17 Feb Richard Felderer
Richard is one of the most famous photographer of climbing and outdoor in general. He worked with famous brand like he North Face, Vibram, CAMP, Cassin, Nitro Snowboards, Rossignol, Kong, Adidas or Eider and his photos have been published on Versante Sud books, Transworld, Alpinist, Onboard europe, Klettern, OntheEdge, Climb Magazine, Climax, Monster backside, Alp, Pareti, Meridiani, Sport Week, Max and Maxim but Riky is a simply and modest person, ready to help when you need something, often a photo. So, this is his life and the way to live his work.
First question is obvious: when and why did you passionate to climbing and photo?
I started to climb in the late of 80s, I think ’87 or ’88 and for the period the strange thing is that I started…in the gym! At that time I lived in Monza, near Milan, and there was a climbing gym there called “Rondò dei Pini” but it was a particular place, very basic, organized by the visionary climber Eugenio Podio. Probably that was one of the first climbing gym in Italy. With photography I began during University.
Are you really graduate?
mmm…no, I have to do the last exam and my thesis is completed but…you know what sometime happens: a person begins with an interest but then change it during his life so I wanted to study photography and went to Istituto Italiano di Fotografia in Milan.
Did you think to became a pro in this work?
Naturally not at the beginning but this was a quite expensive way, so it could not be a simple fun.
You worked a lot not only in climbing filed but also with snowboarders, freeriders,ecc. What are the differences? For example for the logistics or equipments…
Equipments are more or less the same for every work, the most different aspect are the conditions you have to face. For example, when you work on the snow, you return to hotel to eat or sleep and can use the skilift to move. In alpinism or climbing all is on your legs and have to rest on the wall for the night or spend a lot of hours during the days pendent on the void. Naturally there is a rick component very high in these situations. But the most important thing is always returning with one or more good pics, always!
The most excitant adventure?
I could say “the one that tomorrow comes”. It’s impossible to decide “the best”, I lived a lot of incredible adventures. Remember for example a trip in Chile 15 years ago: I was there for a snow photo service with an athlete and after two weeks we were friends. After the work, we decided to rest some time and at the end we visited this country for 2 other months! We did a lot of surf and stayed with…very particular people. It’s possible to say that worked in…agriculture!
What’s a photo for you?
I did myself a lot of times this question and I had different view during my life. Now I can say that is a very complex object of course. Now, I discriminate the photo I “want” to do and the one I “have” to do. In the first case, I try to tell a story that hidden behind like the sense of a specific moment and give a pretext to dream. When I must do a photo, I have to explain a concept, a material object often, like a shoe, a item of clothing or an athlete. Here I have to represent “the best”.
And the hardest to do?
The one with no passion, no emotions. Sometimes it happened to work with climbers so strong that they didn’t struggle at all on a very hard route! So I have to ask making out, just a bit…
Are you a climber that do beautiful photos or a photographer able to climb?
I’m Riky, I work like photographer but I love to climb and when is possible, I go to climb with my friends. I have the luck to live thanks to my passions.
Do you believe in drones?
Oh, I…bought it! But only for GoPro, for professional works I use a Service. It’s incredible how is possible to see simply with a drone and a GoPro, they gives really different points of view.
3 advices for a guy that say “Riky, I want become like you”?
The first 2 are “attention”: don’t sell off you works and remember that a Pro returns ALWAYS with a good photo. Tne third is a real advice: do always what enjoy!
Visit rikyfelderer.wordpress.com
Interview by Stefano Michelin
