X

About Our Winter 2024-25 Cover with Charles Townsend Bessent + Sally January

Winter + Spring 2024-25

Covered Bridge magazine winter + spring 2024-25. Photo by Charles Townsend Bessent of Sally January of Alpine Kind

Q + A

Charles Townsend Bessent

Cover Photographer

How did you work with natural action/movement and light to capture Sally in this cover shoot?

“We decided that Sally’s hat bar would be a great location for an environmental portrait. The tools of the trade are often my favorite part about an artisan’s process, so her workstation was a great place to start. I like foreground elements in a photograph in order to take the viewer through to the image, and in this case, the hat making process. I wanted the window in the photograph more than I wanted the use of natural light, so we lit the photograph with a big diffused umbrella to keep the scene in tact and mimic the light the window would provide from the other direction.”

How did you weave photojournalism, storytelling and the theme of SYNERGY into the shoot?

“With an editorial shoot we sometimes have a bit of setup involved. As a photojournalist, I would normally rather sit back and wait for the photo to present itself, but we really had fun working together to incorporate all the pieces of the puzzle into a single frame. It’s always fun to talk color, material and light with other artsy people. I think we did a great job of keeping the scene and process natural while making sure the necessary elements to tell the story were present.”

charlestownsendphotography.com

 

 

Q + A

Sally January

Founder and Creative Director of Alpine Kind

How do you and Alpine Kind integrate SYNERGY into day-to-day operations and continued growth?

“When I think of synergy in my business, I think about how we collaborate with nonprofits that align with our values in order to further our mission of inspiring an outdoor lifestyle. I volunteer as an ambassador for the Gore Range Gravity Alliance, leading mountain biking and backcountry ski experiences for women in the Valley. By collaborating with this nonprofit, I find myself constantly inspired by the hard working women around me and finding my own cup being filled to the brim through authentic outdoor experiences. Additionally, we support and volunteer for the Vail Valley Mountain Trail Alliance. Whether it’s volunteeringfor their trail crew nights or riding with their Soul Dirt program, this nonprofit makes a profound impact on our ability to be outdoors in the Valley, and I love nothing more than to work with them on a consistent basis. It is through this synergy that I am able to truly live out my mission of inspiring others to go outside.”

What excites and inspires you about the Vail Valley as you “walk the talk” of opportunity and collaboration?

“Collaboration with artists and makers has been fundamental to creating our unique environment. As I grow, I am trying to collaborate with as many small makers who align with our goals as I can. By that, I mean creating unique products that our guest wants to take home with them — something with character and a story versus a typical t-shirt souvenir. When I began, I didn’t have anyone to show me the little things that make life as an entrepreneur a little more approachable. Now that I have been in the retail game for some time now, I often meet makers who may just be starting out and not know how to sell to a store or work in bulk. I love nothing more than seeing an artist grow, learn and be challenged alongside me. This process exudes the definition of synergy to me, when two people or organizations come together to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate efforts.”

alpinekind.com