"I'm probably a climbing bum and a ski bum at heart,” Chin tells Mashable. “I love being in the mountains. I find a lot of peace, creativity and space."
During his years at Carleton College in Minnesota, Chin immersed himself in the climbing culture. Instead of taking an internship in Washington, D.C. one summer, he opted to travel to Glacier National Park so he could work and climb. Decisions like these weren't popular with Chin's traditional parents, who preferred that he focus on becoming a doctor, lawyer or businessman.
After graduating with a degree in Asian studies, Chin lived out of his car for an astounding seven years, self-funding three expeditions to Pakistan to climb Karakoram. During those trips, Chin documented the harsh conditions and breathtaking views with his camera.
His images caught the eye of many in the alpining community, including North Face mountaineer Conrad Anker. It was rare then -- as it is today -- to find a deft climber who was also a striking photographer. Normally, a photographer attached to a cragging party is more of a burden than a boon, holding up the rest of the professional hikers in life-or-death situations.
Chin, on the other hand, could pull off expert maneuvers and wield his camera in compromising positions. His dexterity and strength mean he's able to capture on-mountain moments that even the most talented photographer wouldn't have access to.
"Athletes in the mountains are functioning at a world-class level, but nobody sees what they're doing because they're off in the middle of nowhere," Chin says. “My goal is to shoot photos that people have never seen before."
CREDITS: Director / Producer - Jason Cooper Camera - David Stubbs Camera - Jay Armitage Location Sound - Houston Guy Editor - Max Miller Music and Sound Mix - William Fritch
I love being in the mountains.
I find a lot of peace and I find a lot of creativity and I find a lot of space.
My name is Jimmy Chin and I work as a participatory adventure photographer.
I'd say some of the more notable expeditions and events in my
life. I tried to do the direct north face on Everest which is a 9,000 foot face that starts
at 20,000 feet. We were trying to ski this line on the north face. This is from the top of Everest.
I also went across the Changtang Plateau unsupported. Every photographer probably
dreams of shooting for National Geographic. I climbed the shark spin on Mount Meru. This is
actually the water from the headwaters of the Ganges right where it comes out of the
glacier from Mount Meru. When I'm at home it's usually between jobs so you know your typical
morning catching up on emails making phone calls packing and doing pre-production getting ready
to leave again. Gloves believe it or not you need a lot of gloves doing what I do. Supplement food,
climbing shoes, robes, crampons, ice screws, bindings, helmets, a couple harnesses,
a few ice tools, all my camera gears in here. This year I'll be on the road for at least
six to eight months. I've got a couple passports here old ones but this one I think this one's got
like 150 pages in it and it's completely full. For me especially with a lot of traveling if I
don't run and I don't climb or ski you know I'm like bouncing off the ceiling.
This is the Jackson Hole Tram and it gets over 4,000 vert. It's great in the winter
but in the summer I usually like to run up there.
I think the biggest thing about getting into shape is always about not getting out of shape.
For me especially with a lot of traveling it's my therapy.
This is my I guess little slice of heaven and you can run literally all the way across the Tetons.
I usually come home and I work really late so when there's daylight hours I try to
try to be outside and I'll go climbing with a couple friends.
Climbing at Blacktail View, classic little Dragon Jackson and kind of the after work spot.
If there's one thing or sport that I do where you basically shut out everything else in the world
and you become completely focused it's climbing. It's fun you know and it's always just going out
with your friends and everything's fun and cool and then you get on the rock and it's like
pretty intense. But you can also get into that flow state where you're just
really moving well and it's kind of like a dance. You feel pretty on top of it and alive.
It seems like an absurd place to be but you know when you're climbing
you feel like you're exactly where you want to be or should be.
You know I never had a planned career path by any means like my parents were definitely
traditional Chinese parents that were like you could be a lawyer or doctor or businessman you
know. But I discovered photography you know while I was climbing in it. I realized that it was a way
to facilitate the lifestyle I wanted. I'm at the point now where I just really want to enjoy the
work that I do and do it well and I find a lot of satisfaction out of that. My friends definitely
laugh about how much I work because I definitely work a lot but it's the classic you work hard
you play hard. There it goes out in the world.
