This is by far, the worst lighting I have ever come across for event photography, anywhere.

Sick Of It All

Madball

The Spyderz

Toetag

Look for more on The Great Pit Ball soon!

Images © James H. Pickett
Do not use without permission

Don’t get me wrong, I love my image. The fact is, I wouldn’t have this image if I was apathetic about the destruction of our nations woodlands. Part of the purpose of America the Lost is to shed light on what used to be our great nation, and to shed light on those that are destroying it. This started to really become an issue in my heart upon revisiting wooded areas that were my childhood playground. Much to my dismay I had discovered that Walmart, Best Buy, TGI Fridays and many others had slathered asphalt where trees we used to play in at one time touched the sky.

This particular image was taken outside of Mechanicville, NY in a new high end housing development that was once, you guessed it, someone’s childhood playground.

In a political climate that is so crazy over global warming, you would think lawmakers would pass legislation that requires developers to plant trees in another location when they kill them to make money from housing. Part of global warming is about the carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere, so why allow the destruction of giant plants that produce oxygen to offset the effect? Forget going green, why aren’t we trying to stay green?

The term is deforestation, and it has a severe impact on global warming. Currently, America The Lost is making alliances with charities that help prevent deforestation, and will donate a portion of every Rescue Humanity T-shirt sold.

Images © James H. Pickett
Do not use without permission

The winter Dew Tour comes to Mount Snow–Shaun White Pictured

If you ever have a chance to attend a stop of the Winter Dew Tour, don’t miss it. Day one was riddled with snow, if you came to the event with the intensions of snowboarding day one was a gift. Constant snowfall and light attendance made the runs soft and uncrowded, I myself had to leave the camera in my hotel room and take advantage of the fresh falling fluff. Toward the end of the day, my legs were a little weary so i decided to get the camera out for a little half pipe practise. This is the very first time i have had an oppertunity to shoot in adverse weather with the Canon 1Ds Mark III and test the weather sealing. Happily I can announce that it is weeks later and the camera is still functioning with no issues.

Day 2 was one of the more phenomenal photography days I have seen in the winter time, the sun was powerful but there was little or no pollution present making for an amazingly rich blue sky. The snowboard slope style course was fast, freshly groomed and surprisingly lacking our good old northeastern ice.

Photographer and rider unknown. © James H. Pickett

The staff at Mount Snow did an amazing job with setup and maintenance for the event. Carinthia (at Mount Snow), being the only peak in the northeast that is entirely snowboard parks, was the perfect venue for this stop on the tour. The slopestyle coarse was built on the Inferno trail, and I must say, is nothing short of amazing with huge features. While in the rider tent at the top of the course I overheard Shaun White and another rider discussing how it was great to have an actual course that was an entire trail, and not just a series of a few kickers like other events. When you make the trip to Mount Snow and head for the Inferno trail, beware of Mineshaft, not because it is dangerous, but because of a stretch of flat at the bottom that can slow you to a halt without enough speed.

As a child, My parents first threw me into a pair of skis at a very young age, and one day I fell into a snowboard and never looked back. To watch professional ski slopestyle and halfpipe is to watch an insane air ballet that is more entertaining than the Blue Angels.  Never miss and opportunity to witness professional freestyle skiers at work. They go high, and they spin hard.

The midway housed a ton of fun vendors with product demos, games, and yes… girls. Don’t lie, thats one of the reasons you went, and will go again. Extra special thanks to the Toyota team, specifically James, one of the VIP shuttle drivers that kept my weekend entertaining as hell. (When in West Dover, VT during an event, don’t think of going anywhere but the Snow Barn, it is a constant apres ski party.)

Special thanks goes out to Alli Sports, the team responsible  for the Dew Tour at all of its stops, Great people to work with and even more amazing when you need information (thanks Matt.) or have to arrange something on site.

EVENT RESULTS