Backcountry

Tuesday September 27th, 2011

Having grown up in Alaska, Matt Hage has always lived a very active, outdoor lifestyle. After completing his photojournalism bachelors, Matt was drawn to combining his photography talents with his love for outdoor adventure. This lead to his first editorial work of a winter ascent of Denali just after college graduation. From then on, Matt was hooked, and shooting while climbing, skiing and backpacking all became a part of his day to day life.

In 2007, Agnes joined the Hage team and the husband/wife duo have been gaining momentum ever since. Together they’ve worked hard to develop their own, “signature style and brand that fosters trust with clients.” With each opportunity they’ve made sure to “bust our ass to impress,” and eventually the two built an ever expanding roster of clients including outdoor equipment, clothing companies and magazines.

Recently, Matt and Agnes had quite the exciting shoot, their first for Backcountry Magazine, a publication that had been on the Hage’s contact list for quite some years. Backcountry‘s editorial director, Adam Howard, phoned up the Hages to ask if they would be interested in shooting an assignment for the magazine. They wanted someone to shoot an Alaskan big mountain ski expedition that would lead one of the magazine’s upcoming big descent issues. Adam had done his research and chosen Mt. Sanford for the shoot a, “huge 16,000-foot volcano in the remote Wrangell-St Elias National Park.” The assignment was right up Matt and Agnes’ alley and the mountain a very enticing location, so needless to say, they happily accepted the gig.

So, Matt, Agnes, Adam, and skier Pat Gilroy headed out to Mt. Sanford for a week-long adventure. Trying to keep things light—there would be several miles where all their equipment and supplies would be carried on their backs—Matt and Agnes pared their kit down to, “a Nikon D700 and three lenses (14, 24-17, 70-200). Spare camera bodies, a couple strobes and other glass was secured lower at our base camp while we were on route.” To get to the initial location, they each had to be taken separately by plane,

Dave of Copper Valley Air shuttled the four of us in, one at a time, from the road-side dirt strip to the tundra a couple miles from the Sheep Glacier. We quickly got our camp up to about 7,000-ft just in time to watch our nice bubble of high pressure collapse around us. The next day we awoke to world so seamlessly white, it gave you vertigo to just walk around.

Throughout the week, the group continued to experience “horrendous weather.” “While on the mountain, we were in an absolute white out most of the time. There’s only so much you can do with that creatively; camp chores, details, the waiting, the frustration.”

So, for the entire week, the group waited and waited for small breaks in the weather—little windows where they could run out and get some quick ski shots. According to Matt, “there was really only one good window all week.”

But that didn’t hold the Hages back, and they ended up with some great shots for Backcountry. To get their skiing shots, Matt and Agnes would have to, “ski into a position, get set-up and then signal the skiers. They stop shortly after the shot and we move down below them again. Repeat.” Matt’s favorite shot being one where,

Agnes is ‘skiing’ rough bare ice to get off the Sheep Glacier at 3 am near the end of a brutal 24 hour day. We decided to give one more attempt to shoot the skiing, high on the mountain. Weather moved in right as we neared our high point. We got spanked.

By the end of the week, they were finally able to get the shots they needed,

We ripped off skins and enjoyed a 4,0000 ft ski run back to camp, sans visibility. Ironically, the snow was dry and deep and it was some of the best powder skiing of the season, even if it was in a whiteout.

Be on the lookout for the photo spread in Backcountry this winter. Until then, you can stay up to date with Matt & Agnes’ adventures on their website.

- Maria Luci