awesome band, Gnarlemagne! They ROCKED it!

Yes, lycra was encouraged and appreciated!

Again, hot shades and friends.

Sarah & myself. Sarah is the master mind to the Ice Fest really, and if we look sleepy it's cuz we work 20 hour days and sleep 4 hours for three days straight. It's all worth it!

Different Conditions

2010-01-23T14:38:00.006-05:00

Matt McCormick has his systems down- slipping out of his sorels and into his fruit boots to start monkeying around.

I was about to get out to shoot a bunch and my back went out on me. WHAT THE?!?! Talk about bad timing, as I was more psyched than a kid in a candy shop! So, whatever- this stuff happens sometimes. Though ice climbing can be miserable in a love-hate sort of manner, it can also be a blast when it involved friends, sorel boots, mixed climbing, and cragging. I'm hoping the back heals quick and I'll be able to hang upside down soon. In the meantime some people that have an amazing infatuation with winter. I dig it.

Josh Worley getting ready for the sharp end.

Bayard Russell doesn't flinch at subzero temps when chillen', craggin', & belayin'.

Ryan Stefiuk hangs with the Northern kids for a bit, and he doesn't seem to mind it all that much.

Whatcha sayin' Josh? Is your rope frozen or sumthin'?

Alpinist 29: Go East

2010-01-11T16:06:00.008-05:00

Above: Peter Doucette climbing the classic- Way In The Wilderness WI5

I just had a bunch of my images published in the newest Alpinist 29 magazine. Alpinist is an "archival-quality, quarterly publication dedicated to world alpinism and adventure climbing." This mag is something of it's own, and if you haven't taken the time to check it out- you should! Last winter I photographed a few New England classics I had been really wanting to shoot, and luckily I happened to work with a few climbers/friends who were psyched to make it happen. A big thank you to them, as it can take quite a bit of time and trickery to set up for these shots, or sometimes we simply have to get up way too early. But I could not do it alone, and they help make these images happen. It is always cool to see your work in print- especially when the shoot involves freezing my ovaries off in negative New England temperatures while my legs go numb hanging in my harness from my static- love it! Check out Alpinist 29 to see a great spread about ol' New England climbing, written by Majka Burhardt and additional photography by Jimmy Surette and Ed Webster as well!

Majka Burhardt heading up Remission (WI5+) in the first morning light as the base below stays in the shadows, and naturally gave off this beautiful blue tone.

Making It Happen

2009-12-23T14:35:00.004-05:00

There is something very cool working with other artists. Creative ideas and vibes just start flowing as you're collaborating and at the same time trying to understand the overall vision. The end result needs to speak for itself. Singer, songwriter, musician and friend Cheryl B. Engelhardt asked if we could work together and do some pictures for her newest project. Previously I had told Cheryl that I would love to photograph her sometime, so I jumped at the opportunity. The uber-talented Cheryl is doing things a little different here folks. She is releasing one new song a month for the next year. She is asking passionate music listeners to be sponsors of her music, and what do you get in return? Incredible music. This is a very progressive approach in the tricky world of music, as it is becoming quite difficult for musicians to get people to buy their work. Think twice before you pirate music or start to listen to pandora over and over again. Check it out, spread the world, and become a sponsor if you can!

Visit: http://www.cbemusic.com/oneup.html
Official CBE Site: http://www.cbemusic.com/

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

2009-12-21T10:16:00.007-05:00

It's getting quite festive as ol' Saint Nick time is approaching. I hung out at the train station the other night and I have never really took the time to get some shots of it. It almost seemed too cliche, which can often turn me off. But I decided to take this as a challenge. Sometimes photos are planned and executed. Other times it can be luck, and willing to experiment. I arrived at the train station right as the train was loading up with kids to go see Santa Claus at the North Pole. I was taking some stills of the train, and that was cool but I decided to just see what happened if I kept shooting when the train took off. I was much happier with the outcome. Then I love classics, and getting a night shot of that station seemed fitting. Mix it up, let go and have fun.

Flash Back, Numero Uno

2009-12-14T17:14:00.008-05:00

Kris Odub doing it right on The Underling.

Hey y'all! I spent some time in the ol' Kentucky this past spring. In a sense that place is almost like New York City, it just never gets old. It is filled with climbers and high quality sand stone. It seems to be growing with new little crags here and there, and also climbers getting out and exploring the crags that used to be overlooked. Below are some highlights from the trip. I really wanted to spend some time with folks that are pretty much considered locals. One being Odub and another being crack master Yasmeen Fowler. It was a damn good time! Can't wait to pack my bags and head back down there in 2010! See? I told y'all.

Kris Odub being berthed on The Underling.

Yasmeen Fowler cruising along on Rock Wars.

Ray Rice loving the warm sun on the classic, Too Many Puppies.

Doug Madara on......on.....Super Slab!

A quiet moment with Odub.

Hot Off The Press

2009-11-24T11:11:00.008-05:00

This past spring I received a phone call from Jim Shimberg. Jim is one of the nicest New England climbers I know- he is always the most psyched and most humble. Hopefully you'll get a chance to meet him and you will instantly see what I mean. But he called me up and it went something like this. "Hey, Annie! Yeah, yeah- we were talking and we thought it would be really cool to have Ted Hammond on the cover- yeah you know a piece of history on the cover. Not of this ol' fossil, but of Ted- do you think you could do that?" Now, I may have opted to put a hot crankin' babe on the cover, which is a guidebook ritual in the climbing world. But, this was a classy and classic request. Additionally, I was psyched to meet Ted and also get some pictures of him too. It seemed fitting to get him on one of the most well renown routes in Rumney, and also a route he FA'd some years ago. Now, Ted is a busy man, as we all are- and he had 3 hours of time to shoot this one afternoon. There is a quick window of when the light hits Flyin' Hawaiian just right in the afternoon, and we nailed it. A big shout out to all those who have been working on the new guide book (Bob, Daphne, Ward, Shimberg, and others!). Self publishing isn't an easy task to take on- thanks guys! Shouldn't we start working on the next one now? ;)

Time Flies

2009-09-17T14:38:00.007-05:00

Uh, summer? Are you there? Where did you go? I'm not quite sure where it went, and how we are already in the middle of September. Alas, here we are and summer flew by. And last weekend I was making a much past due visit to my family. I spent the weekend with everyone but I spent the most with my nephew, Brady. It was such a blast, and he was totally obsessed with the light switches. As I left driving back up to New Hampshire I could hear him and his new favorite light switch word, saying- "off....off....off....off....off...."
Just thought I would share a few of the little bugger.

A very happy Brady.

Papa Greg and son Brady having a silly moment- not to mention papa's hair.

Checkin' something important out.

Growing Gills

2009-09-03T13:24:00.008-05:00

I just finished documenting Maury McKinney swimming 42 miles in just about 26 hours here in New Hampshire. Yes, I said "swimming"! He swam across the longest part of Lake Winnipesaukee, and then turned around and swam back. Why did he do this? Not for himself, but to raise awareness and funds for the White Mountain Aquatic Foundation. Maury along with many others are hoping to bring a pool/aquatic center to the Mount Washington Valley here in New Hampshire. All that live or visit here know how incredible this place is. However, one thing we are lacking in our community is water sports that could change the lives for children, elderly, injured, and those that have a passion for water recreation. What an amazing addition it could be- I am all for it. Lastly, a big thank you to Maury and all those who helped.

All smiles right before his initial departure.

Maury getting his groove on in the early morning light.

Maury after his swim letting us know how many miles he swam with pruned fingers n' all.

The whole support crew! It couldn't have happened without them! Thanks everyone!

Hot Ice

2009-08-24T08:21:00.005-05:00

Just had a friend bring to my attention that one of my shots is up on the new Patagonia site! You can see some of the high quality hielo we get here in New England! Not to mention with only a 10 minute walk! Damn that's hot, but really, it's freakin' cold! But also check out Patagonia's apparel, they are a rockin' company with incredible values, especially this day and age. I'm always psyched to work with them.

Swamp Donkey Disco

2009-08-04T08:29:00.006-05:00

Katie Smith showing her sassy side at the Disco.

For many years now there has been a classic climbers party up here in New Hampshire, known as The Swamp Donkey Disco. To find out what a "swamp donkey" is click HERE. It has always been hosted on Cannon Cliff up here in New Hampshire. Without a doubt it's a night full of good people, fun, and always expect a little bit of an adventure to reach it. Last year I brought up my camera and a couple of speed light flashes, along with my pocket wizards. I whipped these out real quick of some classic characters that made the journey to it last year.

Bayard Russell, always welcoming all to the Swamp Donkey Disco.

Sam Benderhoff wants YOU at the next Swamp Donkey Disco!

Joe & Karen Cote psyched to be celebrating on Cannon!

Ethan Lemieux playing the air guitar in good form.

When It Rains...

2009-07-31T21:58:00.005-05:00

...it pours. Yep, we've been having a very soggy summer here in New Hampshire. It's been rough, but then I saw something on my way home. The fog was playing with the mountains while the reeds were looking at their own reflections. Frogs were croaking, and the half moon was slowly rising behind me. I pulled out the tripod and a few lenses. I exposed this image for the fog, so the brights were not blown out and thus making the swamp dark and peaceful. It didn't take long for the mosquito's to find me, but before they drove me out I was able to snap a few shots. For me it was a small reminder to embrace the weather, get out, and capture what it may bring.

Miss February

2009-07-01T10:09:00.002-05:00

Spent some time in Kentucky this spring and met some really fun and cool people. One of them being Rachel Goldman. On a rainy day we found some dry climbs and I shot some images of her and sent them off to The Women of Climbing Calendar people. They nicknamed her "Twilight Girl", and soon enough she became Miss February! Be sure to keep your eyes out for the 2010 calendar later this year!

Blast From The Past

2009-06-30T15:12:00.008-05:00

So we finally did it. We cleaned out our storage unit- AWESOME! And low and behold I was rummaging through my old boxes the other day, finding junk and treasures. It's all in the eye of the beholder, right? Well, I found some old work from my college days. It was an amazing time full of film, adventures, experimenting, and personal restoration. That's a lot in a nutshell, but it was a wonderful time. Not knowing exactly what I would get on my film when using my Holga, and also wondering what I would create with the images I did get. The darkroom was my canvas, and I started creating these collages- specifically by making contact prints with the negatives, torn out pieces from books, writings, flowers, old nails, and anything else I could get my hands on. I used toners, water colors, pencils, and even tore and picked at the papers in certain sections. No single one was ever the same, as I was constantly playing and readjusting the collages when I was printing. Below are a few from back in the day, and I just busted out my old Holga the other day. I realized I have missed the process, the mystery, beauty and the unknown with the Holga. Everything is so instant and in the "now". I'm ready to slow down and give this one another go. I'm excited for this, the energy the images will have compared to these, and I guess we'll see what happens.

These images were shot in the Alvord Desert in Oregon, and then created back in my darkroom in New Hampshire.

My Two Cents

2009-05-16T13:10:00.009-05:00

Katelyn Dolan sending "Lonesome Dove", classic 5.10a, Rumney, NH.

I love my job. I love brainstorming with others, creating ideas, working with magazines, athletes, writers, people, being outside and such. We all work together, and help each other out in many ways. That I dig and appreciate very much!

I got an e-mail the other day from a well known magazine in the outdoor sports industry, and I couldn't believe it. Went something like this: "Hi Anne, we really love your photo of "Joe Shmoe" and want to use it. It is only for a bio picture and it's really small, so we can't pay you, but we will give you photo credit of course!"

Wow, does anyone work for free? Maybe for a wonderful non-profit or to give back to a community or cause, sure those are select circumstances. I just want to clear the record and say- a photograph, is a photograph, is a photograph. No matter how big or small, an artists images are to not be given away. I would like to hook up the person who is in the image, and say, "Use the image in any way and form, and let anyone use it. I want you to get yourself out there." I inherently love to help people out, but, I cannot afford to work for free. With the way print is going out of style and web is becoming the mainstream for us photographers it's becoming an interesting transition period. Not to mention how equipment costs keep going up, and need constant upgrading.

I know budgets are tight, people are spending less. But please know that I do not and can not give my work away, and you should never ask anyone that. We're all in a similar boat working with the system here.

All I want to say is if you're a pro photographer, you obviously know not to give your away your work. Sure in the beginning, we've all made our mistakes and perhaps low-balled ourselves. For those who are new to the industry make sure you value your work, or you bring the rest of us down.

On this note, I encourage all to get in touch with me to discuss their budgets, ideas, what you're looking for, and see if we can work something out. I'm an open and casual person, so don't let this post defer you away- let it be an invite to see if there are any other options and possibilities.

For the most part, all I'm saying is I would like to see photographers and photography valued now, and for many years to come. Make sense?

Giving Back

2009-05-15T13:02:00.005-05:00

Oh, once again things got quite busy for me but it's been a ton of fun! I received a phone call about two months ago, and at first I thought it was a solicitor. However, it wasn't and the Bartlett Elementary School decided to give me a ring to see if I would be interested in teaching a small workshop to 5th and 6th graders. I thought about it for about 5 seconds, and said, yes. The idea of giving back to the kids in the community has been something I had been thinking about. It was a blast. Kids just make you see things you don't, and their imagination and creativity surpasses mine by a long shot. The kids studied the artist Andy Goldsworthy with their art teacher (and artist), June Mcleavey, made their own interpretations, and then we figured out the best way to photograph their creations. Their interest, talent, and enthusiasm was more that I ever expected. I just want to send a big "thank you" to all the kids that were in the elective and I can't wait to do it again.

A Few Good Men

2009-04-21T16:23:00.006-05:00

Ted (left) and "Shim" (right) giving him some bunny ears.

I had a fun afternoon last week with Jim Shimberg and Ted Hammond out at Rumney, NH. These guys are awesome. They are so fun and full of good energy, and of course lots of sarcasm. Here are a few shots of them hangin' out at the base of the cliff. My favorite part being when Ted was lightly telling stories about the first ascent of the beautiful and well known climb there, Flyin' Hawaiian. They aided up it, with pitons all the way up the corner, classic. Hopefully everyone gets a chance to meet these guys, as they easily bring a good time with them wherever they go.

Ted Hammond

Jim Shimberg

Mixin' It Up

2009-04-13T16:53:00.004-05:00

I've been meeting a lot of really cool people this year. Something I joke about is that I'm not that cool, but all the people I come across are. Well, one of those people is Cody Harriman. Cody is super amped on skate skiing and is a model here in the northeast. He called me up to get some shots of him skiing and then also get a few head shots for his portfolio. The shoot was a blast despite the cold temps that day. Sure I cranked the shutter speed and got some of him "in the moment" or "frozen in time", but I also wanted to show the speed and motion skate skiing has. Then we just goofed around with the other images. Check em' out.

En Route

2009-03-24T10:16:00.006-05:00

I have been traveling a lot, and it's been fun. Amazing people, cool places, and good times.... but my favorite always seems to be the people. Gotta go...it's time to head home.

At Ease....

2009-03-23T15:26:00.004-05:00

The other day my friend Stephen Rovetti gave me a ring. He asked if I could give him a hand with a tactical shoot in a couple of days. Right away I said, "sign me up"! Not only do I enjoy the thrill of being around things that go "BOOM!", but I also love working with another creative person. It's always a blast when someone calls you up to collaborate. Idea's get tossed back and forth, and you try make sure each other is in check with the set, how they're shooting, and then looking ahead to what could be cool for the next shot. It's also fun to see how other people work, and run their show. Good times! Thanks Steve, that was a blast. Below are a couple of images from the day.

I stopped and pulled back to catch Rovetti hard at work.

Me with the boys after a fun morning of camo, guns, and gettin' it done!

Adiós Invierno!

2009-03-22T13:24:00.007-05:00

I've been a little absent because I just spent three weeks photographing in Cuba. It was an amazing trip. It was an adventure, full of incredible people, and embracing a very unique and beautiful culture. More images to come with time, but it's time for me to pack up and head to Kentucky and photograph down there for a couple of weeks!
Below are a few shots from my lil' point and shoot camera. I love how light and discrete they are. Don't leave home without one!

Flying into Cancun, Mexico....very purty beaches.

From left to right: Tino, myself, Yarobis, and Rocko a couple pitches up.

Tino & Yarobis hiking into the Cubana Mogotes. Mogotes are loaf-shaped mountains of limestone worn away by seeping water.

In my book....they rock!

2009-02-13T11:24:00.007-05:00

The Golden Pitons.

This post is for a few people who need to be noted real quick. This January I was out in Salt Lake City for about five days for the Outdoor Retailer Show. It was a great time to meet new folks and see some old familiar faces. I was able to catch the Golden Piton Awards and two book signings of two friends. Sarah Garlick recently wrote a geology book for climbers titled: Jugs, Flakes and Splitters. Then Peter Bronski just wrote: Powder Ghost Towns. I also want to give a big thanks to friend and fellow photographer Andy Mann for talking shop with me right before the show. This guy rocks and you should check out his new site, it's HOT!

The crowds checking out Sarah Garlicks new hot book!

Sarah Garlick signing away to the lucky ones who got there in time for a free book.

Peter Bronski chatting up some Powder Ghost Town fans.

Ice Fest 2009

2009-02-09T14:47:00.005-05:00

Just two of many helpers for the 2009 Ice Fest!

I live in North Conway, New Hampshire where the climbing is incredible and the community is even greater (in my biased opinion). For my second year I have helped put together the Mountain Washington Valley Ice Festival. Sarah Garlick is my partner in crime in planning this, and she is truly the backbone to this event. It's pretty awesome that we are best of friends and can work together so well. We had an incredible turnout and an absolute blast. Highlights included tons of demo's from our sponsors, Kevin Mahoney's slide show, Climbers Face-Off Competition (thanks Ice Holdz!), Apres Climb Hour @ IME, and the Retro Dance Party with Audio Kickstand. I just want to say thank you to all the sponsors, those who helped, and the people who attended. I am just so psyched and in awe of all the people in New England who rallied.
I'm already looking forward to making The 17th Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival even better! I'm feeling all sappy, but I just gotta say......I love New England!

Myself & Sarah Garlick, the Ice Fest planners @ the Retro Dance Party!

Who you gonna call?

2009-01-19T18:36:00.007-05:00

I'm getting ready to head out to Salt Lake this week to check out the Outdoor Retailer Show. I needed a little design help creating something hot to give out to people I have meetings with, and you know just random joey's like me. So who did I call? Rovettidesign. This guy is super talented, pro, and knows his stuff. If you're thinking about doing anything with marketing or web, call him up! Thanks Rovettidesign, I'm looking forward to the next time!

Snow Scapes

2009-01-05T13:10:00.002-05:00

We've been having an awesome winter this year. Right before Christmas we had a ton of snow. These snow scapes kind of came together during a drive up Pinkham Notch to take a ski. Take a look.

Embracing Jack Frost

2009-01-01T17:10:00.007-05:00

Peter Doucette not letting the Trollville corner eat him up!

Well, the ice is in! We've had a varying flux in weather here in New England. However, Jack Frost has made another strong comeback after some abnormally warm temperatures. Things seemed to have hung in there, and in this case made "Purple People Eater" very interesting. Here is Peter Doucette loving or hating the so called "M5" corner. Hope you're getting after it one way or another!

Remember November

2008-12-15T17:17:00.013-05:00

Ray Rice milking the rest before the send.

Winter is sneaking its way in here in New Hampshire.
Luckily I was able to get out a few last times in November.
There is nothing like cool crisp November days, especially to New Englanders!
Alas, we're already in December!
Hope some of you were able to get out and are sharpening your tools for the ice season!

Jim Surette looking stealth and getting after it on a killer November day.

Pies Anyone?

2008-11-14T15:43:00.004-05:00

Hellooooooo!
I just did some portraits with the lovely Sara Nicole McNally. She's just simply awesome. She is an amazing snowboarder that cannot get enough of the terrain parks. She is also so full of personality, from sweet and sensitive to spunky and crazy! We did a small portrait session and had a blast. Check em' out.

Finding A Focus

2008-10-22T11:09:00.009-05:00

In general, I think I can safely say that us photographers are constantly trying to compose, create, perfect, brainstorm, improve, and master every image. We analyze the light, subject, place, and even the moment you try to catch with the trigger finger that makes the camera go...."click". Below is one photo that is sharp, crisp, and composed. I decided it was time to let go for the other shots, and began experimenting and playing around simply with my focusing. Before I knew it I was creating a small series. I think they may drive some people crazy, and for others they may work for. When I'm shooting I like to work by a philosophy that is, "you don't know, if you don't try".

Ok, now it's time for the artsy fartsy shots.

Vices & Virtues

2008-10-17T12:40:00.009-05:00

Well, the title for this post is the title for The White Mountain Dance Ensembles next show. This performance will premier in January here in North Conway, NH. From the title, you can only imagine that this show will be dramitic, saucy, and intense. This group is so talented and full of amazing energy with an incredible passion for the surrounding area they live in. They were all so awesome during this shoot. Especially for the outside shots as I was shooting away in my down jacket and they were giving 110% in their leotards when it was about 40 degrees. Stay tuned for more information on their shows as the time gets closer!

20.5miles + 12.5hours + 2.2mph = Maury McKinney

2008-10-02T16:43:00.008-05:00

Maury McKinney recently swam the entire length of Lake Winnipesauke here in New Hampshire. It was incredible! We awoke at 2:50am, met at 4:00am, and we were all ready to go by 5am. He swam from Center Harbor to Alton Bay, which is 20.5 miles. It took him 12.5 hours, at roughly 2.2 miles per hour. He never rested on a boat, but continually hydrated, ate, and floated to regain energy. He has an immense passion for the water, can you tell? His motive was to start bringing awareness to the White Mountain Aquatics. The main goal is to bring a pool facility to the Mount Washington Valley area. Thank you Maury, this day was incredible, inspirational, and I hope to be doing laps in a full size pool here someday in the near future. And thank you to everyone who helped throughout the day. Curious? Click HERE to contact Maury.

Henry Barber

2008-09-26T13:48:00.003-05:00

Just another little update on what's been shaking here and there. I was recently assigned to shoot Henry Barber for Climbing Magazine's Perspective section. It's the very last parting shot in the issue. I had a blast with Henry that day, he's full of such great energy. I think you can really see it in his eyes in this shot. Go to your nearest bookstore or outdoors store to check it out.
Gotta jet, time to get back after it!

Night Light

2008-09-24T13:41:00.003-05:00

Oh my I've been amazingly busy! I've been meaning to post so much more this month! Here's one little update.
I'm one of F-Stop Gear's featured photographers in their Nature and Landscape Newsletter. There are some other killer photographers who's work you should definitely check out as well.
More later, hopefully sooner, than later!

Nature & Landscape Photo Newsletter 08e01 - Upload a Document to Scribd

Artists Inspiring Artists

2008-08-19T10:16:00.004-05:00

I had a great shoot last week with musician Steven Cooney. His website is being put together, so keep your eyes peeled for it in the near future. We got together early in the morning to capture some soft light. Our goal was to get a variety of shots that capture some elements that are important to Steven; casual, earthy, and sincere. We wandered around train tracks and old barns with his pup Rocco by our sides. We had a great time, and I knew it once two and half hours had somehow passed us.

Stop, & Pick The Blueberries

2008-08-13T08:58:00.007-05:00

This summer has been very busy for me, which I love. However, it has be extremely rainy, cloudy, and stormy, which has been challenging for all. An exciting hobby I became obsessed with was picking blueberries, which has lead me to some beautiful places. I always try to at least bring my little point and shoot wherever I go, and I'm so glad I did the other night. It was the first time I had seen a sunset in over a month, literally! While I've been working hard, I've been making it a priority to do things that make me go- "wow, it's summer", and are things that remind me, "this is why I live here". So hopefully this is a little reminder for you to do the same.

A panoramic view of the White Mountains with Mount Chocorua straight in the sun to Mount Washington a little bit to the right with some classic summit clouds lurking on top.

A Couple Good Pups

2008-08-04T12:51:00.003-05:00

I recently had a photo shoot with an owner and his two dogs. He was actually the winner of the Pet Portrait Session I donated to The Conway Humane Society when they were in financial trouble back in April of this year. We had a really nice night and hiked up Black Cap Mountain. His pups were two sweet German Sheppard's. Here are a few of my favorites.

24 Hours With Brady

2008-07-23T11:59:00.005-05:00

My nephew was born about two weeks ago. I zoomed down to my old homelands to meet him and give hugs to all of my family members. I wish I could post 100 images of him, but I'll share just a few. I wish he was around the corner from me, but alas he is not. Guess I'll be expecting to do more traveling this year!

Shooting To Shoot

2008-07-18T15:06:00.008-05:00

There is nothing like shooting, to shoot. I got up at 5:20 in the morning the other day and met up with a friend. We took a few self portraits....some shots of each other, and couple of scenic images as well. It was a blast....shooting for yourself is how almost every photographer falls in love with it. Personally, I love doing portraits and self portraits for a few reasons.
1. You can really create the image you have envisioned in your head.
2. For me it's therapeutic. I really believe that when you do some self portraits you are reflecting back on where you are at. Sometimes it may be in a subconscious matter and others a very deliberate manner.
3. I like to try to create scenes, a story almost. There are a lot of pretty images, that are well.....pretty. But I personally enjoy images that makes you stop, and think about what is going on.

So go create, just to.....create. Keep it simple.

Yooohooo! Where are You?

2008-07-13T12:16:00.007-05:00

Ok.....where have I been? Just working my bootie off! But I love it! So much to do so little time! Prepping for wedding season, buying a new car (my Tacoma truck was recalled by Toyota), my new nephew being born (yay!), and well, you know enjoying summer stuff! So I'll start filling you in now.
Here is Sara & Shama (aka Shama Mama). We had a blast on their shoot. Shama is getting older, and well, it was time for some portraits of these two. I absolutely LOVE shooting people with their pets. I cannot wait for the day I find time for my own fury animal.

Sunny & Showers

2008-05-25T14:41:00.004-05:00

I'm out in Yosemite for a little over a week right now. The weather has turned while I've been here which has it's good points and bad points. Nonetheless it's always beautiful here. Here are two shots from when I first got here, and one from this morning! Hopefully the sun will peak back out before I leave!

Kismet & Cacti

2008-05-15T10:15:00.004-05:00

Have you heard of the Kismet Rock Foundation? They are awesome! Their mission statement is:

Kismet offers comprehensive courses in rock climbing and mountaineering to children who, because of financial limitations, would not otherwise have access to such an education.

They are having a celebration evening this Saturday at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway. There will be live music, dancing, a silent auction, wonderful food, and great people including some of the kids from the program! If you are looking for something wonderful to do this weekend you should come check it out and support such an inspiring organization. You can order tickets until Friday, May 16th by contacting Janet at: janet@kismetrockfoundation.org or call her at: 603.986.9457

Below are the photographs I am donating for the silent auction. They are a set and are 5x10 each. I got a little intrigued by all the cacti on my trip out to Arizona this spring. Can you tell? Hope to see some of you folks Saturday evening!

Scha-WAN-gunks

2008-05-13T09:42:00.006-05:00

I just spent some time in New Paltz, New York shooting and had a great time. Saw some old friends and was introduced to some locals I hadn't met before. They were all great people who were strong and psyched! One example is Liza Mills. She's a mother of a 16 month old boy and here she is crankin' at the Near Trapps in the "Gunks". Inspiration right there for you! The Gunks is a blast and get's you pumped! I forgot how steep it can be! It is such a blast! Go check it out!
Liza Mills on Transcontinental, 5.10b @ the Near Trapps.

Short & Sweet

2008-05-06T12:37:00.004-05:00

I'm in Connecticut visiting family and took some "preggo" pictures of my sister in law, Liz. It was a beautiful afternoon on the beach and just wanted to share a couple of shots. I can't wait until the due date!

Mud, Muck, & Moose

2008-05-01T13:01:00.005-05:00

This past weekend was the Mud, Muck, & Moose Trail Run at The Bear Notch Ski Touring Center in Bartlett, NH. It was muddy, mucky, and no moose in sight, but it seemed just psyched to suffer and have fun at the same time! I mainly went to photograph it because a few good friends were running to raise money for a foundation called, The Perfect School Project. Before I knew it I was saying- "Whoa! There's Pete, Lynn, Jamie, Gabe, Marc, Jane, and Suzy!" There were so many people I knew, yet had no idea they were planning on running this race! They all seemed to have a blast with 5 river crossings, 20 inches of snow in the woods, and 40 degree rainy weather! I'm definitely signing up next year! To see even more pictures visit: Mud, Muck, & Moose Trail Race!

Pete Ostroski crossing the finish line & coming in 3rd place.

Sara Thibault psyched after completing the race and helping raise over $1,000 for The Perfect School Project. Any interest in helping out? E-mail Katie Smith @ kesmit01@yahoo.com

Familiar Faces

2008-04-16T09:34:00.005-05:00

Above in order from top to bottom: Mike Veazey, Doug Madara, James Collins, and Mike Veazey.

Just a few portraits of friends while I was in Arizona this past March. So many things are important in life.....but friends are at the very top. Luckily my friends know that my camera may just swing around in front of their faces and click away at any time. Yes, I can be a very mean friend.... but seriously, thanks guys!

The 48th State

2008-04-14T11:27:00.005-05:00

I went out west for a little bit this past March. A break from cold New England was just what I needed without really knowing it. My top three favorite things about the trip: Good friends, amazing climbing, and new exploring. Below is a pic from a place called The Dry. Those three favorite things are all captured in this shot. I think I'm going to be out there for a little longer next year.....
Mike Veazey taking the whip at The Dry.

Save The Furry Ones!

2008-04-05T14:08:00.006-05:00

I'm back from vacation! And, yeah.....we still have a ton of snow in North Conway. Hard to come back to after beautiful weather in Arizona. But, this is New England!
I will be posting some images from my trip but before I do so I wanted to post about The Conway Humane Society here in Conway, NH. They will close if they do not raise enough money by April 10th, 2008. Yes, that is only 5 days away! There is a fundraiser at Flatbread Company here in North Conway this Tuesday, the 8th of April. I will be donating a Pet Portrait Session and all the proceeds will go to the lil' animals. Other local business will be donating items for the silent auction as well. Should be really fun! You can support by attending on Tuesday or by donating online at: The Conway Humane Society. Anything and everything helps!

Sunny & 70

2008-03-15T10:43:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to send a little note out that I'm travelling, photographing, and climbing in the southwest for the next couple of weeks. So I won't be posting anything for a while, but I will post a bunch of images from my trip when I return! Stay tuned!

Opposites Attract

2008-03-08T10:26:00.004-05:00

Everyone goes through tough times. We all make mistakes and sometimes bad luck happens. We live, and we learn.... at least that is what I try to do. I have a friend that has been having a few hard times. Additionally, she is keeping her head above the bad "juju" (as I call it) that seems to want to follow her around. She is a single mother and her daughter is beautiful, they simply glow when together.
Some of my favorite pieces of work come from the most wonderful & beautiful experiences, and sometimes it's the complete opposite. But I have to say it is absolutely amazing when something beautiful comes from a hard time or experience. This little drawing below is one I made for my friend to help remind her to stay above as she always does. I guess it's a good reminder for anyone who is on a bumpy road with a few unexpected curves. Keep on keeping on.

Leaping For February

2008-02-29T11:15:00.006-05:00

Happy Leap Year Day! February was another busy month! I was one of the event planners for the IMCS Ice Fest with Sarah Garlick. It was a ton of work, a lot of fun, and we received positive feedback- so we are psyched! I managed to click a few pictures during the event. We had about 200 people at each slideshow evening and out demo's from our sponsors were incredibly popular. We're already brainstorming on how to change and spice things up to make it even better for next year! But we're not releasing any secrets right now, so you'll just have to wait!
(Top Image: Slideshow evening at the Cranmore Climbing Wall with Tuckerman's Brewery)
(Bottom Image: Doug Madara- La Sportiva, Grivel, and Sterling Rope Rep helping outfit people with Ice Climbing Demo's)

"SNARG!"

2008-02-25T09:27:00.007-05:00

So, there he was, Doug Madara (aka MANdara) going up the ice filled line of Jack The Ripper (Jack On Ice) on Cathedral Ledge. Definitely a little sketchy, definitely a big ledge below him, and he and his climbing partner Jeff Lougee would definitely yell "SNARG!" every time Doug pounded one into the ice filled crack. It's always good to keep a little humor in mind when the climbing gets a little exciting. To keep that humor going MANdara also brought a few hexes with him. (Ah yes, Henry B. would be proud!) After taking a big whip at the top Doug lowered down and sent the line on Saturday. He left the snargs in if anyone wants to give the line a whirl- which could be seen as a bonus or a sandbag. Thank goodness people are still selling their snarg's on consignment! On that note, "SNARG!"

MANhoney Homewall Sessions

2008-02-21T14:28:00.012-05:00

(above: Monkeying around- in front: Dan Corn & in back: Kevin Mahoney)

Wonder how these New England men keep themselves strong and amused at the same time? One of the secrets is Kevin Mahoney's (aka MANhoney) homewall that he has in his barn.
The Rules:
1. Drink PBR
2. No hooking the tools on your shoulder
3. Wear bad footwear while monkeying around
4. Heckling is encouraged
Kevin calls a crew over when he can squeeze it into his busy schedule and his two little girls are fast asleep. Before you know it there is anywhere from three to six people there dry tooling all over his homewall (not all at once, of course). You'll see climbing holds, and if you look closely you'll see door latches he's screwed on that just grab the picks of the tools. So a big shout out to Kevin for helping keep the psyche in North Conway strong! Woo hoo!

Ready Now

2008-02-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

Is it February already? Where does the time go?
This shot is from a friends memorial service this past fall. I shot it, and then tucked it away. It wasn't until recently that I was able to go back and look through these shots. We released these balloons after the service. Some went up, and some came back down with the rain. Similar to the day itself- remembering the good about our friend and loss we were coming to terms with.
So since time goes so fast, and we never know what's around the corner....this is a little reminder to touch base with those you love and those you've been meaning to reach out to. Thanks for stopping by.

Staying Artistic

2008-01-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

I just heard that I was accepted into the Wedding Photojournalist Association! (a.k.a. The WPJA) I try to photograph weddings in a photo-journalistic style, yet offer timeless portraits. I specialized in fine art photography throughout my schooling, so somehow it isn't surprising how I have taken on a candid and documentary approach to my weddings. Just wanted to share since I was excited about the news! If you're curious to see my wedding & portrait site please click here: Anne Skidmore Weddings

Miss Johanna

2008-01-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

Johanna is so bright! Can't you just see it in her eyes? It's seems amazing that in one afternoon her personality came through in so many shots. She is my main model for the "sweater project". She is also the daughter of the woman who knits these amazing pieces, Kris Pastoriza. The reason that she is the main model in my mind is not just because she is Kris's daughter, but because she so natural in front of the camera. See what I mean?

New England Style

2008-01-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

The other day I received a phone call from my friend Jim Surette. "Hey I think Dan Corn and I are going to try and ski Whitehorse tomorrow if you want to check it out." For all of you that don't know what Whitehorse is- it's usually a rock climbing cliff here in North Conway with the slab sections being about 700 feet high. Previous to this week we have recieved an amazing amount of snow for New England and these guys were all about it! They skied all of it except for one steep icy mid section they had to rappel. Let's just say this isn't your groomed packed powder mountain....it was awesome to see it all go down. Thanks for the call guys!

Holiday Whirl Wind

2007-12-29T15:39:00.000-05:00

Eating, relatives, traveling, traffic, snow, stuck in Hartford, turkey, ham, hanging out with 98 year old grammy, presents, moving, Ice Fest, websites, workflow worksop, finishing projects, portrait sessions, sweater project, nyc, subways, stacking & splitting wood. Phew! You know what I mean?
Everyone's list around the holidays is long and filled to the brim! I was able to get a couple moments to myself to click a few shots around the holidays. It's a fun time, but it definitely feels good to return back to the homestead!

NYC + D-65 = WOW!

2007-12-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

I haven't been slacking. I have just been in New York City taking a four day workshop. I was up at 6am and wouldn't get home until about 7pm! The workshop was heald by D-65 which is all about digital workflow. The workshop was mainly about a program called Lightroom. If you are a photographer dealing with a mass amount of images you should take this workshop! Seth Resnick and Jamie Spritzer are the two people who created and run D-65. They are amazing! Now, I just have to start working it into my system! Here we go!

Hoot Night!

2007-12-05T18:24:00.001-05:00

The man you see here is Steven Cooney. He is an extremely talented musician and song writer. Every Tuesday night there is "Hoot Night" up here at the Wildcat Tavern in Jackson, New Hampshire. This is where all the hidden local talent comes out to play whatever music they desire. His website is "under the works" and hopefully some of the shots will help with that! Here is a link to Wildcat Tavern's music scene: Hoot Night!
Keep on playing Steve!

It's coming.....

2007-11-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

Winter is slowly making it's way here in North Conway, NH. (woooohoooo!) The more wintery, the better! That's how we like it up here! So it's right around now we start doing our snow and ice dances to the heavens. Sarah Garlick and I are revamping The 2008 IMCS Mount Washington Valley Ice Festival this year! We are especially psyched to make it as much as a "festival" as we can. With gear demo's, killer slideshows, an apres party, guest guides, non-stop clinics, climbers breakfasts, and more! Check out the IMCS Ice Fest Blog to find out details when they happen! For more details click here: IMCS ICE FESTIVAL For the new Ice Fest Blog click here: ICE FEST BLOG

IMCS guide Freddie Wilkinson at Slander Crag, New Hampshire.

Giving Thanks To....

2007-11-21T10:06:00.000-05:00

Turkeys! What would Thanksgiving be without turkeys? Not as yummy for sure! I debated on posting the image below. I love to photograph ANYTHING that catches my eye, and this turkey did. He was shot this spring, and hopefully it doesn't make anyone too sad....you can know that this turkey was not confined to a 12x12 inch pen, force fed, and etc. This Tom roamed the woods of New Hampshire and had a very happy and healthy life! There is some sadness that his life ended, but he is truely valued, respected, and honored. There is more to Thanksgiving than turkeys- and of course that is being thankful for all the good in life (including sliced bread). Hope you have a great holiday!

The Piton Project

2007-11-05T12:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, Rick Wilcox shared his "museum" of old gear with me. I was fascinated by it all! And thus, new creative ideas began running through my head. Here is a little peak at "The Piton Project". I have only just started it, and I'm excited to see where it goes. You can see the series of them up in an art show we're having up here in Conway, NH. Come start your christmas shopping, pick out art for your blank walls, or just come to see some amazing art, a slideshow, and be apart of a fun evening! Here are the details:

The Art of Climbing with Slideshow by Mark Synnott
November 9th- This Friday!
6:00pm Art Opening
7:30pm Slide Show

Salyards Art Center
110 Main Street
Conway, NH

Climbing inspired art and literature for sale!
Proceeds to Benefit Kismet Rock Foundation & Salyards Art Center
Slideshow by The North Face Athlete Mark Synnott

Exposed!

2007-10-30T10:41:00.000-05:00

They had their first and one night only show last week at The Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield, Maine! The White Mountain Dance Ensemble blew away all who came to the sold out show! So if you missed it, you better buy your tickets early for their next performance! Below are a few shots from their incredible show! Talent, passion, and creativity was revealed in their solo night show! They are an inspiration and a true motivator to all artists who have a passion for the mountains and the arts. The art energy in the North Conway area has been rising and becoming more prominent each year. I love it, keep it coming!

Thinking Outside Of The......

2007-10-23T09:29:00.000-05:00

Two friends of mine got married last weekend- Jon and Sarah, horay! They are quite passionate about Mount Chocorua and asked me to take some shots of it for them. So I did. I usually don't do landscapes, one reason being, in art school I was taught it was sooooo "faux-pas". But, it's time to move on from that and not put myself in a certain box! I'm making my own box, yeah! Here are some images of this pretty old rocky top mountain.

Welcome to the Eastside

2007-10-10T16:54:00.000-05:00

My friend Ben Moon came from Oregon to visit us here on the eastside. He is truly an amazing photographer, full of creative energy, and is always down for FUN! On his visit to North Conway he learned about swamp donkeys (moose), pirates, and our fine granite. Here he is making Budapest look like 5.9. No joke, he floated the thing and when he got to the top he was wishing it wasn't over! Eh, sometime they're short and sweet here Ben!
Check out his site pronto! You won't regret it: www.benmoon.com

Spilling The Beans!

2007-09-26T12:16:00.000-05:00

The word is out! So now I will post a picture of Leesa Rusiecki sending Liquid Sky! Pictures of her send are in the newest Climbing Magazine, with some wordy over written text that made me laugh when I read it. But I was so psyched to capture Leesa sending on this day! She is modest and strong. She just wanted to go rock climbing. So she did, and made a first female ascent on a historic NH line!

Sickolas Nicholas!

2007-09-21T08:57:00.000-05:00

Are you the most psyched? I'm not sure, because Nick Martino is one of the most psyched! He is ready to go Monday to Sunday! Lately he's been super psyched on Shagg and Rumney! But he'll plug in gear any day too! He's been hanging here on the east side for the summer, and lucky for him it's been the best summer/fall anyone can remember! Here he is on Ginseng at Shagg. Nick loves to send projects not just because it's another one in the bag, but because he rewards himself with ice cream. mmmmm.....ICE CREAM!

Being Forgetful

2007-09-05T09:32:00.000-05:00

A week or so ago we went to Portland for my friend Katies Birthday. I rarely bring my camera for spontaneous events (I have a "donkey" of a camera). Usually I whip out the beast when I know I'm going to shoot, it's planned, and I'm prepared to click away. This night I grabbed my camera very last minute, and had a blast shooting on the drive over. My point? Don't forget. Don't forget to be spontaneous, free, and silly!

Naked!

2007-08-25T14:30:00.000-05:00

Don't look! They're naked! Ok, not really.....
I've always wanted to start a line of greeting cards.......so i think I'm going to start working on some ideas for fun. I bought some water colors and paper the other day, and made these sketches for my best friend who just got married. Eventually she'll get one framed, but I'm still working on ideas. So, um, surprise Kelley & Russ if you read this! Now you know your present! Just thought I'd share em' with y'all! Any thoughts?

Top Secret

2007-08-24T14:12:00.000-05:00

Sooooo, I wish I could show you these photo's but I can't. My friend Leesa Rusiecki sent Liquid Sky on Cathedral Ledge the other day. It was very awesome to watch and capture her send. Liquid Sky was THE first 5.13 in New Hampshire. It was freed in 1986 by Jim Surette, and now, twenty one years later it was sent by a woman! Woo hoo! So while I had a break from shooting Lisa I turned around and caught Emmanuel Hudon crushing Camber on an abnormally cool summer day. I'll let you know when I unleash the "Liquid" pics.

Creative Energies

2007-08-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

Who would think I would be dressing up people in sweaters in the middle of the summer? Well, I am! A woman, Kris Pastoriza, got in touch with me about her knits and received a grant to put a book together about them, and then propose it to a publisher. I'm so excited she asked me to be apart of it. It will be one of those books with the patterns and detailed directions on how to make the exact sweaters you see in the pictures! It's really fun to work with another creative person and bounce ideas off each other! There's nothing like playing with color, composition, and people!

Artsy Fartsy Goods

2007-08-03T17:24:00.001-05:00

Need something for your blank walls? Want to support and own real art? This is your day!
I originally went to school for fine art photography, you know, more artsy fartsy style. It wasn't until later I began doing more commercial, editorial, and freelance work. Below are images of mine that I have had professionally printed and I personally chose all the custom frames. Both the images and frames are really beautiful! Of course, they look even better in person! Please contact me via e-mail if you would like to purchase one at: anneskidmore@gmail.com
Shipping is not included, or you can pick it up right here in North Conway, NH!
(All pictures are professionally printed and framed with UV protective glass)

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1. "Lake Umbagog Secret", Image: 16x24 Frame: 23.5x31 $350 (+shipping)
(I love the color, detail, and composition in this one!)
2. "Apples", Image: 16x24 Frame: 25x34 $395 (+shipping)
(I know I'm not supposed to have favorites, but this one is my FAVORITE! The frame goes amazingly with the image, love it! It's BIG and STUNNING!)
3. "Olad", Image: 12x18 Frame: 19x24.5 $225 (+shipping)
(Ain't she a beauty?)
4. "Ship Lights", Image: 12x18 Frame: 19x25 $250 (+shipping)
(Love how this one is playful yet has a strong tone to it!)
5. "Everlast", Image: 12x18 $125.00 (+shipping)
(This is my price point photo! Framed with glass clips, it makes it more affordable for YOU!)
6. "Thin Air Fall", Image: 8x12 Frame: 8x12 $50 (+shipping)
(The colors and rock BOOM in this shot! There is a party on the Saigon's with the leader right @ the crux of the 2nd pitch! Framed with glass clips)
7. "Shagg's Meltdown", Image: 8x12 Frame: 8x12 $50 (+shipping)
(Who can't admit Shagg Crag's rock is beautiful? I love how the tree and climber balence each other out! Framed with glass clips)