The other day, happy news flashed through my inbox. Michael Neumann, photographer, editor and powder addict, was in touch with a new publication. In his photo book "Endless Winter", he presents destinations that make it possible - in theory, of course - to indulge your powder addiction 365 days a year. In an interview, the creator provides insights into his work. We are also giving away three copies of the book.
Lavishly designed, illustrated with expressive and high-quality freeride photography, the book "Endless Winter" takes the reader from the author's home spot in Zillertal to heavy snowfalls in the Southern Alps, ski tours in the picturesque Lyngen Alps, heli-skiing in Alaska and the romance of huts in Chile. An interview with the maker gives you an insight into his work. We are giving away three books among all comments on this article (more information at the bottom of the article).
PowderGuide: Mr. Neumann, some attentive PowderGuide readers (online or print) will be familiar with your photographic products. Would you do the rest of us the honor of briefly introducing yourselfMichael Neumann: Gladly. I was born in Osterode am Harz, live in Augsburg, am 40 years old, 186 cm tall, had blond hair and my hobbies are ... Joking aside. Compared to industry giants like Peter Mathis and Mattias Fredriksson, you really don't need to know me, because I earn my living primarily by producing special interest magazines such as Kanu-Magazin and 4-Seasons and have a reputation as a photographer in paddling circles (editor's note: kayakers and canoeists) at best. Nevertheless, the enormous level in ski photography is enough of an incentive for me to jump over the bar every now and then.
PG:After this round of introductions, we can now go private. Hand on heart, what drives you to travel around for years and let the powder blow around your ears?Michi: Well, it's not really about the hair. As a late-adopter when it comes to winter sports, I simply have a lot of catching up to do. And as a paddler from earlier years, I know how to celebrate the "Endless Summer", so I quickly transferred the know-how to the cold season. However, I can't talk about traveling around for years on end, because due to family and work commitments, I have to complete tours that others extend into a vacation semester in one or two weeks and trim them for efficiency: I do sport during the day and change areas at night. So the hotel bathrobe usually goes unused and the sauna stays cold.
PG:Let's talk about your new book "Endless Winter". How long did it take to realize this book project, from the first idea to the last outlandish hair in print? Michi: But now I don't always want to be reduced to my hairstyle, zefix! The first trip that was ultimately used in the book was the motorhome tour through the Southern Alps. It felt like it was twenty years ago, but in reality it wasn't until 2007. The November chapter then closed the book in autumn 2011. Writing the individual chapters, selecting the pictures and putting the individual pages together into a 240-page work took another 10 months in total. The fact that I didn't grow any gray hairs during the printing process (how could I?) was solely down to the good printing company, which I encouraged to perform at their best with a little trick: You give me a good price and you can keep 250 books as a Christmas present for your customers. It worked!
PG:The book is produced without a publisher and there are no advertising pages in the work either. It's anything but a classic book concept. What prompted you to make this decision? Michi: This is the latest trend in media and is called "vanity publishing". The sole purpose of publishing the book is to satisfy the author's vanity ;-)
The many pictures on the hard disk simply had to be aired. I like it and I hope everyone else does too. And as I don't know when the first edition will be sold out, I have deliberately decided not to use advertisements for refinancing, which will be out of date again next year. That way, in five years' time, I can still engage freeriders in sales pitches on the lift and lure them to my trunk full of books with a clear conscience.
PG:How do you manage to take time off on the good powder days?Michi: Before you can take the maxim "No friends on powder days" to heart, the iron principle of "No meetings on powder days" applies. As a self-employed person, I am therefore always a little cautious when making appointments during the winter months. But unlike the students in Innsbruck, I don't always manage to do this, of course, and every now and then I have to be given a long nose on Facebook. An app that links iCal and PowderGuide and compares them with Snow-Forecast would be most welcome.
PG: You're often out and about with young, bouncing freeriders, how do you manage to keep this bunch of rascals under control?
Michi: Fortunately, I train regularly with my children at home. The behavioral patterns of a five-year-old, for example, are not so dissimilar to those of an aspiring ski pro. But to be honest, I'm still pretty grateful for the privilege of going out with the youngguns and seeing what's possible on two skis.
PG: One last question that will interest imitation powder addicts: What's your overdraft at your local bank? And what tips do you have to convince the stiff bank employee at home that powder addiction brings a good ROI (return on investment)?
Michi: My overdraft has of course suffered a little after the printing bill for the book, but the investment in memorable deep snow days is always repaid with compound interest in the form of a broad grin and that certain sparkle in the eyes.
Outtakes
Information about the book
Publisher: Michael NeumannTitle: Endless Winter
240 pages, hardcover, 150-gram art paper,
Price: €34.95 plus shipping
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View and order at www.endless-winter.net.
Giveaway
We are giving away three copies of the exquisite illustrated book "Endless Winter" by Michael Neumann. All you have to do to take part in the prize draw is post a comment under this article or in the corresponding forum thread. The most creative reasons why you should receive the book will each be rewarded with a copy. And even if you don't like the book: Christmas is coming again sooner than planned and high-quality pictures in book form always look good on the gift table. Closing date for entries: 8.11.2012 (11.59 pm). Legal recourse is excluded.
