Rex Jones

Most adventure photos are a person on a rock, doing a Superman impression at a sunset.

You know the one. Arms out, back to the camera, a sunset that did all the work. It's a fine photo of a view, and it could be anyone, anywhere. Nobody remembers who was standing there.

A good adventure photograph is about the person and the place at the same time. The scale is real, the weather is part of it and the person looks like they belong out there. That takes planning, a photographer who can keep up and the patience to wait for the light.

I'm an adventure photographer based in Colorado Springs, and I work across the Mountain West: slot canyons, red rock, snow, caves and long dirt roads. If you're covering travel, I'll go anywhere in the world.

The shoot is the easy part. The route, the weather and the light are the job.

It starts with a conversation. What do you want captured, how do you want it captured, and what are the photos for? A brand campaign, a profile for your own adventures, a set for your walls, or a reason to finally get out of the house?

Then we plan the adventure photoshoot together: where we're going, how far you want to walk, what the weather is doing and what you'll wear. Good light out here is short, so the time on the call sheet matters more than almost anything else. We pick a route that suits how you move, because a hard hike looks like a hard hike on camera.

On the day, I scout ahead, carry the gear and stay flexible. Weather changes the plan more often than I do. Some of the best frames come from the snow, the rain and the moment the clouds break.

Most of my time goes into editing, not the shoot. Skin, color and light all have to hold up at full size. That's why I deliver fewer photos than a bulk shoot would, and why each one is finished.

Red rock doesn't need much help. It needs good timing.

Snow on red rock is the best weather nobody plans for.

If it has a trailhead, I've probably packed for it.

My adventure photography runs from slot canyons and red rock ridges to snowy gorges, lava tubes, dirt roads and high overlooks. I'm a Colorado Springs adventure photographer who works across the Mountain West, and if you're covering travel, I'll go anywhere. The right location for an outdoor photoshoot depends on the season, your fitness and what you want to look like. We settle that before anyone laces up.

Caves, cliffs and a climber with a long way to fall.

Not all the best adventure in the desert is dry.

Questions

Fair questions, short answers.

What does an adventure shoot cost?

Adventure shoots are quoted by inquiry, because the day depends on the route, the length and where the photos will run. Solo session prices are on the pricing page if you want a reference point.

How fit do I need to be?

We plan the route around you. Some of the best locations are a short walk from the car, and some are a real hike. Tell me what you're comfortable with and we'll build around it.

What if the weather turns?

We plan for it. Snow, wind and low clouds can make the best photos of the day, and if conditions turn unsafe we reschedule.

Do you photograph adventure for brands and outfitters?

Yes. I photograph campaigns and adventure content for outdoor and travel brands, planned around your product, your customer and where the photos will run.

What can I use the photos for?

Personal use, social media and prints. Commercial use isn't included unless we agree on it up front.

Who it's for

People who would rather be outside.

Outdoor brands and outfitters

Campaign and content imagery planned around your product, your customer and where the photos will run.

Adventurers and athletes

A set of photos that shows what you actually do, in places that are worth the hike.

Couples and travelers

Portraits in the landscape you came for, with a photographer who can keep up.