Yr in Evaluate » Michael Clark Pictures

2021 has been a little bit of a combined bag. Elements of the 12 months have been almost as busy as earlier than the Covid pandemic started and different elements felt extra like 2020 with lengthy stints right here within the workplace. Regardless, I used to be nonetheless capable of create some wild photos. An enormous thanks to my shoppers who’ve continued on with assignments in a tricky 12 months and lots of of whom put in place very strict Covid practices. I very a lot recognize my shoppers approaching any gathering with warning and reasoned practices to maintain all of us as protected as doable.

This 12 months additionally introduced with it some superb experiences–like attending to fly the wrong way up in a helicopter–and a few superb assignments. In February, Fujifilm launched the GFX 100S–their newest 102 megapixel GFX medium format digital camera–and it was nice to see all the downhill skateboarding photos we created for that marketing campaign seem far and wide with the discharge of the digital camera. I couldn’t share these photos in final years 2020 Yr in Evaluate submit as a result of the digital camera had not been introduced but. You possibly can see one of the best photos from that marketing campaign here on my website. Under is a display shot of the principle picture Fujifilm used to advertise the brand new GFX digital camera right here within the USA.

Since working with the brand new FUJIFILM GFX 100S, its has been my fundamental digital camera and the GFX 100, it’s large brother, has taken the backseat for a lot of assignments in deference to the smaller, extra moveable 100S. Lots of the photos proven right here on this year-end abstract have been created with these astounding GFX 102 megapixel cameras. A honest because of Fujifilm for his or her continued help of my work and for serving to me to have the absolute best instruments I may ever dream of.

I do know that these “Yr in Evaluate” weblog posts are a dime a dozen – and I’ve seen quite a lot of them over the previous couple of weeks – however I hope you discover this weblog submit a minimum of entertaining. With out additional ado, listed below are what I think about to be one of the best photos I’ve created this previous 12 months.

Crimson Bull Air Power
Los Alamos, California — USA

Early this spring, after the epic increase in Covid instances over the past winter, I acquired an excellent task from Crimson Bull to as soon as once more {photograph} the Crimson Bull Air Power coaching camp. I’ve photographed the final 4 coaching camps for Crimson Bull, which has helped me to determine fairly a great relationship with the workforce and in addition a really effectively rounded portfolio of BASE Leaping, wingsuit BASE leaping and aerial acrobatics photos. This years coaching camp was held in Los Alamos, California and provided a very new panorama to work with as may be seen within the photos beneath.

My honest because of your complete Crimson Bull Air Power and to Crimson Bull for permitting me to be part of this years coaching camp. I’m already wanting ahead to the following time I get to work with this unimaginable crew. For the total story on this task try my Summer 2021 Newsletter.

SanDisk
Crimson Rocks, Nevada — USA

Proper after the Crimson Bull task proven above I had one other task with SanDisk and DPReview to indicate off their newest strong state journey exhausting drives (SSDs). For this task, I selected to create some mountaineering photos utilizing my brand-new FUJIFILM GFX 100S and a wide range of GFX lenses. Eric Becker, working with DPReview, created a behind the scenes video displaying how the pictures have been created and dealing with the SanDisk SSDs. My because of Eric and the DPReview workforce, in addition to SanDisk in fact, for this task and in addition to the climbers, Joey and Yulia Cohn and Keoni Onsaga, for popping out on two frosty chilly days.

Spotlight Skydiving Workforce
Tucson, Arizona — USA

Whereas photographing the Crimson Bull Air Power workforce coaching camp, Amy Chmelecki requested if I might come out and {photograph} the Highlight Skydiving workforce, which is an elite feminine skydiving workforce. Whereas working with the Spotlight crew, they wished to swoop by way of a wall of fireplace as they got here in for a touchdown. I had not seen something like this in my fifteen years of photographing varied skydiving sports activities nevertheless it appeared like a goldmine photographically. As may be seen beneath, Kaz Sheekey swooped by way of a wall of blazing fireplace and smoke (the smoke got here from a flare set off in entrance of the fireplace line) and these two photos could be my greatest photos from 2021. I couldn’t resolve which picture is healthier, the one together with her within the midst of the flames or the second the place she has simply busted by way of the flames. Therefore, I’ve posted each right here. My because of your complete Spotlight Skydiving workforce for his or her unimaginable hospitality and for having such a cool workforce coaching camp.

Rocky Mountain College of Pictures
Missoula, Montana — USA

For the final 5 years, I’ve spent one week every year educating a workshop for the Rocky Mountain School of Photography (RMSP), which is a 9 month intensive skilled faculty for these seeking to turn out to be skilled photographers. I’ve taught a course on Journey Photogrpahy and through that week, I attempt to seize a couple of photos right here and there to indicate the scholars what I might do in these situations. On the day we labored with a couple of whitewater kayakers this previous 12 months, I bought the picture beneath of Sebastian Johnson whitewater kayaking on the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula, Montana. As this location had a really busy background I assumed utilizing a sluggish shutter pace to create a movement blur would result in an attention-grabbing picture–and effectively, it turned out fairly effectively. My because of RMSP and the kayakers for working with us in significantly chilly kayaking situations.

Santa Fe Institute
Santa Fe, New Mexico — USA

Each occasionally I’ve a neighborhood task, i.e. one right here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Often, native assignments contain a portrait of some kind and this was a kind of gigs. I’ve labored with the Santa Fe Institute a number of instances over the previous couple of years and as some of the elite science establishments on the planet it’s at all times enjoyable working with SFI. For this task I used to be tasked with creating a couple of totally different portraits of renown physicist and cosmologist Sean Carroll. As somebody who studied physics in college and bought a B.S. in physics, it was fairly cool to satisfy one of many icons of the science world. To create one thing distinctive and present the facility of Sean’s thoughts, I created a double publicity picture melded from a black and white portrait and a photograph of a 3D artwork set up on the institute. We additionally had Sean write out a few of the equations he’s working with on the institute for a extra “customary” portrait. I assumed each photos are fairly cool and it was nice to listen to Sean appreciated them as effectively. My because of Sean Carroll and SFI for working with me on this task.

And if there may be any doubt concerning the significance of science and scientists, the previous couple of years have confirmed fairly successfully how necessary science is to our fashionable society and the way unimaginable the brand new vaccines are in defending us. Please get vaccinated to guard your self and others.

Golden Aspens
Santa Fe, New Mexico — USA

I appear to have been on a movement blur kick this 12 months as I created all kinds of movement blur photos–two of that are present right here on this 12 months finish submit. Whereas on a hike this fall, a patch of glowing golden Aspens alongside the Alamos Vista Path above Santa Fe, New Mexico caught my eye and I spent 5 minutes or extra transferring the digital camera and my physique to make movement blur photos of this forest wall. It most likely seemed fairly hilarious as I bent my knees in a pumping movement up and down. That appeared to be one of the best approach for holding the digital camera regular at sluggish shutter speeds and never transferring it any nearer or farther from the scene. The end result was the picture beneath. Whereas this method is nothing new, and lots of, many photographers have created such a picture, I discovered this one picture (out of a whole bunch I created that day) to be “The One.” It has already turn out to be one in every of my most requested for photos as a wonderful artwork print.

New Mexico Tourism
White Sands Nationwide Park, New Mexico — USA

This fall, I had a really enjoyable task working with New Mexico Tourism, the Metropolis of Alamogordo and the New Mexico Museum of House Historical past. The task was to create a sequence of photos of Mike Shinabery (an worker of the House Museum) in an Astronaut swimsuit in and round Alamogordo, New Mexico. The House Historical past Museum had a $60,000 USD reproduction area swimsuit based mostly on Neil Armstrong’s swimsuit used for the Moon touchdown in 1969. That is the swimsuit you see right here in these photos. The photographs we created in White Sands Nationwide Park specifically have been one of the best photos from the task and a few of the extra uncommon photos I created this 12 months. Under are two of my favorites.

For the total story on this task try my Fall 2021 Newsletter. My because of Bill Stengel who introduced me in for this task!

New Mexico Tourism
Wild Rivers Recreation Space, New Mexico — USA

On one other New Mexico Tourism task this fall I photographed fly-fishing on the Rio Grande river within the Wild Rivers Recreation Space close to Questa, New Mexico. Whereas climbing right down to the river I noticed this beautiful superb overhead view with phenomenal colours and textures. Our fly-fisherman Toner Mitchell was gracious sufficient to hike downriver so I may get a sequence of photos of him in varied spots on the river. This picture beneath is one in every of my favorites from that task and appeared worthy of this 12 months finish abstract.

Eylea
California — USA

Whereas this picture isn’t from 2021, after two years I’m simply now capable of share it. This picture is from a significant advert marketing campaign I shot for Eylea, a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical large Bayer, approach again in 2019. Eylea is a drug for these struggling with Macular Degeneration. On this gig, we created three closely composited photos for the marketing campaign. [Note: It is extremely rare that I use compositing in my work and if an image is composited then I am very clear about how the image was created.] Within the picture temporary the advert company had a mountain scene from Austria and wished to create one thing comparable right here within the USA with out snow in early April. Whereas working with my producer for this task, we selected a highway in central California for the bicycle owner to experience on–and which had the suitable foothills surrounding the highway. The mountains within the background are from Colorado, the sky is from one other picture and all the daisies you see beneath have been added in post-production. Whereas we produced 4 totally different composited photos for this task this one is by far my favourite.

So lengthy 2021. My because of Crimson Bull, Fujifilm, SanDisk, Nationwide Geographic, New Mexico Tourism, SFI and all of my different shoppers with whom I labored this 12 months. Thanks for taking the time to take a look at a few of this years highlights. Be at liberty to touch upon any of those photos and inform me which one you suppose is one of the best of one of the best from this 12 months. Completely satisfied Holidays and a Completely satisfied New Yr to you all. Right here’s hoping your 2022 will get us all again to completely regular and is full of adventurous travels and superb experiences!