Photo Tips

Robert Caston is the Vice President of Content and Business Development at WeSay.

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Probably one of the greatest gigs a photographer can get is hanging out, make that sometimes literally, with the folks at Teton Gravity Research.

You might have watched one of the TGR’s videos on high-altitude, back-country adventure skiing and snowboarding. They’ve been producing them for nearly 14 years.

But what many people don't know is that many times freelance still photographers accompany the film crew on their many adventures around the globe, from Alaska to Romania and even places like Morocco.

So how do they get those incredible videos and photos?

First of all, it helps if you have a helicopter. Many of the areas filmed by TGR are inaccessible by any other means. Plus, they are always searching for that new, untouched peak.

Then you need some ski and snowboard athletes. These people are not necessarily Olympic skiers or snowboarders. They’re a different breed unto themselves.

Racing down an uncharted mountain full of fresh powder in Romania requires a whole different set of skills, and mindset, than ripping down a groomed slalom course.

To get great ski and snowboard shots, you need people willing to be dropped off atop a 10,000-foot peak the size of half a basketball court.

When describing their different filming start points, the crew and athletes tend to use the word “insane” quite a bit.

“They’re super specific to big mountain skiing and backcountry,” said TGR producer Josh Nielsen.