Artist Showcase: Photographer Sam Watson

Thayne Rich doing a flatspin off of a natural jump during a 4FRNT Skis team shoot. –Sam Watson — Thayne Rich doing a flatspin off of a natural jump during a 4FRNT Skis team shoot. I shot this during my first “big” photo trip, which was with 4FRNT skis to Golden Alpine Holiday’s Meadow Lodge in British Columbia. The skier is Thayne Rich, one of my childhood friends and longtime ski buddy. I like this shot because it represents what I look for in a photo: a cool landscape, good light, great action and a small skier for scale. I love black and white, too. –Sam Watson

Mt. Baker, Washington. –Sam Watson — Trip to ski Mt. Baker, Washington, with Sam Cohen and Andrew Pollard, December 2017. This shot is at Mt. Baker Ski Area on a lift-accessed backcountry zone called “The Arm.” One of my favorite ski photogs, Grant Gunderson, shot an amazing and iconic black and white photo of skiers hiking out of The Arm years ago”. I like this photo because it’s my version of one of my favorite shots of all time. It got published a spread in Powder Magazine. –Sam Watson

Karl Fostvedt, Chad's Gap. Wasatch Mountains, Utah. –Sam Watson — The jump in this photo, Chad’s Gap, is infamous in the ski world. A slight miscalculation of speed will send you splatting into the wall of the landing or soaring into the flats of the gully below the landing. There is no room for error. I shot this photo of my good friend Karl Fostvedt at the end of a wild session on the jump. Karl showed up to Chad’s just as the session was winding down and politely asked if he could hit it. He hiked up and, without speed-checking, hit it perfectly four times in a row. This photo is of his last hit, doing a perfect cork 1080 in pure Karl style. It was the coolest thing I’ve seen go down on skis. –Sam Watson

Pep Fujas doing a cork 360 over Pyramid Gap in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah. –Sam Watson — Pep Fujas doing a cork 360 over Pyramid Gap in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah. I shot this photo in January of 2017. Our crew of 10 built the jump for 2 stormy days, knowing the next day would be clear and sunny. Sure enough, the sun popped and the session went off. This photo was the first hit of the day. The skier is Pep Fujas. It is especially meaningful because it landed me my first 2-page spread in Powder Magazine and Pep is a skier I’ve looked up to ever since I started paying attention to skiing. Thanks, Pep and crew! –Sam Watson

Drew Petersen. –Sam Watson — This photo was shot the first clear day after a late season storm on a particularly low snow year. I love being out in the mountains for sunrise and this day was particularly glorious. The skier is Drew Petersen, one of my best friends. It was also published in Powder Magazine. –Sam Watson

Artwork provided by the artist.

NAME: Sam Watson
OCCUPATION: Photographer
LOCATION: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
SPONSORS: 4FRNT Skis, Giro, Alta Ski Area
ART: samwatsonphotos.com | Instagram: @samwatsonphotos