BACKLINE Photo & Story Magazine #16

Dear readers!

Anyone who claims photography is simply the art of pressing the shutter of a good camera at the right moment has clearly never tried changing a lens with numb fingers at minus 15 degrees Celsius on a windswept ridge.

Freeriding, mountaineering and everything that lies between these two poles are deeply rooted in experience. Personal responsibility and an honest approach to risk add another demanding layer to the pursuit of that one moment when focus, nature, friendship, movement and adrenaline all come together.

We accept the long climb, the freezing wait on the opposite slope and the calculated risk, all to preserve for eternity a fleeting moment of feeling truly alive. And that is where a paradox has emerged in recent years. We have reached a point where, with the right prompts, a perfectly lit image of an untouched north face can be created in seconds. On screen, the AI-generated image looks flawless – maybe even perfect. Yet it lacks everything that, until now, has given such an image its true value: the sweat on your skin, the pounding heart, the humility, but also the courage – whether to turn back or drop in.

When real images and the real stories behind them become indistinguishable from artificial ones, their value begins to shift. What matters all the more is the attitude behind them. The photo essays and stories we publish draw their value not from polished aesthetics, but from the physical reality of how they came into being. That matters deeply to us.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all the photographers, writers and riders who helped make the 16th issue of BACKLINE Photo & Story Magazine possible. We hope you enjoy reading and browsing the new issue of BACKLINE, and above all, we wish you many wonderful and safe adventures in the winter of 2026/2027.