Great Divide Rail Jam — where street photography and skiing collide

One of my favorite genres of photography to explore and ogle over is street photography. In this genre, photographers flex their artistic talents by capturing more than just an image from a scene — they catch the feelings from that moment. By mastering their craft and manipulating the tools of the trade… only their camera and available light really… they can distill movement, tension, and emotion into a compelling photograph.

It is a genre I have wanted to explore, but easily find an excuse to shy away from. After all, most of us would find it difficult to shamelessly snap photos of our friends on their daily commute to work. Photographing complete strangers in their day-to-day life though… that’s even worse!!! Isn’t it?

Well, after shooting at the Great Divide Ski Area’s Guardians of the Grind Rail Jam in Helena, MT I might have different feelings about trying street photography. My focus during the event was to really think outside the box and incorporate more of downtown Helena into my shots rather than only capture the skiing. I really enjoyed the challenge and, while the lighting was rough for some of my compositions, I do think I grabbed some special shots.