Howie Stern. Should you don’t know his identify, you in all probability have seen his photographs.

Howie appears to be photographing runners at each huge occasion within the U.S. Whether or not it’s Tara Dower lined in cactus on the Javelina 100 Mile or chasing Courtney Dauwalter by the hills of the Hardrock 100, Howie has made a reputation for himself capturing the essence and human nature that makes the game of ultrarunning so attention-grabbing. I’ve talked with Howie fairly a number of instances over espresso in Silverton, Colorado, the place we each stay — you may at all times discover him on the espresso store — about operating, journey, and artwork, and it’s excessive time I give him the ground right here.

Howie Stern along with his canines, Miki and Joey. All photographs courtesy of Howie Stern.

When did you get into pictures, and the way did it evolve right into a profession? And the place did operating are available?

I first thought-about capturing once I moved to Silverton, Colorado, in 2014. I used to be contemporary off a divorce and life reset and was making an attempt to determine what path to go that may allow me to be with my canines 24/7 and work for myself, as a result of I by no means might match into the nine-to-five way of life. I had a number of associates, akin to Criss Furman and Ivan Buzik, who had been photographers and it sort of opened my eyes to that world.

Seeing how lovely the San Juan Mountains of Colorado had been within the fall, I used to be taking tons of images with my telephone and folks appeared to dig them, and searching again, that was the second I noticed I wanted to get an actual digital camera once more. I hadn’t actually touched a digital camera since highschool.

So, in February 2015, I picked up a Nikon and determined to begin capturing ultras. I had been an ultrarunner for 15 years at that time, so my aim was to convey what I felt as a runner to the digital camera’s eye. For me, it turned a profession from the beginning. There was no plan B, there was no giving freely photographs for publicity. The one means this is able to work was to go all in and act accordingly. Just a few photographers I knew at all times mentioned “you’ll by no means make something,” however I ignored them. I wasn’t going to surrender on residing life on my phrases, which meant by no means being away from Miki and Joey, my malamute and husky, in addition to working for one thing that I used to be inherently obsessed with.

How do the artistic components of pictures translate into operating for you or vice versa?

I might say that my operating is impressed by mild. I strongly dislike operating in the midst of the day, as a result of the sunshine is so harsh, simply as I dislike capturing in the midst of the day, for related causes. That being mentioned, I’d say I’m a fan of operating at sundown for the fantastic thing about the sunshine high quality. I really like operating at dawn excessive on peaks, to see the sunshine altering, the overlapping ridges within the distance — similar for the sundown, actually. However I don’t do it actually because I’m extra of an evening owl and have a tendency to sleep in until there’s a giant goal, or somebody to make getting up early a pretty choice.

Howie magnificently captures low night mild within the mountains.

One factor I do whereas operating is that I are likely to see the paths and panorama by my digital camera’s eye. So many instances, I’ll make a psychological notice of locations that I wish to return to, to {photograph} a runner or the panorama.

Are there any specific images that you simply love? Or any notably memorable moments whereas photographing?

Over the previous 10 years of photographing operating, there have been so many moments that had been particular. Just a few positively stand out for me. Considered one of my favorites was a picture I took of Amelia Boone at Huge Canine’s Yard Extremely. I by no means take footage of individuals throwing up, it’s simply utterly off placing to me. Sooner or later within the race, throughout the warmth and humidity, she pushed herself to the restrict and was on the bottom and misplaced her abdomen. I simply occurred to see her in a nasty second, however as she fought to rise up to make the beginning of the following yard, she stared immediately at me for a second, and I snapped the picture. You possibly can simply really feel all she was feeling trying into her eyes. To me, it’s every little thing operating and the human spirit is about.

Amelia Boone regrouping for one more loop at Huge Canine’s Yard Extremely.

In all probability crucial picture I ever captured was the second this 12 months on the Barkley Marathons when Jasmin Paris made historical past. There are a variety of unbelievable images from some others that had been there, however the one I captured was the one one of many precise second she tapped and collapsed over the gate, spit and hair flying, as she gave every little thing she needed to make it occur. Seeing her husband operating behind her, the expressions on John Kelly and Jared Campbell, Laz [Gary Cantrell] ready, and everybody cheering within the background. I photographed Jasmin throughout all three of her makes an attempt, and to lastly see all of it come collectively was really the best second in sports activities I’ve ever witnessed. I cried for 10 minutes after the mud all settled. I’m even tearing up now.

Howie Stern’s now iconic picture of Jasmin Paris ending the 2024 Barkley Marathons, as the primary girl ever to complete the grueling race.

Who has impressed you as a photographer and as a runner?

I’m sort of odd in all probability, I don’t actually look to different photographers for inspiration, I by no means wish to copy. I really feel what I really feel as a runner, and simply attempt to convey that throughout within the tales I seize. I fail at that quite a bit, however there are moments once I handle to get one thing I’m happy with. Beginning out, I used to be actually impressed by Criss [Furman]’s pleasure when he nailed a shot. He used to convey his laptop over to me on the espresso store to point out me the photographs he was happy with. He’d at all times have such a giant smile and be so completely happy. I really feel similar to he did once I nail one thing.

So far as operating, actually, I in all probability was most impressed by my canines, they simply appeared so easy and completely happy after they ran. I nonetheless take into consideration them once I’m struggling in a 100 miler. I’m going, “Be like Joey, run completely happy like he did, and by no means cease!” He even walked a mile by Silverton and kissed the Hardrock on his final day of life, December 24, 2019.

Should you might {photograph} any topic proper now outdoors of operating, what wouldn’t it be and why?

Wolves and polar bears. I’m fascinated by each. Canine have been such an enormous a part of my being the final couple a long time, that I wish to {photograph} the animals they descended from. Particularly since in most of the locations they roam, they’re threatened with eradication.

A few years in the past, I obtained to {photograph} a brief expedition within the Arctic on Baffin Island. On the primary day within the backcountry, I adopted contemporary polar bear tracks alongside the route I used to be scouting. It was a type of “Nationwide Geographic”-feeling moments the place you sort of notice you stepped into a distinct world. I by no means noticed the bear that made them, however now it’s turn out to be a aim to return and see them. Hopefully in 2025 it’ll occur on my subsequent journey there.

Should you might give recommendation to a photographer trying to make it their residing, what would you say?

Discover your area of interest. Everybody shoots these days, what are you able to do to distinguish your self? In any other case, you’ll be misplaced on the earth of clones. Additionally, don’t shortchange your self or undercut everybody else, it solely hurts the business on an entire. Know your worth and follow it.

Katharina Hartmuth, photographed within the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Do you may have any insights or critiques on how ultrarunning is documented today? Something you wish to see or do in a different way?

Give the athletes and crews area. It’s was a mob scene at too many occasions. Not all elites, runners, or crews wish to have 10 cameras of their faces at support stations or the end. I additionally really feel, taking a look at Instagram, so many are simply copying the identical results and photographs, and every little thing is simply beginning to look the identical.

What’s your favourite digital camera to make use of if you’re out within the mountains?

If I’m operating, simply my iPhone. It’s small and light-weight and is at all times there. And surprisingly, you are able to do some first rate stuff with it. For the good things, these days a Sony A9iii. As a result of it’s small, mild, and insanely highly effective, together with the lenses, I can run with it and take it on greater runs to {photograph} athletes within the cool locations. However I’ve been recognized to have Canon and Nikon as effectively, haha. I’m not model loyal.

And random query that I ask everybody: should you could possibly be a tree what sort of tree would you be?

I’d be a needle tree like a Bristlecone Pine. I imply, you reside up excessive, in lovely locations, and also you get to expertise the universe for 1000’s of years. And, effectively, they appear twisted, gnarly, and resilient!

Name for Feedback

Are you a fan of Howie Stern’s work? What are your private favorites of his images?