On assignment for Men's Journal, I spent a week paddling the Chilikadrotna and Mulchatna rivers in Alaska with writer Dan Duane. Of all the exotic locales my career has taken me, it's truly special that a place like this can be found within our 50 states, a place where the balance of nature exists as it was intended. In the center of it all lies the world's largest sustainable salmon fishery. Countless people and animals depend upon these fish for their livelihood. Sadly, this is all in jeopardy. This area is the proposed site of Pebble Mine, a gold and copper mine whose existence would bring about unimaginable devastation to Alaska's landscape and wildlife. If plans for the mine are allowed to move forward, this resource would be reduced to an open pit mine so large, it could be seen from outer space and spill polluted water, destroying the river systems for hundreds of miles. Biologists and ecologists are scrambling to save on of the few remaining functional ecosystems.

The Lake Tahoe Basin is home to an impressive concentration of the ski resorts. High, rugged peaks attract storms that build over the Pacific, treating the area to some of the deepest snowpack in the country. By design, this winter wonderland sits in my backyard. Living here provides me with the unique opportunity to watch the clouds roll in while I pack my camera gear and assemble a team of amazing skiers and snowboarders, ready to hit the mountain before sunrise the next day. Over the last six years, Heavenly, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Kirkwood have all called upon me to capture steep and deep action, the scenic backdrop of Lake Tahoe, fine dining, intimate village lifestyle and the variety of nighttime entertainment available in the area. These images fulfill the full scope of each resort's media needs, including national advertising, print collateral, online and environmental graphics. In addition to providing the images, my staff is on hand for the entire productions, whether this means casting talent, styling a scene or coordinating with helicopter pilots.

Fifty marathons. Fifty states. Fifty days. Ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes has tackled the most grueling foot races across the globe, but his race for 50 was his truest test of endurance. Throughout the years, The North Face has called on me for a variety of projects, from product shots to documenting company-sponsored expeditions, but this was much different. I was invited to be part of the action behind the scenes. I approached this with same techniques as if I were covering a politician slumping on the campaign trail. They would need images to fulfill daily photo requests from publications like The New York Times to Runner's World. Eventually, the photos became a key component in a marketing campaign highlighting the achievement.

In this day of endless interstates and online maps, it's nice to know that nature still holds a few hidden gems. One of these is the Lost Coast in Northern California. Following the beach to over 30 miles, this is the longest stretch of California coastline uninterrupted by road access. On assignment for National Geographic Adventure, I had the good fortune to experience this with writer, Dan Duane and friend, Jeff Daniel. Once on the sand, we were treated to amazing hiking and secret surf breaks. We dined on fresh mussels plucked from the ocean and drank fresh water from mountain streams that crossed the beach. We were three guys truly living off the land. I pinch myself every time I think back to this trip. It's hard to imagine a better way to spend time with great friends.

I worked with Burton Snowboards to document a climb to the summit of Carstensz Pyramid with snowboarder Stephen Koch. Carstensz Pyramid, standing at 16,863 feet, is the tallest peak on the Australasian continent and the sixth leg of Koch's pursuit to be the first person to snowboard from the summits of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. From tropical jungles at sea level, to the thin air of the glacial alpine environment, we spent our time in Irian Jaya (a land, until recently, inhabited by cannibals) documenting Koch's journey to the top, returning with a set of images that illustrate the scope and intensity of the quest.