Posted Oct 19, 2005

Name: Jordan Manley

Place you call home: Deep Cove, North Vancouver, BC

Place you want to call home: A North Van - Whistler Partnership is ideal. Never want to leave.

Favourite Colour: I was on the green team in elementary school, but secretly I wanted to be with blue.

Favourite waffle topping: Don't dig the Belgium delight too much, but strawberries and whip cream.

Fish Tacos or taco'd wheels: Both sound like a bad ending to any adventure.

First Camera: My Dad's pentax spotmatic.

So Jordan, I've seen some pretty sweet images come out of your camera. Is this a hobby or your main gig?

Well, over the last couple years I've developed a fierce love and commitment of photography. This past year I quit my job, and have been mainly supporting myselff off of photography.

What is it that gets you so stoked on photography? We're guessing it's not for the mad chicks and huge cash-grabs, care to enlighten us?

Since a kid I've always enjoyed the arts: drawing, painting etc. But, in reality, photography developed out of the sports I participate in, namely, biking and skiing, and an outdoor lifestyle. At first a camera was just a documentation tool, to capture my friends riding bikes and skis. More and more though I've tried to merge art and photojournalism. I love being able to bring out what might be missed- sometimes the magic only lasts for a split second. I love having the power to shape an image through perspective, capturing something on film that might not be seen by someone watching.

Do you do any video work as well, or is that for chumps?

No it's cool. Actually, video used to be my main thing. I did a big epic video shoot yesterday in fact! But, I've never shot much skiing, it's always been mountain biking for some reason. I've shot a few segments for MTB films- 'Rise', 'Halfway to Nowhere', and an upcoming movie 'My Backyard'. I have aspirations of a life of cinematography mixed with photography. It's pretty hard to compare the two mediums, but there are things that I love about operating both still and motion picture cams.

We've been on ski trips with you, but you have plenty of cultural/travel/bike photos as well. What's your main passion? Don't worry, we won't laugh at you if you don't say skiing. Well, maybe.

Ski photography is my main passion. Two reasons: One, I have a love affair with skiing- two, ski images are very strong, and clean. I love the simplicity of the alpine snowscape. Within skiing, my passion is always shooting powder- theres nothing better than skiing deep blower, and theres nothing better than getting that moment on film. I'm never as stoked as when I know the skier has done their job, and I've done mine.

Any exciting photography plans coming up for the fall or winter?

This fall, I'll be shooting mountain biking on the shore on foggy days, and hopefully some epics in the chilcotins on the sunny ones. I'm going back to college after a year off so that will hinder photo-operations slightly in the fall. This winter I'll be calling Whistler home base. I'm sure I'll be back down to Utah and out to the kootenays again like last season. My brother Les, and I, are thinking about a trip to ski some ancient biblical terrain (hint hint), but that's still in the preliminary planning stages. Other than that, we'll see where the storms take me.

You're stuck choosing one of two professions for the rest of eternity, which do you choose?... Shooting Vegas weddings or shooting catalogue photos for Zellers. Remember, Zellers sells lingerie.

Zellers for sure. You know I hate big box stores, but I hate vegas even more!

Your brother is up 'n coming pro skier Les Manley. That must be a pretty good match for ski photography eh?

For sure. We make a good team- he knows what's going to look good, and has the ability to make it happen. We try to do as much as we can together, but we're in different places a lot of the time. He went to France this year so we missed out shooting together throughout the winter a lot. Next year we'll get some great stuff on film though.

We have to ask this. If you could sneak a spy camera into any venue/location/event in space and time, where and when would you choose? You're on your own, so watch out for big dinosaur teeth. They might like Canadian bacon.

Wow. What a question. There are so many moments in the evolutionary history of the planet that would be amazing to see, including the big dinosaurs. This might be cliche but THE BIG BANG would be it. It's what started it all. Would there be skiing without the Big Bang? Nope.

Any thanks?

My Dad, for teaching me how to take pictures and letting me use all his equipment for a long time. Both my parents, for their support. All my friends/athletes who put up with my constant requests of "Can you hike up there? It's gonna be a sick shot!!!" followed by, "Okay, one more, can you hike it again!"

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