Project TrailPorn

There’s this site called TrailPorn.com where people send in their photographs of the amazing trails they are running on, from all over the world. I think it’s a really good idea – text and blurb kept to an absolute minimum – and just really letting the pictures speak for themselves.

Examples of successful submissions to TrailPorn.com. As you can see, interest in the foreground, stunning vistas in the background and clear trails.

We’re really enjoying seeing all the new regular additions of photographs. But from our very first view of the site, we knew that we’re in the middle of some TrailPorn ourselves. So we came up with the challenge of getting a photograph on their site. There are a wealth of trails all over North Wales. And on a good day, pretty much all of our everyday morning run is TrailPorn material…

…like this for example:

me running round Llyn Mair. We imaginitively refer to it as ‘Lake 1’

From studying the submissions to the site, I think my favourite ones have a creative spin on them, where the runner isn’t dominating the scenery, and the natural environment can do all the talking. With this in mind, we worked on our shoot.

Avid readers will remember when Russell got so lost in a race that I came in before him (see post here). Well while I was following the correct route, Russell was busy getting side-tracked in a huge slate quarry and thinking what a great place for a run. So as to mitigate the embarrassment of such a crushing defeat, we could only think this was all meant to be. We had found our main site for the project.

Attempt 1: We went armed with our trusted old-school disposable camera and our crappy digital movie camera.

Site = Moel Tryfan Slate Quarry
Weather = Clear blue sky, snow on mountains
Photographer = Me
Aspiring Model = Russell
Staff Team Cohesion = Poor. An argument ensued as I failed to slide off a slate hill quick enough for aspiring model’s liking. I fear the whole thing hasn’t even gone to his head yet!
End Result = Not good enough

Attempt 2: Bring in my dad the photographer, and his kick-ass camera

Site = Moel Tryfan Slate Quarry
Photographer = Tony Othen
Model = Russell
Stylist = Russell, now deciding to wear a sort of white nightie and getting quite touchy about it when mentioned
Onlookers, support and general backseat driving = Mum and Me
Staff Team Cohesion = Good. No Arguments
End Result = Flippin amazing – if TrailPorn don’t publish us, we don’t like them anymore

If we succeed, we receive the princely sum of $25 (split 4 ways). We’ll let you know how we get on.