Photo story: extreme sports - Life on the Edge

Words by Corey Rich

Inspiring images from photographer Corey Rich’s new book makes us want to just get out there this spring.

This is my favorite place!” those are the words photographer Corey Rich hears again and again from outdoor adventurers. they inspired the name for his— and writer Jason Paur’s—new book: My Favorite Place. To shoot the 160-page book he accompanied some of today’s great American adventurers to the places they go that inspire them. He followed a surfer to Florida, a climber up El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California, a kayaker in Tennessee and a mountain biker in Utah. Rich talks us th rough some of the book’s best shots. What’s inspiring for us all is that, except for a few especially daunting locations—th ink bridges and cliffs that would make an eagle get vertigo—the outdoor hangouts featured in the book can be enjoyed by anyone who knows the fundamentals of their sport. Even better, most of them are just a short drive from an AirTran Airways destination.

 

46º51′N | 121º45′W
Washington

Ed Viesturs is an aerobic animal: He was the first American to summit all of the 8,000 meter mountains in the world [peaks higher than 26,200 feet] with out bottled oxygen. the biggest challenge shooting this photo on Mount Rainier was trying to keep up withed. He is the Lance Armstrong of mountaineering. 16-35mm lens, Canon EOS 1V, Fuji Velvia

 

37º22′N | 118º24′W
California

By using an extremely long telephoto lens, I was able to create the illusion that Kari was soaring over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In fact, she was actually soaring over Owens Valley, just miles away from her home in Bishop, California. 600mm lens, Canon EOS 1V, Fuji Velvia

 

29º06′N | 80º56′W
Florida

This photo of four-time world champion surfer Lisa Anderson was shot at New Smyrna Beach in Florida. Lisa has surfed better waves than the ones here in central Florida, but this is where she grew up and first learned the sport. And no matter what the ocean gives, Lisa can rip. 600mm lens, Canon EOS 1V, Fuji Velvia

35º48′N | 85º37′W
Tennessee / Georgia

For Eric Jackson, work (a kayak company) and home are about equal distances from the Caney Fork River, a few hours north of Nashville, Tennessee. He frequently rides a bike with his kayak attached to the river on his way to and from work, and manages to get a quick paddle in both directions. Getting wet is one of Eric’s daily rituals. He is truly living the dream. 600mm lens, Fuji Velvia Canon EOS 1V

 

37º44′N | 119º38′W
California

I was dangling 2,500 feet above Yosemite Valley from a 10mm rope when I shot this photo. I am equally as passionate about photography as I am rock climbing. I feel at home when I am high above the earth with a camera around my neck. 16-35mm lens, Canon EOS 3, Fuji Velvia