As a Kentucky-based outdoor and adventure photographer, I've spent countless days capturing the stunning outdoor beauty of the Red River Gorge. But nothing prepared me for the extraordinary experience of photographing the northern lights right here in Kentucky. Known more for its breathtaking cliffs and lush forests, the gorge is the last place I expected to witness such a rare celestial display.
Read MoreComing fresh off shooting the 2023 Michigan Icefest, I linked up with The North Face athlete and Kentucky-neighbor Sam Elias. We worked together a number of years back on the Michigan Ice Film, so it was fun to catch up and connect over discussions about Kentucky, bourbon, and film ideas for the coming year.
Read MoreEarly in 2020, we were contacted to help produce an exciting, high quality short film to highlight the Red River Gorge Ultra, a 50k along the Rough Trail, to use for marketing this and other future races hosted by this particular company. After a year of event cancellations pushed this back, we finally were able to create this awesome promotional film in December of 2021.
Read MoreIt was just about two years prior that I trekked up Kilimanjaro on a shoot for Nadus Films. I wrote about that first trip in a blog you can find here. For this new project, it would be similar in the sense that I would need to document the trek, film interviews and other scenic footage, but what would be different is that I would be the solo filmmaker. I would need to capture all of the video, timelapses, and audio myself.
Read MoreA good business will refresh their visual marketing collateral at least every two years, especially as their target clientele grows and shifts, or to meet the demands of their existing customer base. One such business that I’ve done photography for a few times is the Endless Summer Paddle Company, and this past July I once again spent the day capturing stills for this brand.
Read MoreSpring-summer of 2021 has exploded with film and photo projects, and one of the more fun shoots I got to work on was this canoe race in the heart of the Red River Gorge.
Read MoreIce climbing in Kentucky?! This adventure documentary takes the audience for a bourbon-fueled ride deep into the bushy hollers of Appalachia with a crew of harmless misfits as they race to search out and climb new ice routes before they're gone, with a few surprises along the way.
Read MoreThis winter was a busy one, and the peak of that season (small pun intended) was an unexpected trip to Africa, to join a group that was going to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro! I would be one of two people filming interviews and b-roll over the course of the hike, plus a few days around town in Tanzania.
Read MoreBack in the fall season, I scored some cheap tickets for a flight to Denver, and made plans to connect with my buddy Jon Jugenheimer for a week of ice climbing in Cody, Wyoming. February 1st came fast, and before i knew it I was waiting at the Denver airport to be picked up, only to drive straight through the night to Wyoming.
Read MoreI had about a week to myself hanging out at the American Alpine Club Climber's Ranch in Grand Teton National Park. I had no fixed plans and no set partner. My only goal was to climb part or all of the Exum Route on the Grand, one of the 50 classic climbs in North America. Here's how it went down.
Read MoreIt seems that every summer Jen and I find ourselves out west for one reason or another, and we've really dialed in the recipe for a great road trip. Start with the centerpiece of the meal, a job or project that's located deep in the American West. Rub liberally on both sides with a few days of rock climbing, add a dash of hiking through classic national park trails, and finish with a pinch of seeing old friends and making new ones, and voila! That right there is tasty road trip.
Read MoreStand up paddleboarding is booming in popularity these days, as both casual and avid outdoor enthusiasts seem to enjoy the calm, relatively easy looking way experience some adventure on the water. In response to this growth, companies like Endless Summer Paddle Company are staying busy every weekend with classes and paddle trips. This summer, I worked with ESPC to craft some new photography for their digital marketing and social media.
Read MoreThis past weekend saw the return of one of our favorite non-profits to the Bluegrass, Paradox Sports. Paradox runs adaptive adventure programs across the United States, and they hosted a rock climbing clinic at Torrent Falls, where Wilkinson Visual was asked to be a part of the action.
Read MoreIf you know me at all, you'll know that every winter season I migrate to the southern shores of Lake Superior in search of ice and adventure. 2018 was no exception, and as is often the case, this year was full of its own unique series of events.
Read MoreAs the leaves of fall hit their peak colors, I scrambled to get out and shoot as much as possible. In between hiking the gorge and driving around horse farms, I got asked to jump on a zipline and shoot photos for Lexington’s Boone Creek Outdoors.
Read MoreA brand new adventure photography backpack was recently released, and I was one of a small number of creatives who got to test one out before they went on sale. Check out my full review on Fstoppers.com!
Read MoreDon’t get me wrong, I LOVE what I do. I’m my own boss, set my own schedule, and routinely edit videos or write proposals while wearing pajamas. However, with the advent of social media, and people projecting this image of, “look how awesome my life is” I find it important to take a moment and reflect on the reality of this profession.
Read MoreFor a week in June, I based myself out of Boulder, Colorado, and sought out classic moderate trad climbs. I made it to Estes Park, Mt. Evans, Eldorado Canyon, Lumpy Ridge, and a few other places in just seven days, completing 33 pitches in total. Here's a brief look at a few of the climbs and areas I visited.
Read MoreOver the last five months or so, I have enjoyed many days in Red River Gorge, spending hours on Kentucky's finest sandstone routes. Besides climbing, I also had some photography objectives in mind– including capturing images for a new guidebook.
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