Andy Mann

A professional climbing photographer living in Boulder, Colorado. Born in Richmond, VA, Andy finally followed his passion and made his plunge into professional photography as a full time venture in 2007 and since has published over a dozen covers and countless features for both editorial magazines and commercial applications. Currently working as the Senior Contributing Photographer for both Climbing and Urban Climber Magazines, Andy's work can be seen in monthly in these publications and elsewhere. With over 300 days shooting in the field last year alone, Andy is surely to bring his best images to this year's competition. Andy will also be presenting his film "Rocky Mountain Highball" in this year's Film Festival.

Visit Andy's site: www.andymann.com

Phil Tifo

Professional photographer from the Gatineau region in La Belle Province. He first came for a summer of snowboarding in a search for bigger mountains and his experience opened his eyes to the potential of the full size playground that BC had to offer. He then came back in '98 to live on the left side of the continent ever since.

Tifo always had a camera in hand since his parents took him on road trips at a young age, but it's in Whistler when his friends started to get sponsored in snowboarding that he wanted his photos to be part of the magazines that inspired him to be where he was. He studied commercial photography in Vancouver and graduated in 2000. Since then he's become a well respected photographer in the professional snowboarding industry and he shoots a wide variety of images aside from snowsliding sports. Climbing has been a major part of Tifo's life for quite some time and he enjoys shooting photos of his friends during their multiple rain-dodging climbing trips to the desert and at home in the Sea to Sky corridor when he's not climbing himself.

Visit Phil's site: www.tifophotographik.com/

Paul Bride

Based in Squamish BC Paul Bride has been involved in the outdoor photography scene for the past 10 years.

Always looking for an adventure with his camera his inspiration comes from turning a mental image into a finished photograph composed with clean lines and natural light. This approach has taken him to places never imagined possible while growing up in the manicured suburbs of Mississauga Ontario. His philosophy is a simple one but that doesn't mean it's been easy "Follow you heart and your mind will make sense of it".

He is a regular contributor to both the outdoor editorial and commercial industry and will be opening a gallery in Squamish this coming fall.

Visit Paul's site: www.paulbride.com

Jon Walsh

Based in Golden B.C., Jon Walsh is always ready for the next adventure into the mountains. In the past decade, he's photographed ascents on some of the widest faces in his local ranges such as the Bugaboos, Rockies and Selkirks, as well as organized and participated in expeditions to five continents. Although primarily a climber, Jon always caries his camera to document the adventure, and focuses on capturing the action, the emotions, and the beauty that prevail when committed and exposed. His skill set is a well rounded mix between rock, ice, alpine, steep backcountry ski lines, and photography.

His photos and words have been published in most leading climbing publications across North and America and Europe, for both commercial and editorial purposes.

Andrew Burr

Andrew is returning this year to defend his title as the '2009 Steep Shot Winner' where he miraculously dethroned the raining champ Keith Ladzinski (a win he still holds, to this day, over Ladzinski's head).

Andrew has been shooting professionally for the last 5 years and his work is regularly featured in Climbing & Urban Climber Magazines. He looks forward to the Squamish Mountain Festival every year and touts the 'Steep Shot Photo Shootout' as one of the greatest events in the climbing community. "The format of the show, the Squamish locals, and the brewpub, all create and unbelievable atmosphere and lots of energy, making for an unforgettable night," Burr says. "I look forward to this years stiff and diverse talent, it's going to be a great battle to the end, one not to be missed."

Visit Andrew's site www.andrewburr.com

John Dickey - Wild Card Entry

My photography is an act of passion. I could best describe myself as part red-neck, part hippy, part artist and part athlete, which is probably why my work looks the way it does. I spend every day living and shooting an adventure, remembering the past ones or planning the next. Adventure is my subject in work and life and that boils down to surfing and all disciplines of climbing. For some odd reason I need the peaks as much as I do the ocean, the city as much as I do the country and it shows in my work.

I simply love what I do and will give anything to continue shooting, capturing moments and bringing them back to share with the rest of the world. Photography is my art that I must constantly grow through and it is my business. I have photo assisted, done every variety of manual labor, been shot at, kidnapped, nearly drowned, nearly fallen off of countless cliffs and almost died in so many other ways all so that I could bring back my absolute best for you. What I ask is that you get psyched and go do something, anything, enjoy the world and all its inhabitants. I hope you enjoy my imagery and I hope it makes you hungry for your own adventures.

Remember, we are all going to die, so go get those dreams, make history and change the world for the better.