The stories of explorers of centuries past—think about early Everest climbers and Antarctic trekkers—are reminders that there are a few of us, very few of us, who will brave any condition, who will venture past any line, out of the safe space, right into the danger zone, and stage a battle of wills between the human spirit and the humans-dare-not-tread spaces.

Enter Cory Richards. Cory belongs to that crowd of explorers who, through sheer will alone, find themselves facing down the terrible and frightening forces of natural destruction. His photography, of course, needs no real recommendation from me, or from you, or from anyone. Skill speaks for itself. But what sets him apart is the impression one gets from this video that even if Cory were born in centuries past, before the age of cameras, he would be there anyway. He’d be in the middle of the battle, face toward the wind, daring life to send him more. An explorer first, it feels at times like he’s not venturing for the camera. The camera just came along for the journey and, through it, so can we.

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