2011 Banff Mountain Festival Photography Competition Winners

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

38 years: 20,320 feet: 14 days ©Tim Remick

 

“The photographic series AFTER – Portraits from Denali is a visual exploration of the human condition after climbing North America’s highest peak. These portraits attempt to document the human experience through the communicative power of the face. Each portrait explores the curious physiological details resulting from the ravages of exhaustion, accentuating the emotional condition of the individual. It is within the moments of the after that I have sought to find the exactness that exists within the human response, and to capture the curious mix of adrenaline, reflection, and exhaustion; all sharing the same instant. It is through this consensual process that these portraits become an artistic exploration of persona, character, and identity reflective of the physical manifestation of the journey's toll, celebrating the human capacity to endure. “

Tim Remick has called Anchorage, Alaska home for the better part of 14 years where he and his family routinely explore the mountains and vast spaces of Alaska. Since establishing Tim Remick Photography LLC in 2001, Tim has produced commercial, editorial, portraiture, fine art, research and expedition documentation, and stock images for clients throughout south central Alaska. In 2009, Tim received an MFA in Photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. The photographic series After – Portraits from Denali has been recognized by the Alaska State Museum in Juneau and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. In addition to pursuing photographic projects, Tim teaches photography at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.
www.timremickphotography.com

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

 

25 years: 20,320 feet: 32 days ©Tim Remick

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

 

27 years: 20,320 feet: 29 days ©Tim Remick

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

 

54 years: 20,320 feet: 14 days ©Tim Remick

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

34 years: 20,320 feet: 17 days ©Tim Remick

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

30 years: 20,320 feet: 15 days ©Tim Remick

 

Grand Prize

Tim Remick: AFTER– Portraits from Denali

 

27 years: 20,320 feet: 29 days ©Tim Remick

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

Jagan and the alpha goat, as the day begins.

“Every September the highest pastures of Himachal Pradesh in India witness an exodus – as the Gaddi, pastoral nomads of the region, guide their flocks to lower altitudes and more merciful climes. These seasonal movements are dictated as much by weather and the urge to survive as they are by an ancient philosophy of allowing the land to rejuvenate. Today, with the community’s youth succumbing to the lure of cities, traditional pastures being designated as wildlife reserves, taxes being imposed on grazing, and roads extending where once there were only trails, many migratory routes are slowly falling silent. These images are part of my personal project to document the tribes of the Indian Himalaya and understand their frugal, yet noble existence, which is governed by an innate understanding of needs: their own, those of their livestock, and of the environment. It is an understanding we would do well to nurture.”

Sankar Sridhar first visited the Himalayas looking for bragging rights, but instead found nomads; a people who considered his “adventures” just another day. For the past 13 years, Sridhar has walked with several pastoral communities in the Indian Himalaya, living their life and documenting their lifestyle within the context of their environment. Sridhar’s writings and photographs have been published in international and national magazines and newspapers, including Adventure Travel UK, Marie Claire, Geo, Le Courrier France, Le Courrier International Japon, Outlook Traveller, India Today Travel Plus, The Telegraph and The Times of India. His images have also won awards in national and international contests. The New York Times’ lens blog has rated his images as “...compelling, a must-see...” Sridhar’s book, Ladakh, Trance Himalaya, a visual travelogue, was published in 2009.
www.sankarsridhar.com

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

Salt for the animals – one of the few essentials on the journey.

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

One goat died in a fall in the night.

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

New–born kids must be carried in gunny sacks on horses.

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

Jagan waits at 4750 metres (15,580 feet) to assemble the flock at the dangerous Thamsar Pass.

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

Following Santosh’s signals of whistles and clicks, the goats stay together through danger-free terrain.

 

Special Mention

Sankar Sridhar: Journey with the Gaddi

The final turn towards the descent.