Brothers of the Mountains

It is September 27, and we are at 2,400 meters above sea level in the Karwendel Mountains. A fresh breeze is passing through our tent. Outside, the storm is raging. Tiny snow crystals trickle down my face. It's cold. Bitterly cold. I can see my breath and hear large snowflakes drumming against the frozen tarp of the tent. Surrounded by complete darkness, my headlamp lights up the room only where I turn my head. Next to me rests my best friend, Fabian Johann, sheltered inside his thick sleeping bag. We are twin brothers and professional backcountry ski photographers from Salzburger Land. Why are we here? What drives us? And where are we going? Fabian: Do you remember how we got into ski photography? Christoph: As if I could forget!

We were already spending a lot of time in the mountains at that time and wanted to capture our adventures. In the beginning, we took pictures with our smartphones. Over time that became too boring, and a good seven years ago we bought a professional camera. Probably one of the best decisions of our lives! I can still remember very well the first day with that camera on the mountain. Fabian: It's been a long time. Do you still remember where we went? Christoph: To the Tannheim Valley. It had snowed 30 centimeters overnight, and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky in the morning. The conditions were perfect. We were out in the backcountry all day taking pictures. You took a magic picture of me, in the afternoon. A turn with the perfect spray.

In the evening, we sat at the laptop, utterly speechless while editing the image. I think this experience shaped our lives and changed them in the long run. It was not just a picture; it showed us the way. How do you see ski photography? Fabian: I'm all about capturing emotions and moments for eternity. I want people to become enthusiastic about nature. I want them to be torn out of their everyday life and feel the moment. I'm talking about this feeling of pure freedom. The sense of leaving your comfort zone and going on an adventure. Feeling the power of nature. Impressive and overwhelming, almost awe-inspiring. For me, as a photographer, of course, there is much more to a photo. Especially when I have to suffer for it.

Frozen fingers, strong wind, or deep snow. It's the experience that makes the photo. That's what I try to convey visually. How do you feel about it? Christoph: I feel the same way. After all, we grew and learned from each other in the process. Every photo was a learning process; that's still the case today and will never be any different. That's how you mature as a photographer. I find it insanely exciting to watch you take photos and ski. I get excited about the process of learning together and developing our style. It's undoubtedly also about the people. People I get to meet on our adventures. Athletes who share a passion, who give everything for it, and sometimes risk too much. People from different cultures.

Each one completely different: serious, focused, silly, profound, funny or inspiring. They are all artists on skis. This is the kind of art that I think needs to be captured. What was your most formative experience on the mountain? Fabian: A difficult question. A few things come to mind. Do you remember, back at the Arlberg? It had snowed heavily for several days, almost two meters of fresh snow, and it was freezing cold. I think that was one of my best powder days. You took a picture that is still one of my favorites. In the photo, I'm submerged up to my head in the snow. Bottomless pow! Nothing could have described this day better than this picture. Are there any places you still want to visit and photograph?

Christoph: I am very thankful that I have seen many epic locations already – Chamonix, Whistler, Innsbruck, Revelstoke, Verbier, the Dolomites. But there is one place I can't get out of my head: Haines, Alaska. Remote peaks, picturesque landscapes, spines. There's hardly a more dramatic backdrop. After our 2018 trip to Alaska, I was hooked. I'm inspired by rugged nature. Wild rivers, endless glaciers and awe-inspiring mountains. It's a limitless playground for ski photographers and of course, I'd love to ski some lines myself. So what makes a good photo for you? Fabian: There are many factors involved. I think a good location is most important. That requires some planning in advance. What will the weather be like? What is the avalanche situation?

Where do we find the good pockets? Where are the dangerous spots? When are lighting and shadow at their best? Which line should the skier pick? Then, on location, I have to constantly communicate with the athlete, pay attention to the composition, react to weather changes, determine my own position and choose the correct camera settings. It's complex, time-consuming and often stressful. When it all works out, the result will be a very good photo. But I find it far more exciting when something unexpected happens. When fog rolls in and a special atmosphere is created. The moment when you discover a new line. When the skier approaches you after his run and screams with joy. That's when you take an amazing photo!

Do you have a specific wish for what the future should hold for you? Christoph: Thirty centimeters of fresh every day, bluebird and untracked couloirs! Nice, but maybe not realistic. But I definitely want to continue spending as much time as possible in the mountains and creating art. It's important to me that I spend my time doing a job that fulfills me. Most important to me, though, is that we continue to travel together, gathering experiences, motivating and inspiring each other, turning ideas into reality, or just talking to each other in a tent on the mountain. Just you and me!