The Sheffield Adventure Film Festival's annual Arc’Teryx Photo Shot photography competition returns.  One wild card entry chosen by the ShAFF judges gets the chance to go head to head with four of the best professional adventure photographers selected by documentary outdoor, adventure photographer Alex Ekins and photographer, Climb magazine editor and climber Ian Parnell in this competition that’s like no other.   

The high-octane, audience-driven event is compered by comedian, climber and author, the one and only Niall Grimes.  Sponsored by outdoor performance clothing manufacturer, Arc'teryx, it’s a chance for amateurs and pros to vie with the best adventure photographers in the business for a £500 cash prize and a whole heap of Arc’Teryx kit.  Each has to create and present a 5 minute audio-visual presentation at the film festival.    

Judge, documentary outdoor, adventure photographer Alex Ekins said:  "Adventure photography is all about people; the subjects of a photograph doing something physically and mentally challenging. In the Arc'teryx Adventure Shot Competition I will be looking for photographs that capture the joy, the danger, the suffering, the dedication and the exhilaration of engaging in an extraordinary adventure."

THE 2012 PRO PHOTOGRAPHERS:

• Biking - Cheryl King
• Climbing - Lukasz Warzecha
• Caving - Gavin Newman
• Parkour/Freerunning - Andy Day

THE 2012 WILD CARD ENTRIES: We’re uploading pictures submitted by wild card entrants to this public, online photo gallery


The Prizes (supplied by Arc’teryx):

• First Prize: £500 in cash

• Second Prize: Arc’Teryx Goretex Jacket
• Third Prize: Arc’Teryx Softshell
• 
Fourth Prize: Arc’Teryx Pack up to 40 litres of choice

• Fifth Prize: Arc’Teryx Technical Long Sleeved Baselayer



Last year Peak District caver and professional photographer Rob Eavis won the £500 cash prize against stiff competition, including 17 year old student and mountain biker Sam Davies.  The previous year then amateur photographer and computer science PhD student Alexandre Buisse (www.alexandrebuisse.org) scooped the prize.

One of Rob Eavis' winning entries

2010 winner Alex Buisse said his advice for entrants:  “As long as you have photos that show you love adventure then you should give it a try because I wasn’t pro when I entered. Try to be fast-paced and don’t make it a boring slide show.”

One of Alexandre Buisse's winning entries
 

All 2011 entries can be viewed here and 2011 finalists’ audio-visual presentations can be viewed here.  Click here for press release announcing last year’s winner, Rob Eavis.

 

How to Enter the open competition (and see the entries so far):

• Simply send us 6 photos that you feel represent your portfolio well. Email them to adventureshot@shaff.co.uk
• We will upload the photos to this ShAFF gallery account where they will be publically viewable.
• Keep the size under 750 pixels so nobody can print from them.
• Put your name in the filename of each photo.
• If you are selected, you will need to be able to attend the event which takes place at 20.30 on Sat 10th March at ShAFF at the Showroom Cinema in Sheffield. Note that expenses won't be paid.
• You will need to prepare a 5 minute audio visual presentation and present it to the live audience alongside the other four finalists. We recommend a Quicktime Movie.
• Submission deadline:  Photos must be uploaded by Feb 19th. We will contact the chosen finalist on Feb 20th.

Judging Criteria

The judges will assess entries for:

• Consistent high quality across a wide range of images (i.e. not just one standout shot).
• Images that capture the essence of the outdoor adventure experience (i.e. what it feels like to be deep in an adventure, the emotions, the wonder of it all).
• Images that "we" perhaps haven't seen before, or take an unusual or innovative look at our adventure world.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

• 2012 PRESS IMAGES HERE or cut and paste:
http://www.shaff.co.uk/press-filmakers-volunteers/press-images/2012-images/
• ShAFF is the weekend of 9-11 March 2012 (www.shaff.co.uk) at the art deco Sheffield Showroom cinema - the UK’s biggest independent cinema outside London. (15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX / tel 0114 275 7727 or book online at www.showroomworkstation.org.uk/)
Film screenings are mixed in with talks and lectures on epic climbs, runs and rides by world-class adventurers.
• It’s great value - one ticket buys you a multi-film screening so you can see several films in one hit. Passionate about your sport? Then try our specialist selections. Want a high energy hit? Then book our Adrenaline showing. Fancy inspiration and escapism? Try the Adventure Medley.
• For a family friendly weekend try our morning Young Adventurer showings were both sell outs last year so this year we’ll also have afternoon matinees with urban orienteering afterwards.
• Chill out in the bar/cafe between screenings with live music, comfy-seating and free wifi. During the day grab a light lunch and coffee with friends and in the evenings, book dinner made by experienced chefs with fresh, local produce. Why not try the great selection of on tap or bottled beers, wines and ciders - not forgetting the awesome cake cabinet!
• Getting there’s easy - We’re just across the road from the mainline train station with regular services to the Peak District, Manchester and the UK, there are also local buses, trams and a plenty of nearby car- parks.
• We’re growing in the face of a global recession. Now in its 7th year, for the past six years 100% of the audience said they’d come back again and recommend it to a friend. ShAFF 2011 was our best ever year with a 77% increase in ticket sales, an amazing film programme and a packed series of lectures including the legendary Steve Peat.
• Contacts:  Festival Director, Matt Heason, Heason Events - matt@heason.net or 1433 639378 / 07966 529219 or Lissa Cook, PR & Media consultant, Heason Events - lissa@heason.net / or 01663 751 126 / 07818 411 791 or Follow us on facebook and twitter at @Heason_Lissa and @HeasonEvents.
   

Jamie has been doing some extreme testing of the new Arc'teryx line.

Arcteryx Ice Skating Retail Event from Chris Lucas on Vimeo.

Motus Crew getting a great review and great placement in the latest issue of Backpacker.

For 2012 and hopefully onwards! Bigstone are supporting the Ride Sheffield trail maintenance days.

Ride Sheffield is the new voice for Mountain Biking in Sheffield, working together and alongside other local access groups to provide a better future for cycling in and around the city.

Blackamoor is a diverse, local woodland, based 10 minutes from the Bigstone office on the outskirts of Sheffield. A great mixture of terrain, with the trails harnessing all types of outdoor action.

The 'Devils Elbow' is one of the most popular descents and has been for some time... The bottom section has always resembled The Somme, with a huge boggy 100m stretch, ruining the flow and not doing the forest floor any favours.

Henry Norman headed up the recent trail day and along with 15 other volunteers, as serious amount of progress was made. Many thanks to all who came out...

Keep tabs on Ride Sheffield's site for further dig days. Free food for all!

 

Bigstone.

 A nice piece in the up-coming Daily Ski Mag UK, featuring French Arcteryx Athlete, Seb Mayer. 

Going big in a closed resort.

 

After the joys of a decadent festive season in London I headed out with friends to Fontainebleau to celebrate the New Year and do some bouldering. As we drove there, it was raining; when we got there, it was raining; and for the first four days, it rained. Fontainebleau is an amazing climbing venue, one of the best in the world but the one thing that brings it down is the weather. During our trip of seven days we had two and a half days climbing, which is better than nothing and worth the wait. I was lucky enough to try Irreversible, a high ball 7C at Manoury. It is a great line, a bit scary and brilliant climbing. After taking two falls from the last hard move, I finished the climb with my heart in my mouth and my hands a bit shaky! On the last day of the trip I went back to try again on Big Golden at Cuvier Rempart. I had tried this climb one afternoon earlier in the trip and was astonished to find I could now do some moves on it that I had, on previous trips to Font, never managed. Filled with psyche I tried to piece it together and, after a last change in beta, I found myself topping out. Very happy, I really thought I may never do this problem.

Big Golden, Photo by Bart van Raaij

 

Big Golden, Photo Bart van Raaij

 

 

Back in the UK, the weather has suddenly turned nice. Blue skies and cold air inspired me to head out to a grit problem I had failed on a year or so ago – Suavito (7B). This problem is fairly high and committing at the top, requiring a big throw and a big span. I was psyched to try it again and this time (after one fall landing flat on my back!) I managed to climb it. Hopefully this weather will continue.....

Seb Kemp, a key player in keeping the Bike, Print and Web Media from drowning in stagnant,regurgitated content, is captured here by the lens of Dan Barnham

The Bike Magazine, 'Bible' is the benchmark read for product reviews, of the best kit in the industry.

Seb runs an Arcteryx Alpha SL, plus the Five Ten HellCat shoes.

Check out the full slideshow and keep up to date with him on his adventures, on his blog 

 

@eegrek, Arcteryx's Graphic Design Manager has started a Tumblr account, aimed at bringing all of us some insight into anything and everything that goes on at Arcteryx.

The blog will be updated regularly with his thoughts and feelings behind different aspects of the brand. 

Check it out HERE