Applications Now Open for Mountain Hardwear’s 2022 Open Aperture Photo Clinic

September 27, 2022

Zach Pickett

Richmond, Calif. /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Mountain Hardwear, a leader in performance equipment and apparel for climbers, mountaineers and athletes, is now accepting applications for its 2022 Open Aperture photo clinic. From November 4-7, 2022, Open Aperture will take place around Las Vegas, Nevada, where participants will sharpen their outdoor photography skills with the mission of better equipping historically marginalized communities to tell their own stories.

This year, the clinic is evolving to include videography in addition to photography, editing, and tips for creating editorial queries to increase the chances of being published.

Open Aperture 2019

The brainchild of Mountain Hardwear athlete Nikki Smith, Open Aperture was founded in 2019 and has since guided more than a dozen participants. The program is designed to create a network of diverse photographers and content creators within the outdoor industry.

“For most of my life, I searched for and hoped to see someone like me in outdoor media, but I never saw it,” said professional climber, award-winning photographer and LGBTQIA+ advocate, Smith. “I know how much that affected me, and I wanted to do something to help change the lack of inclusion in photography. I worked with Mountain Hardwear to create Open Aperture, so that regardless of experience, we can open up doors and opportunities to support storytellers of all backgrounds.”

Since Open Aperture was founded in 2019, past graduates have used their skills and experience in the program to go on to shoot photography for outdoor brands and organizations. Cohorts from the first two runnings of Open Aperture will drive the selection of this year’s applicants as well as return in a mentorship capacity to this year’s participants.

Open Aperture is led by Smith, a National Geographic Adventure contributing photographer who has over 20 years of professional photography experience in climbing and the outdoors. The program is hosted entirely by Mountain Hardwear, including full-ride scholarships for participants that cover transportation, room-and-board, plus climbing and photography gear needed for the clinic in order to ensure all barriers of participation are removed for all participants. Programming includes multiple workshops, one-on-one mentorship with industry professionals, photo and video equipment, climbing, and more.

“Open Aperture was developed and is fueled by a passion for empowering underrepresented communities to share their stories,” says Matt Burbach, global marketing director at Mountain Hardwear. “We are dedicated to growing Open Aperture through expanded programming, support, and motivation so that adventurers from all walks of life have the opportunities to showcase their connections to the outdoors and climbing.”

Applications for Open Aperture are open through Oct. 9, 2022, and can be found here.

For any media inquiries or additional questions, please contact Zach Pickett, Zach@OutsidePR.com.

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About Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear, Inc., founded in 1993 and based in Richmond, CA, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company that distributes its products through specialty outdoor retailers in the United States and 34 countries worldwide. We build essential equipment for climbers, mountaineers, and outdoor athletes and have supported expeditions on the world’s highest peaks. This level of technical precision continues to inspire everything we do. Our designers challenge every stitch and detail to continuously improve both function and comfort. www.mountainhardwear.com