Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown: “Super Sweet” 16 - Aaron Peart
Well. From State of the Art, something I'm familiar with and at the same time, surprised by every year, to an event I've never experienced before. The Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown turned 16 this year, and I secured a ticket under the agreement that I would tell all you lovely people about it afterwards. The old adage says that a picture is worth a thousand words... Well, I saw so many shots in a couple hours. I don't think I have enough time in this life to drop 1000 on each one. Most events in Whistler eschew the stuffy was of awards shows (see also: October’s B-Grade Horrorfest, another event I managed to get a ticket for) and tonight was no exception. Hoots and hollers pervaded, more-so than applause for most of the evening. Coolest Father Figure Ever Mike Douglas kept things rolling, uncharacteristically dressed to impress. In fact, the last time he wore it was at Rory Bushfield and the late Sarah Burke's wedding, as evidenced by the pebble ‘placecard’ he found in his pocket. 9 minutes is a long time but a short one to see the best an artist has to offer. At times you have to look around to remember you aren't the only one in the room; it's that immersive, something as simple as a slide show. In terms of content, the artists all focus on mountain life, outdoors, and travel. Each photographer had a different theme underlying his or her work. Scott Serfas was a welcome start, showing the behind the scenes of the recent Red Bull vehicles. Camilla Stoddart’s drawing from her travel lifestyle highlights wingsuits, dirtbikes, Japanese culture. Adam Moran keeps it grounded, showing the joy of riding with your best friends, and many up-close, intimate shots of riders he’s had the pleasure to work within his job as Burton shutterbug. Jeff Patterson is able to capture the majesty, and dare I say, the glamour of ski bum life. He really made me hungry for one last snow day of the season: good thing it’s puking snow out as we watch! In the end, Brian Nevin’s surf-centric showcase took home both the main $10,000 prize as well as the People’s Choice $1000 prize. The juxtaposition of wetsuits in the snow was odd but refreshing to see (check the dude brushing snow off his surfboard atop his car). His opening track, Patti Griffin’s “Cold as it Gets”, worked so well with his content. Nevins could hardly believe the result; his modesty was strongly evident in his thank yous, telling everyone to keep the craft alive by going to shows like this (Brian had no idea what a big deal this was until the night). It really is incredible to see what is capable with a camera. With everybody looking up at the brightness, I felt like I was a kid seeing fireworks for the first time at my grandparents’ farm. My entire week was a blur of action, but the Olympus Pro Photographer Showdown was the standout highlight. - Aaron Peart
