I am really fortunate to have just returned from an amazing trip to Newfoundland, invited by Mike Jones and Andreas Hestler for some riding and photography (which we’ll be turning into a few different articles). Although the riding wasn’t as developed as we’d hoped on the west coast, it has incredible potential. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to many beautiful parts of the world, including Antarctica, and I can say that Newfoundland has one of the most beautiful coast lines I’ve ever seen. Mind blowing really. From the epic scenery, to the gracious and warm people, to the historic sites where vikings first “discovered” North America, it was a trip to remember and dwell on for quite some time. I can’t wait to return.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
To the end of the earth, my love: Newfoundland
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010Deep Summer Photo Challenge
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010This blog is way late, but better late than never I suppose. In August I was invited to participate in the Saint Deep Summer Photo Challenge hosted by Whistler Blackcomb. It is basically the same format as the Deep Winter contest that I have been a part of the last 3 years, except in the Summer, mostly in the Whistler Bike Park. I joined Mike Hopkins, Darcy Turenne, and Thomas Vanderham, all really talented athletes. Thomas and I grew up riding together in highschool on the shore and haven’t really taken any photos since his ascendency to super-stardom in the mtb world, but finally we got a chance and we got some great images. I decided that I wanted to theme our 5 min show around the Whistler Bike Park trail crew, invading their world in order to show people what goes on behind the scenes in the most popular mountain bike playground on the planet. It paid off and the judges awarded us 1st place, which we were all really happy about. Special thanks to the trail crew for making it all happen!
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Saturday, July 31st, 2010An unlikely place for a mountain bike story, I found myself in Grand Rapids, Michigan this week on assignment for Bike magazine profiling members of the extinct mountain bike company Nuke Proof (circa 1990s). One of the most interesting parts of the trip was wandering around the old train yards and steel transferring buildings that facilitated manufacturing in Grand Rapids. Nowadays, the manufacturing economy is all but dried up and one lonely employee we met wondered “why I still have a job after 25yrs”. Though, he’s probably fortunate to have one at all.
New gallery images on Jordanmanley.com
Thursday, July 1st, 2010I’ve put some new images up throughout the galleries on jordanmanley.com – from Guatemala to India, to overhead aerials above Vancouver, cruise through and check them out.
Avalanche Road: On Assignment
Monday, April 12th, 2010Last week I was shooting for an SBC Skier magazine article following a few different veteran avalanche professionals in British Columbia through their day-to-day duties. Accompanied by writer Dan K., I spent some time skiing and looking at snow with Eric Dafoe who works for Parks Canada controlling the Rogers Pass section of the Trans Canada highway between Revelstoke and Golden. We spent some time ski touring and digging pits, as well as getting up close and personal with their Canadian Army partnership firing the Howitzer 105 at some avi paths above the road. The percussion blast is so strong it made my camera smack me in the forehead when I was shooting. No biggy.
Avalanche Road, On Assignment from Jordan Manley Photography on Vimeo.
Next, we spent some time closer to home on the Duffey Lake Road with Scott Aitken and Doug Tuck ski touring and digging pits once again. These guys have been working the road for 25yrs now. I had a lot of fun with them, and I learned a lot. Thanks!
Spring touring in Whistler
Monday, April 12th, 2010La Grave, France
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010I’m now in La Grave and just got off the hill after my first day back here skiing. It is my 3rd year in a row (and in total) having the good fortune to be able to ski and experience this magical place. The grandur of rock and ice here blow the mind, and the way a skier can move through such a huge volume of spectacular terrain in a day is like nothing else I’ve experienced. You have to be on your toes, and you have to know where you’re going, as there is no ski patrol, nothing is marked, and the terrain is extremely complex. You’re on your own to wander the mountains, giving you a much more real experience as a skier, and consequently you feel that much more alive. I’m here shooting photos, as well as shooting a web episode for Arcteryx/Goretex. These episodes I’m doing will consist of video, stills, and timelapses that I’m gathering with a Nikon D3s, which is proving to be a great all-in-one tool.
Gulmarg, Kashmir
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010I have just left India and already it seems we weren’t there for long. The truth is, we weren’t. The goal: to ski at Gulmarg, a small ski resort, the only of it’s kind in the entire Himalaya. Equiped with the highest gondola in the world, we were set to ski some stunning terrain and magical snow, and capture the experience (both photography and video). Upon arrival however, we learned quickly they are having the worst season anyone can remember, and to make matters worse the snow stability was beyond bad. With our safety caps on, we poked around and gathered enough footage we could for the web episode I’m doing for Arcteryx/Goretex. Deciding to leave before schedule, it seems we made the right call. We jumped ship prior to a big forecasted snowfall, and we’ve seen all over the news 17 soldiers died tragically in an avalanche in Gulmarg – tragic because this could have been prevented 100% with some reasonable snow safety knowledge.
It was incredible to go to India and experience such a completely different world, warm people, and the stunning beauty of the Himalaya, however we’ll have to wait until another year to experience safe and powdery skiing.
Guatemala, a diversion from Winter
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010This post is a little dated, my apologies. In January, I did something I never do, and that is ride my bike…in Guatemala of all places. Shooting for Bike magazine, I joined Vancouver Island writer Andrew Findlay, and together we joined Matt Hartell and his co-pilot Luisa for a trip around Guatemala riding. Most of the riding was on (some ancient) Mayan foot paths that Matt has pieced together into flowing trails, something that has taken a lot of exploration and work. From riding down to Lake Atitlan rimmed with volcanoes on limestone foot steps, to eating mystery meat on dirt floors with a family in the remote village of Chortiz, it was a wild experience.
American Photo magazine
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Recently I had the opportunity to be featured in American Photo magazine, as part of their “One to Watch” and “Skills” departments. Feel free to check it out by downloading the PDF’s here APH0210_017-019 and here APH0210_068-070.















