ascend: Reframing Disability in the Outdoors

Client: The North Face

“It's not about these summits, it's about these experiences in the mountains with my friends and communities, having conversations about what it feels like to be a minority in the mountains…” Last winter, Vasu Sojitra and his two friends Emilé Zynobia and Zahan Billimoria set out to ski Mt. Moran—in the process, reshaped the conversation around disability in the outdoors.

MULE DRAGGER: A RETURN TO WILDERNESS

Client: TECOVAS

Nature is constantly changing, and the only thing we can do is surrender. Working against it never bodes well for anyone, but leaning into it is where the real magic happens.

Mule Dragger follows the story of Chris Eyer and his connection to all that is wild is inspiring; a synergy between nature and man. A return to the wilderness in mind and body.

CAMP YOSHI

Client: REI

After moving to Oregon and falling in love with the ability to explore the outdoors with ease with his wife and two kids, Rashad Frazier knew he had to extend the invitation to others. Driven by the magic of his experiences, his background as a chef, and his love of good food and connecting people to incredible places that open up to conversation, he created Camp Yoshi, which curates custom outdoor adventures centered around shared meals and shared experience with the goal of creating a space for Black people and allies to unplug and in turn reconnect with the wilderness. By virtue of being in these places, Camp Yoshi's trips transform historically segregated spaces into safe havens for community, conversation and nourishment.

YALA

Here is a teaser of YALA. YALA is short documentary film about a young Syrian refugee who, longing for identity in a place far from home, turns to surfing in search of peace and community in the waves around Beirut.

Fall 2019 Collection

Client: Brooks Running

Director’s cut from a trip to Calgary to help Brooks Running roll out their new Fall 2019 product line. Run, run, run, run, run!

BROTHERHOOD OF SKIING

Client: REI

The first Black Ski Summit took place in 1973 and was attended by over 350 skiers. A year later the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) was founded and would grow to have chapters in most major urban centers of the black community, including South Central LA, Oakland, Chicago, Detroit, and New York City.

2.5 Million

Client: Jaybird & Ortovox

"2.5 Million" follows American skier Aaron Rice as he sets out to ski 2.5 million human-powered vertical feet in the backcountry and set a new world record.

Riding the roots

Client: RedBull

Riding the Roots follows three snowboarders as they road trip about Vermont exploring the state's deep-rooted snowboard history and some of the off-the-beaten path places thriving today.

Girls gotta eat dirt

Client: Ripton

The story of three best friends, roommates, and riding partners with a taste for the finer things. And plenty of dirt on their jorts.

The Beautiful Mile

Client: Hoka OneOne

Notes: This project was unique in the sense that I was only in charge of cinematography and not concept development, editing or music, nevertheless it's a beautiful piece and a great example of my work as a cinematogrpaher and drone operator. 

DIrectors of Toughness: Season One

Client: Columbia Sportswear

Notes: Season One was a 12 part video series following Columbia's Directors of Toughness around the world as they tested gear. I was brought in to oversee the production, including acting as DP, First Camera, and overseeing post. Season One garnered several million views and was seen as a major succcess

DIrectors of Toughness: Season Two

Client: Columbia Sportswear

Notes: After the success of Season One, Columbia launched Season Two. I was once again brought in as Director and First Camera for this 10 episode mini reality series. Season two yeilded over 200 million impressions and nearly 10 million views. 

Vasu Sojitra: OUt on a Limb

Client: Personal Project

Notes: I wrote, shot, and edited this piece from start to finish, and it is a great example of the type of storytelling I like to create. It is a few years out of date in terms of production value but still one of my favorite projects.