At last month's Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, the Pro Photographer Showdown was again a highlight. One of the leading exhibitions of action sports photography in the world, the Telus Pro Photographer Showdown's reputation for showcasing ground breaking work seems to increase each year, with each new crop of contestants.

For 2009, North Vancouver native Jordan Manley stunned the audience and the judges with his presentation and depth of moving imagery. Bookended by big mountain skiers and bold mountain bike trail blazers, Jordan's collection of shots captured the essence of British Colombia's outdoor majesty through a contrasting array of intense full color action and subtle grayscale silhouettes. His collection has range and maturity beyond his 24 years and its seems likely that Mr. Manley's work will continue to inspire fans of outdoor photography far into the future.

- James Sullivan


JS: You re 5 for 5 in photo shows. How do you explain such a perfect record for being a relatively young professional at 24 years of age, particularly against experienced and accomplished veterans?
JM: I have tried with each of those competitions/shows, which all had public audiences, to put something compelling together. I place an emphasis on having a broad diversity of images - culture, scenic and landscape, close up on details, and strong action from a unique perspective. I think I learned early what a good slide show looks like, and what a crowd is moved by. A narrative is key, so the audience doesn't see just a bunch of random images thrown together; rather, they see a story unfold about life in the mountains. The power of photography lies in its ability to freeze moments, which only last for a split second, or go unseen altogether. To show people what they may have never seen before is a constant inspiration to try new things.

In your portfolio on your web site you have an amazing image of a blade of grass with a mountain biker reflected in the water droplet. There's also the same or similar image with a fly on it. Are both of these photos real? If so, how did you capture it/think of it?
I think we've all noticed that a droplet of water refracts and inverts what is behind it. Sometimes it looks so clear and last year I wondered if I could capture the refraction of a mountain biker behind the droplet off of a leaf. It is the most difficult photograph I have achieved. It's not a documentary photograph requiring only a camera and simple lens, rather, a complicated setup of tripods, clamps, a close-up macro lens, and flash setup to make sure that everything that needed to be in focus was in focus and framed properly. These kinds of shots also require you to do them over and over again. During that process of repetition, trying to get everything right, a fly landed on the leaf. I noticed this and since it was a remotely triggered self-portrait, I quickly hopped back on the bike and took several more runs through to see if I could capture the fly on the leaf moving around while also capturing the refraction of mountain biking in the droplet. The fly crawled to the perfect place on the leaf where it was in focus and I was freaking out (alone) when I saw the result on the back of the camera; true serendipity. Consequently, I ended up with one shot including a fly, and one without (the shot of original intent). There is no Photoshop involved. These are my favorite types of images - where I think of an image and have to experiment and physically work out the logistics at length to build up the photographic end.

What formal photography training do you have?
I don't have any. I was taught the basics by my Dad years ago, and from there it was mostly self-driven experimentation - being a sponge. There are so many great photographs and photography resources in magazines, books, and on the internet to learn from. I'm a visual learner and that self-driven process is one that I've preferred for photography. My formal education is actually in Political Science, which I am finishing up slowly.





Much of your imagery feels organic and moody. Is that you imposing your mood on-camera or simply are you trying to capture the setting in its ambient state? In other words, do you simply capture what s in front of you or do you create an image based up how a place makes you feel?
I think it is a bit of both. A lot of my images are taken on the BC coast, my home, and I love being in the forest when it s raining and foggy. A constant goal of mine is to simplify the elements of a photograph - silhouetting is one way to achieve this - it reveals the form of the landscape and the person in it, abstracting it at the same time. Fog on the coast allows photographers to silhouette like this, and we use it in that way. It's not always foggy but I think it's my favorite time to shoot in the forest because it looks so beautiful.

You seem to use a lot of grayscale and filters. Why?
I don't use any filters, but I have learned the modern equivalent, which are digital post processing toning techniques. It is the same as a photographer that used a filter on a film camera or used a quirky film stock to manipulate the color tones of a photograph. Once again I think it makes the photographs visually simpler. These techniques amplify moods, and aesthetically it just looks more interesting to the eye.

Do you prefer shooting in winter or summer?
Skiing is my favorite thing to do and there is nothing like it. I love photographing a wide range of things but because photographing skiing goes hand in hand with actually participating in the sport itself, I prefer winter. A change in season is good though, and I look forward to summer season to broaden the types of images I can take.

How much has growing up shooting in BC inspired you? Do you think you would ve been a photog even if you lived elsewhere?
That is a great question, and I think the answer is no. I have always enjoyed artistic expression, but my photography developed directly out of documenting my friends skiing and mountain biking on the mountains in North Vancouver. Exploration of our beautiful environment came first, and the photography came second.

Who are some of your photographic influences (photographers)?
Sterling Lorence is a big one - he really defined North Shore mountain biking in my eyes with his strong and moody images of riding here. He taught me light is the most important element of the photograph and that has stuck with me. Guys like Paul Morrison and Blake Jorgenson on the ski side of things - again they are masters of using natural light in the mountains. Freeman Patterson's photographs and books also taught me about the importance of light, but even more importantly about composition.

How much of your results are due to technical knowledge and how much of it is pure instinct?
The technical aspect is very important, it requires diligence to learn the ways equipment help and hinder, but technical knowledge is just a tool to achieve an end result. I think all artists' aesthetics are influenced by those before them, but those that stand out have to carve their own path and that probably requires something that can't be learned in the classroom.

What s the most common equipment that you use?
I use a Nikon d700, and a mixed bag of fixed and zoom lenses. I try not to carry too much equipment if I can get away with it.

What are your long-term goals for photography / what s your ideal life like in 10 years / 20 years?
I think I'll always be into ski and mountain bike photography, simply because those are the sports I'm very passionate about and ones hopefully I will be participating for a long time to come. I have long thought about some day shooting for magazines like National Geographic - the idea of exploring and documenting globally with a greater emphasis on social and environmental issues appeals greatly to me.

Any tips for young photogs?
Find people that you can look up to photographically and have solid business practices. Ask lots of questions of those mentor figures and absorb what made them successful. Shoot lots and be critical of your own work.



Testimonial:
"I've watched Jordan emerge as a brilliant young photographer over the last several years and there has never been any doubt in my mind that he is a prodigy. As his skills developed to match his vision he started to consistently produce absolutely inspiring work. This year s Pro Photo Showdown was the toughest competition he's faced and he matched and exceeded his peers and veterans. Jordan Manley will transcend the sports he shoots and become a legend. Mark my words."

- Dano Pendygrasse