2007 Banff Mountain Photography Competition
Special Mention
Kari Medig: Kashmiri Ski Guide
“I was in Kashmir for a ski magazine, covering the operation of a new gondola built by the government to lift skiers into the Himalayas near the disputed border with Pakistan. We worked every day to capture action images of professional athletes skiing the enormous terrain in the area. Shooting the action was fun, but as a photojournalist I found myself drawn to the more subtle stories that capture the spirit of the sport. So I turned my lens to the locals in the area, in particular the local ski guides who made a living showing the mountain to tourists. In my search to document the guides, I met Mr. Firouz, a legendary 67-year-old guide in the village, and asked to make an appointment to photograph him. He generously agreed, and returned the next day with an old set of skis and his sunglasses. I made one exposure with my old medium-format film camera before he took his sunglasses off, and it is definitely the one that captures his unique sense of cool.”
Kari Medig is a photographer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. His love of skiing has landed him in some of the most obscure ski locales in the world.