Photographers & Partners

2007-08 Partners

Big Sky Resort and select local athletes, photographers and film crews work together each winter to catch some of the very best shots of life in Big Sky, as well as show visiting journalists and photographers everything that this incredible area has to offer. Most of the athletes and photographers have worked with Big Sky Resort for years and we feel privileged to have such great talent right here.

If you are interested in joining our team for next season, please send your resume, along with references and what you'd like to contribute to the team to Lindsey Mitchell, lmitchell@bigskyresort.com. Packets should be submitted by mid-September.

If you are in need of images or athletes, please contact our team members directly. Thank you.

Photographers

Gordon Wiltsie

Gordon Wiltsie, 52, is a photographer, writer, mountaineer and explorer whose work has taken him to some of earth's wildest and remotest regions, including numerous journeys to the Himalaya, the Andes, Canadian arctic, Antarctica and both geographic Poles. He is widely considered to be one of the most creative and prolific expedition photographers in the world and his work appears regularly in such international publications as National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, Outside, Geo, American Photographer, Terre Sauvage, Life, and most leading adventure and skiing magazines. He is also the principal photographer for three books and his images appear regularly in calendars, posters, advertising and many other formats.

Gordon, who was already an experienced climber and wilderness traveler in high school, began publishing his photography in national magazines while he was still in college in 1974. Since then he has combined a unique collection of skills to lead and/or photograph more than 100 expeditions to distant wilderness locations. These have varied from early, self-organized treks into the Himalaya, to treks and climbs in both the Himalaya and Antarctic interior, to full-scale polar expeditions accompanied by some of the world's most talented athletes.

Kene Sperry

Resident of Big Sky, MT since 2000, grew up in Kirkland, WA. Attended Washington State University, B.S., Photography and Business Entrepreneurship, 2000.

Since moving to Big Sky, I have been enjoying all of the activities the area has to offer, including skiing, biking and trekking around the mountains with my camera. I have been an avid skier since the age of five and now with photography I continue to express the freedom and the true soul of skiing through my eyes.

I completed two intensive photography programs at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, MT, in 2003. Concentration was in a variety of areas such as stock, lighting and wedding photography. There was a strong emphasis on the digital point of view with the myriad of activities occurring in the industry. An in-depth exposure to the state-of-the-art digital technology and experimentation into product development was a major focus. This training provided an opportunity to expand and grow as a photographer in developing my career.

Darren Joe Irons

Professional Photographer/Flyfishing Guide
Graduated MSU-Bozeman, major in photography
Colorado born, migrated from Mammoth Mountain, CA in 1996
Flyfishing guide for 7 years
This is my 4th season shooting for Big Sky!
Skiing since I was 2, snowboarding since I was 10 and tele-ing since I was 22, now 26. Competitive snowboard racer: first overall, Big Sky Thrash N' Bash, 2004; second overall (first in racing) J3's Nationals 1994 Vail,Co.
Other interests: Ice/rock climbing, flyfishing, mountaineering, surfing and kiteboarding.

406.539.2211
joeirons@3rivers.net

Lonnie Ball

406.223.3095
loball@attglobal.net

Bob Allen & Estela Villasenor

406.580.1071
montanabob@mcn.net

Ryan Turner

Ryan Turner is an award winning photographer who has been photographing primarily in Montana for over the past ten years. He has photographed many other places along the way such as Alaska, Hawaii, Utah, Arizona, California, Washington, the midwest, Canada, Mexico and many more nooks and crannies. He focuses primarily on adventure photography as he shoots stunning sking, hiking, and fly-fishing action shots wihile capturing the landscape, lifestyle and the unexpected along the way.
Credits: Ryan's images have been seen in publications such as, Forbes Life, Outside Traveler, Freeskiier, Powder Magazine, Skiing, Ski, Montana Magazine, Ski Press USA & Canada, National Geographic Adventure, Men's Journal, Luxury Living, Big Sky Journal, Distinctly Montana.He has worked for companies like Big Sky Ski Resort, Moonlight Basin Ski Resort and Ranch, Yellowstone Club, The Bluegreen Corp., McAurther Towels & Sports, Rainbow Ranch, Spanish Peaks Club, East West Resorts, Leedom Helmets, Wookey Backpacks, Fate Clothing, Big Sky Chamber of Commerce.

406.580.5997
ryanturnerphotography.com

Ambassadors

Mike Mannelin

Big news! Mike is featured in this year's Warren Miller movie, Off the Grid. Check Mike and Big Sky out at a theater near you!

Age: 31
Hometown: Duluth, MN
Background: 22 years skiing
Raced F.I.S. in High School and College
Coached ski racing for 4 years
Sponsors: Atomic skis boots and bindings, Fate Clothing, Adidas Eyewear, Leki Poles, and Swany Gloves.
Favorite place to ski: Dictator chutes off the Lone Peak Tram, Big Sky
Published Photos: Freeskier, SKI, SKIING, Ski Presse cover, many local newspapers and publications, as well as billboards, brochures, trail maps, website, email newsletters, Weather Channel footage and promotional CD for Big Sky Resort.

mikemannelin@yahoo.com

Shane Stalling

Age: 23
Birthday: 09/21/1983
Hometown: Growing up- Apple Valley, MN
Now Reside- Bozeman/Big Sky, MT
Local Resort: Growing up- Buck Hill, MN
Currently- Big Sky Resort, MT
Favorite Board: Depends on Conditions, for a normal day the Capita Indoor Survival 156
Stance: Regular
Sponsors:CAPiTA, Smith Optics, Big Sky Resort
Best Day of Shredding Ever: So many, lots of good rail trips and lots of good pow days.
Are you in Love? With Snowboarding
Rails or Jumps? Always Both
Jumps or Pipe? Jumps
Pipe or Powder? Powder
Are you an only child? No, I have one younger sister Chrsity and a Dog Kenai
If you could be a rock star for a day? John Bonham
Are you currently reading a book? Just finished some Edward Abbey "Monkey Wrench Gang" and "Desert Solitare".
Favorite Quote? "Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in aouthority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more." - Mark Twain

612.644.5756
shanestalling15@hotmail.com

Mary Ball

406.223.3095
loball@attglobal.net

Ladd Arundel

406.570.9656
larundel55@hotmail.com

Film Crews

Monkey Productions

Zach McIntosh, Tim Cowie, Andrew Thee, Drew Vanyo
zacharymcintosh@yahoo.com