Banff Mountain Festivals 2006
October 28 – November 5

The 2006 Mountain Culture Signature Shot

Christian Pondella
Will Gadd on Aweberg

Each year, we have the very difficult task of sorting through hundreds of images to find a unique cultural, climbing or action shot that best reflects the festivals.

Our list of past signature photographers includes Cameron Lawson, Ace Kvale, Karsten Peter, Pat and Baiba Morrow, Beth Wald, Gordon Wiltsie, Thomas Ulrich, and many others.

2006 marks the 31st anniversary of the Banff Mountain Film Festival and the 13th anniversary of the Banff Mountain Book Festival. Chosen this year to be featured in our annual brochure, film and book festival posters, is the astonishing adventure image Will Gadd on Aweberg, taken off the coast of Makkovik, Labrador, by photographer Christian Pondella.

Christian is an adventure photographer based on Mammoth Lakes, California. He has spent most of his life participating in the activities that he loves to photograph — and he tries to capture his images from an intimate perspective rather than just as a “spectator.” He has traveled to exotic locations around the world, photographing remote mountain ranges and experiencing different cultures.

Will Gadd is a local resident of the Bow Valley, living in Canmore, Alberta. When he’s not climbing icebergs, he’s setting paragliding distance records, pioneering new river descents in his kayak, winning all major ice climbing competitions, and tackling some the most difficult mixed climbing routes on the planet.

Self-portrait of Christian Pondella base jumping in Monument Valley, California