DOCUMENTARY
Trail Run
Amidon, North Dakota
Amidst the rugged terrain and wide-open spaces of North Dakota, a group of ranchers remember their roots of the traditional cowboy lifestyle. In preparation for a film that was delayed due to the pandemic, a photo essay was captured to showcase the timeless quality of their way of life.
The images capture the essence of the roughrider lifestyle, with the cowboys riding on horseback through the rolling hills. The bond between the cowboys and their horses is palpable, as they work together seamlessly to navigate the challenging terrain. The portraits of the cowboys themselves reveal the deep pride they have in their heritage and the hard work they do to maintain their way of life. Their weathered faces tell stories of long days spent in the sun, and their rugged clothing and equipment show the practicality and durability necessary for their daily work.
Overall, these photos provide a captivating glimpse into the lives of traditional cowboys living in the North Dakotan badlands, showcasing their dedication to their work, their love for the land, and the timeless nature of their way of life.
Running Over - Adam's Ultra Race
Badlands, North Dakota
One of North Dakota’s best-kept secrets is the Maah Daah Hey Trail—144 miles of rugged singletrack cutting straight through the Badlands. It is a beautiful but entirely unforgiving environment, which sets the perfect stage for Running Over, a documentary produced by the team at Threefold. The film follows Adam Kempenich, who survived being run over by a car and after just a few years, chose to tackle the grueling MDH50 trail run. Battling relentless heat, punishing terrain, and the lingering trauma of his accident, Adam's story is a raw look at human resilience alongside a community of fellow ultrarunners.
Learn more about the film and find out where to watch it here.
Dakota Climbing Co.
Black Hills, South Dakota
Dakota Climbing Co has been a constant in my summers for the last three years—a crew that brings a ton of energy to every outing across the region while staying dialed in on safety. Photographing rock climbing is its own challenge, and most angles from the ground just don’t do the sport justice. From the beginning, we worked together on one goal: get me up the wall so I could actually capture what it feels like to climb.
That started with me building enough strength and endurance to climb parallel routes with the group, and eventually evolved into using the right gear systems to ascend efficiently and safely on the ropes. Now I can get to the height I need regardless of the route, which means these adventure photography images finally reflect the focus, movement, and excitement that make these days what they are.
This gallery shows the atmosphere that keeps me coming back—happy, pumped climbers, problem-solving on the rock, and the outdoor community here in the Dakotas that introduced me to a sport I’ve genuinely grown to love.
Faces of Lignite
Various, North Dakota
For a few years, I worked alongside a team producing mini-documentaries to photograph North Dakota’s lignite coal industry. The goal was to focus on the human side of the job, documenting the folks who lived and breathed the work every day. I spent time photographing the people who kept things moving—from the equipment operators out in the open-pit mines to the workers inside the power plants.
Beyond the people, the project was a chance to capture the sheer scale of the towering draglines, the daily grit of the job, and the land reclamation efforts that followed. Growing up in North Dakota with family tied to the industry, getting to document this part of our state's culture was a project that meant a lot to me.
