Behind The Lens: Chris Thorn

Photos By Chris Thorn

By InnerVoice

February 3^rd, 2017

BEHind the lens

Behind The Lens takes the concept of the inner voice to the next level. As an athlete struggles through a tough race or a hard workout, their mind is telling them to stop. What about a photographer, capturing the moment? What are they seeing and what is their inner voice telling them? Here, we explore the thoughts of those who take some of endurance sports’ most iconic images.

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I love this image for what you see, but also for what you DON’T see.

Gemma (@gemmaslaughter) is a close friend and an inspiring endurance athlete and personal trainer.

She appears to be gracefully striding over this rock embankment. What you can’t see is the massive plunge off the north side of Mt. Brunswick on her left.

Easily a 150-foot drop!

To the right would also be certain death, you’d just be lucky to bounce a little first.

Same day on Brunswick, but a slightly different angle.

Those are 'The Lions' in the top right of the frame. Often referred to as the gateway to Vancouver, BC.

"Really the story here is, get lost with a camera and adventurous friends and good things will come of it."

In Vancouver we rarely get snow, and when we do it usually is gone by next day.

This season has been more "Canadian", if you will - bitterly cold, snowfalls, and then bluebird sunshine days.

I rarely get the opportunity to shoot in these conditions, so lately I have been getting out with as many athletes as possible.

On this day, I got the chance to shoot with Matt Hornland (@_meat_) from Brodie Bikes. Matt's orange jacket and socks really pop against the de-saturated winter backdrop. Add the lens flare and this set really worked for me.

I was struggling to find the right shot on this particular day. We missed the magic hour and I was frustrated.

I was under pressure to deliver some "hero shots" and it was day 3 of 3 while shooting for Sugoi. I took some time while the athletes were warming up; as I came back down I was able to capture this shot.

I often like to frame with, out of focus foreground or with leading lines. This particular image ended up being one of my favourites.

Can you say pure romance?

I think this is what every endurance athlete dreams of; the road to yourself, beautiful surroundings and epic lighting.

As a photographer and athlete - these are the perfect conditions!

I drive by this park & track every day during my #dadtaxi duties and it was starting to scream to me to be photographed.

I messaged Rob Smith, owner of Vancouver Running Co (Editor's note: Rob Smith of 'The Business of Running' fame) and suggested we get some winter running shots.

He agreed.

I think we did well.

There's a certain irony to this image.

Jeff Pelletier (@jpelltier) is an accomplished ultra-endurance runner and mostly trains on the side of mountains so it's rare to get shots of him on pavement. Even rarer was a shot of downtown Vancouver without gridlocked traffic.