Christian Pondella

I find inspiration in so many ways. My main inspiration being an outdoor adventure photographer is just getting outside and experience Mother Nature. Watching the sunrise and sunset can be so inspiring especially when you incorporate that into action photography. Another big influence for me when I was younger was Galen Rowell, he was basically one of the first very successful adventure sport photographers.

The amount of planning for a shoot can vary drastically. Many shoots are spur of the moment or commercial shoots that are already planned out. Many other shoots as far as personal projects can sometimes take up to years to pull off. So much of my work is in the mountains and as I spend a lot of time outdoors working and recreating I am always looking for photo opportunities. Many times I have visualized a photo, but due to its location some many factors need to come into play especially for some of my ski images, like the perfect snow conditions and perfect light. Some images I have had visualized in my head for years before I finally captured the shot.

I have had many amazing experiences as a photographer, primary traveling and photographing at many beautiful locations as I have traveled to six of seven continents. But for one specific worse and best experience this might be one experience in its totality.On a big commercial shoot, I had captured several locations of images and as we wrapped up one shoot we took a break at a popular trail head. We then drove about an hour to our next location for a sunset shoot. As we gathered our gear to head out I could not find my camera bag, as it turned out I had left it on the ground next to where I parked at the last trailhead parking lot. I was sick to my stomach to think that my bag would have been picked up by someone and all my images were gone not to mention all my camera gear! Plus I couldn’t continue the photo shoot! This was by far one of the worse experience’s I have had as a photographer as my client was standing right next to me. I called my wife and she drove to the trailhead to look for my bag and miraculously the bag was still there! This was one of the most elated feelings I have had as a photographer. To make matters even better the models were late for the sunset shoot so there was enough time for my wife to drive my camera bag to me and we pulled off the rest of the shoot.

I generally like to use a shallower depth of field and a fast shutter speed (1250 or faster) when shooting action sports like skiing.

Anticipation, it is important to anticipate where the subject is going to be for that fleeting moment and have a plan of how you are going to capture it and have your camera set and ready.