It's a tough to know when you are paying an homage to another photographer and when you are just copying them. For me the difference is intention. I shot this image of Todd Burks rappelling off a mountain in Borneo as an homage to one of my mentors in photojournalism, National Geographic photographer Michael Nick Nichols.
It was Nick's picture of a man rappelling off of Mt. Thor in Canada that captured my attention and turned me down the road I have taken. Nick became a friend, mentor and later introduced me to my wife April at his annual backyard party. That party has grown into the Look 3 festival June 12-14 in Charlottesville.
So on my second assignment for National Geographic I decided to pay Homage to Nick and all that he had done for me with this picture.
I still like Nick's photo better.
-Stephen Alvarez
Canon EOS 1 20mm f2.8 Fuji Velvia
Dezza,
That picture was taken at Gunung Budda. Burks and his cimbing partner had spent 2 days doing an aid climb up the face of the cliff to what they hoped was a big cave entrance. The cave did not go anywhere and he is rappelling down after finding that out.
Posted by: Stephen Alvarez | April 30, 2008 at 07:33 AM
nice photo. can you tell me where this was taken in sarawak? i'm going there this summer and like to try my hand at rappelling myself.
Posted by: dezza | April 30, 2008 at 12:15 AM