Blake Jorgenson Photography Interview 2010

We bumped into the Rossignol and Dynastar teams shooting with Blake Jorgenson this January in Revelstoke and the resulting photos are sick. We fired Blake a few questions to see what it's like to be one of the best photographers in the game.

BL: Let's get a couple of the basics covered:
Full name: Blake Jorgenson
Nick names: Jorgy, Jake Borgenson
Based in: Whistler BC
Website: www.blakejorgenson.com
Facebook:  Blake jorgenson Photography
Camera: Nikon, Hasselblad, Linhoff

BL: You travelled around the interior with the Rossignol / Dynastar team this January. Fill us in on where you went and what you did?

BJ: We have gone on these team trips in Revy the last three years. We have always have come away with good material and we will be back next year. We have built a good relationship with Revelstoke Resort, Whitewater Resort, and Valhalla and Snowater lodges that help out us in creating all this media that helps them out as well.

pow: Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Matt Richard: Matty mounting his new S7 skis. Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Waiting for the Heli: Lyndsey and other athletes. Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Dan Treadway Air: Photo by Blake Jorgenson 20102010 Rossi S7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BL: You've done a number of these kinds of trips before, did you have much input on where you guys went or is it more of a group decision?

BJ: Trying to tackle big advertising shoots like this is always a challenge to deal with all the people and you never know what kind of conditions you're going to get. Its important to have a detailed shot list of what we need to get and how we are going to get it. Even if it's raining out there is always stuff that needs to be shot.

BL: Having such a sick crew of athletes at your disposal, how do you end up picking who you're going to shoot with on a given day? Or do you make all 10 of them hit the same cliff?

BJ: I usually just work with two or three skiers at a time each day. We try to figure out what we are going to do and choose the skiers that will fit that situation. We also need to keep switching up so we can get a good amount of content of everybody.

BL: Out of all the athletes who impressed you the most?

BJ: Racheal Burks impressed me the most this year.

 

Dynastar/Rossi Trip: Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Lynsey Dyer: Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Sun Dogs over Revy: Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Pillows: pillows. Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010Heli shot: going to the goods. Photo by Blake Jorgenson 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BL: You work in a  pretty dangerous environment, where people are often taking big risks. What's the vibe like on these shoots? Do you keep it pretty light or are most people taking it pretty seriously?

BJ: I dont think its ever really all that dangerous on these types of shoots. We keep it pretty mellow and fun. nobody wants to get hurt on a catalogue shoot.

BL: What is your stand on talking an athlete out of shot they want because of the risk?

Its always up to the athletes on what they want to ski. They often ask me if its worth it to make a shot, and I always say not if you're going to hurt yourself.

BL: Everyone thinks digital is such a revolution but has it made your life more or less complicated?

Digital has completely changed photography. When shooting film you needed to bring a set of skills out there and have confidence in your knowledge of using a camera. Now you can literally learn how to take the shot you're looking for in the moment. It's allowed so many more people to get into photography and start taking great photos. But its also allowed people with lots of film experience to create images beyond what they ever could have imagined with film.

BL: Do you have a favorite kind of skiing you like to shoot or is more like a mood?

BJ: I like shooting all types of skiing. There is always something interesting that inspires a good photo out there.  Whether your in the backcountry or crowded event. But the best is always out with friends getting good turns.

BL: Do you run back ups of your back up drives?

BJ: I have multiple systems with all the photos. This is to back everything up but also for other people to help me out in photo workflow. Its tough to be organized when you're the only one who know where anything is on a good day.

BL: If you had to break down the processes in getting a shot to print that you get paid for in a mag or commercial how would it go?

BJ: I would still say I spend most of my time in the photo process still taking photos. But much of that time is getting into the locations and positions to get the shots. When the stars align you can get lots of good material really fast, but the lead up and travel to get their can be most of the effort. The rest is managing photos and running a business in general that takes all the time. I am lucky that I have a few people to help me out with this to keep up.

BL: The S7 is taking the ski world by storm. Is the newest version better, worse or just as good as last years?

BJ: The S7 is definitely taking the word by storm. I think it takes a few years to develop a concept beyond the core market and into the mainstream demand and Rossi has the magic formula. A big mountain ski that makes every skier better not just the experts, a recognizable graphics line that they have committed too and a bit of a story that people can follow with it. In terms of the actual ski, only the graphics have changed and look even better.

BL: You've just finished a renovation of the Blake Jorgenson gallery in Whistler. Tell us what we can expect that's new?

BJ: Our reno in the gallery was to have more space to accommodate our Olympic sponsorships. Events and exhibits have become the main focus of the gallery.

BL Who's photography work inspires you out there?

BJ: Everybody's work out there inspires me in some way or another. Picking up a mag these days and you just see so many different names taking great shots. Ten years ago you saw the same names over and over again. Now there are tons of names producing awesome stuff. Scott Markewitz has always been the guy I have admired the most.

BL: You're an artist living off your artistry and that isn't easy. What is the hardest part of staying at the top of the game?

BJ: It's really hard to make a living doing what you love because you think passionately and not rationally most of the time. It's not like a normal job that if it does not benefit you in some way, you're not going to do it. The way to approach being an artist is that you're going to do it anyway, regardless of what you get out of it. As soon as your expectations of hoping to get something out of it exceed your love for doing it, its over. If you really like doing something and you're hooked for ever, eventually you will get really good at it. If you pile up expectations during this time, you will get discouraged.

BL: Any shout outs?

BJ: Photography is a group effort. All my images are a collection of really hard work from so many different people. In short I would say that the quality of your images is directly related to the energy and talents of the people you work with.

http://www.rossignol.com

http://www.dynastar.com/international

Blake Jorgenson: self portrait

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