Viva La France

Before Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman made a Bucket List a household phrase in 2007, many words conveyed the same concept. As a lifelong skier, I always had a Ski Wish List. It was even posted in my SUNY Buffalo dorm room for a few years. It always turned a few heads and inevitably led to interesting conversation.

Born in the month of January, some would say winter is in my my blood. It's certainly in my DNA. So much so, as a child I'd place a snowball in the freezer every year in search of an endless winter. Yup... true story. 

My list was simple and to the point.

What did I want to do in my lifetime that involved the sport of skiing?

While things constantly get added (and crossed off), there has been a bedrock of ski goals since day 1. An annual ski pilgrimage has allowed me to whittle down the list over time. Some key ambitions over the decades have included...

1) Live in a ski resort 2) Ski as many days as possible in 1 calendar year (for the record... 150 remains my personal best!) 3) Teach skiing for a year or two 4) Jackson Hole, WY 5) Telluride, CO 6) Whistler/Blackcomb, BC, Canada 7) Lake Tahoe (Alpine, Squaw, Heavenly, etc.) 8) Ski/explore New Zealand 9) Heli-ski n the Bugaboos/Cariboos, Canada 10) Big Sky, MT 11) Ski/experience Chamonix, France 12) Stop getting frost bitten (i.e. older & wiser?) 13) Ski Corbits Couloir @ Jackson Hole 14) Ski in South America... Portillo, Chili 15)Alta/Snowbird, UT.

Having recently returned from a tremendous week of skiing in Chamonix, I'm pleased to say I can put a check mark next to lucky #11. It only took a few decades to complete the task. But, hey... good things take time! And, while it's never fair to compare one mountain vs another (every resort is unique). This one was special. Chamonix/Mt. Blanc can best be described as "Simply Majestic". 

The size and scale of the area is remarkable. It's hard to verbalize and capture on film (sorry old habit... digital sensor). The pictures posted here were taken with my iPhone as I tend to leave the Big Boy camera @ home on ski trips. It's simply too challenging to carry skis, boots, a suitcase, backpack and a 2nd backpack of camera gear. This also provides a good excuse for going back at a later date solely for photographic endeavors.

Viva la Chamonix...

500 Words of Less...

Mom & dad met @ a ski club. Got married. Baby Mark came along... born, skied, walked. Started on the slopes @ age two. Bromley Mtn (VT) was home base. Cover boy for ski area brochure at age 4... say cheese! Won a backwards race at age 5 on the famous Lords Prayer trail. Skiing, tree swinging & whistling while eating peanut butter were course obstacles (trophy available upon request!). Discovered the will to ski is greater than common sense... frostbitten later that same year (this family trait continues today... now frostbitten 5x... can you say 'slow learner'?). Shuffled off to Buffalo for some edumacation and then traveled west (go west young man!) to discover “Water In High Place” (i.e. Lake Tahoe). Managed to ski on 3 continents along the way and hope to add #4 in the in the near future (i.e. South America).

Taking pictures has been the link to all things good. This started with dad. He was a journalist with lots of cameras. Mark borrowed them... a lot... and started exploring the outdoors. This thirst for learning continues today.

Worked for Mountain Stock Film & Photography in CA and later emigrated back to the Empire State. Worked for Gannett News in the NYC region and a local portrait studio. Spent as much time getting the smell of chemicals off my hands as I did shooting assignments.

Photojournalism was a calling, but I could sense a change in the air. Migrated to finance. Got my MBA and then obtained the CFP designation. After a stint in commercial lending, I set up shop as a sole proprietor. Today, one occupation 'finances' the other (get it?). Seems to be a photo industry trend. Camera of choice? Never really mattered to me... Pentax, Nikon, Canon... and an iPhone. Don't find myself brand loyal as the photographer makes the image, not the camera. Tend to shoot sports & action. Really like tennis, lacrosse & football (Go Army!). Find the action challenging & the anticipation stimulating. It's my drug of choice.

Make my bed in Rockland County, New York with a wonderful lady of 18 years. Erin go bragh. Two boys. No pets. Life is good.

And, so it begins, a collection of photography related thoughts... “Reflexions on Life.”