Featured Photographer - Jonathan Cracroft

J Dogg — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 01:04:27 -0400

Rating

It's time to sneak behind the lense again, and pick the brain of emerging photographer Jonathan Cracroft straight outta the SLC. Plus of course a sampling of his photos...
Interview by Jamie Bond

Name: Jonathan Cracroft

Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT - USA

Camera: Nikon - D200 & D2X

Favourite Icecream flavour: Vanilla Bean

Digital or oldskool: Digi - but still love film.

Website: www.jonathancracroft.com

So Jon, how'd you get into photography? Since I can remember I was always fascinated by camera and technology in photography. I borrowed my grandfathers old Mamiya film camera and started playing around with light, contrast, color, B&W, speed, and all the fun experimental aspects of photography. I loved the freedom and creativity that photography allowed. After playing around with the camera a little I jumped on the opportunity of a photo class offered in high school and began my official education in photography. I continued taking classes in advanced photography, experimental photography, color, black and white, digital, and media application. I continue to learn more about the dynamics of the technology and art each time I go out for a shoot.

You seem to travel alot. A medium for photography or is photography a bi-product? It's always been a good excuse to begin a new adventure, whether near or far, I enjoy photography and traveling. The two activities compliment each other well. Shooting in new places is always exciting for me, it sparks a sense of adventure and discovery. I've been very fortunate to join with various groups for service projects, family vacations, and work and have traveled to some very beautiful places. Among some of my most memorable are Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belize, Mexico, and Hawaii. I hope to travel to all 7 continents and as many countries as possible.

I spotted Argentina was missing from the list of places you've been. Have you been living in a cave or just not had the chance to head down? It's sooooooooo rad. Funny you should mention. Argentina has been on my list for a long time. I have two close friends that live in the country and love to talk about their adventures. I've read how amazing the terrain, culture and experiences are there. Argentina and Peru are next on my destination list and I hope to get there in the next year or two. Hopefully I can get down while the skiing in good!

With all your sports photography you obviously hit some sports yourself. What sports floats your boat? I really enjoy individual extreme sports, even though I grew up playing team sports. I played soccer for a couple years when I was like 5 and 6. I loved baseball the most and played up until high school. I played a year of water polo, a year of high-school basketball, three years of high-school football (including a state championship) and my senior year I played lacrosse. Team sports taught me a lot about my self and how to work together to accomplish a common goal.

Growing up I always loved riding my bike. I had a bmx when I was 5, and I loved to race that through the neighbor hood. For my tenth birthday I got my first mountain bike. In college I began racing and in my third year I started to see some potential future in professional racing. I was climbing the ranks and finishing higher that I ever had before. I got a little too confident and ended up in the hospital with a fractured cervical vertebrae. After surgery (a titanium plate and 4 screws) I began training again, determined not to let the accident get me down. I sold the mountain bike and traded it in for my first road bike, a black Cervelo Soloist ( I love it). I started swimming and running and have completed nearly a dozen triathlons now. I feel nearly 100% with the exception of an occasional reminder when I'm pushing it hard while climbing or skiing.

You based in SLC again this winter? How's it been going? Getting the goods? Photos? I'm back in SLC this year. I love the terrain here and it a nice place to travel out off with Colorado next door and Jackson Hole and Targee not too far to the North. I'm planning on traveling these places and hopefully Tahoe, Taos, Whistler and a very slim chance, but I'll mention it...Alaska.

My token question, if you could gain secret access with a camera to any event, phenomenon or situation, real or mythical, what would it be? I would have loved to witness the creation of the earth. Every time I camp out under a dark sky, when you can see all the starts, I can't help but ponder what I would have been like to have witnessed the creation of earth. This is a fascinating place, intricate, dynamic and full of life and beauty. I believe that all that is good existed during the creation of the earth, what we have now is what man managed not to destroy.

Any advice on budding young photgraphers, or do you still consider yourself just such a newbie in need of wisdom and advice? I still see myself as a young photographer. I still have a lot to learn. If there is any advice I could give based on what I know now, it would be find a mentor, get out and shoot every extra minute you can and don't be afraid to take chances.

Any thanks? I have a lot to be thankful for. My photo teachers, Miss Frascotti, Mr. Badley, and Mr. Siciliano. My parents who have always supported my photography. My grandfather, for his willingness to loan me his cameras. My close friend Nick Gilson, for teaching me so much about photography, his ability to inspire and the vast amount of knowledge he's shared with me. Pictureline photography in Salt Lake City for their support and great service. Replicolor

More of Jon's work at www.jonathancracroft.com

Pro Photographer Showdown

J Dogg — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Rating

Major changes have been announced for Whistler's Pro Photographer Showdown. The renowned photography expose has moved away from its invitation-only format, and has opened up for the first time to submissions from all action-sport & lifestyle photographers in the world. In addition, organizers have put a winner-take-all $10,000 cash prize on the line for the photographer voted 'Best of Show.'

The 9th annual Pro Photographer Showdown will be held during the 2006 TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, April 14-23 in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The deadline for its worldwide call-for-submissions is February 15, 2006. Five selected photographers will be notified on February 20, 2006 and flown to Whistler for the gala presentation on April 19, 2006. Highlights of the Showdown will be featured in an international television special to be aired in 50 countries in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Recognized as the pre-eminent event of its kind in the world, the Pro Photographer Showdown celebrates excellence in action/lifestyle photography through a unique presentation forum for five selected photographers. The artists present the best work of their careers in 9-minute choreographed shows for 2000 people in Whistler and an international television audience. The Showdown is open to the complete spectrum of action/lifestyle genres.

The new open format is the result of merging two sister events - the elite Pro Photographer Showdown and what was formerly the Pro Photographer Search. The Search was originally designed as a qualifying event for emerging photographers, the winner earning the single wild-card seat to present alongside the invited veterans in the Showdown. The new open call-for-submissions for the Showdown was created to manage the rising demand from professional photographers from around the world who have expressed their interest in being invited to the Showdown. By combining the Search and Showdown, it reduces the number of steps a photographer must take to earn entry into the Showdown and creates a more formal jury process for the selection of photographers.

Photographers interested in being selected for the Pro Photographer Showdown must submit a 3-minute DVD presentation of their images set to music to the selection jury by February 15, 2006. The submissions are to be reflective of the work that would comprise their full 9-minute production in the Showdown. Submissions will be reviewed by an esteemed panel of former Showdown winners, photo editors and industry leaders, and voted on by ballot to determine the top 5 invited artists.

Throughout its nine year history, the Pro Photographer Showdown has featured stunning photography from renowned surf photographers Aaron Chang, Jason Childs, Jeff Divine and Warren Bolster; skateboard gurus J. Grant Brittain and Jon Humphries; acclaimed mountain bike photographer Sterling Lorence; ski & snowboard legends Eric Berger, Paul Morrison, Blake Jorgenson, Mark Gallup, Scott Markewitz, Dave Heath, Vianney Tisseau and Mattias Fredriksson, among others.

"This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the Pro Photographer Showdown," says Doug Perry, President of W1, producers of the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival. "We have always had overwhelming interest in the Showdown from photographers all around the world, and know that a winner-take-all prize of $10,000 will encourage both rising stars and veterans to build incredible shows in 2006."

The TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival is a grand 10-day celebration fusing music, arts and sports, April 14 - 23 in Whistler, B.C. Festival highlights include the World Snowboard Open, World Skiing Invitational, Brave Art, Masterpiece in Motion, Kokanee Freeride, Filmmaker Showdown, World Backcountry Freeride Jam, Demo Park, Words & Stories and Canada's largest free outdoor concert series.

Entry procedures for the Pro Photographer Showdown are available online at www.whistler2006.com.

Doglotion.com - Freeskiing Community - ski photography

Featured Photographer - Jonathan Cracroft

Pro Photographer Showdown