I wanted a close-up of Karl’s feet, and the lighting I set up was for portraits, so I dropped to the ground and plinked this shot off quickly. I was switching so fast between two cameras, two to three lenses, studio lighting, available lighting, ISOs, and a subject who just ran 100 miles — I was lucky to get 10 minutes with Karl! Oftentimes it’s not the shot you set out to get that makes the final edit, but rather what you instinctively grab that makes the grade.
David Clifford

About the shot

Biography
I was first drawn to photography in the 80’s. My father had a subscription to American Photo, and I was always impressed with the photos that were in that magazine. I couldn’t imagine people actually made a living doing something so cool as taking amazing pictures. In 1989 I moved to Boston to attend Northeastern University as an architecture major. It was at NU that I decided to take Photo 101 as an elective. The photography department was put together by a talented and interesting professor, Neal Rantoul. Neal was an 8x10 master and an important mentor during my college years.
In 1991 I moved to Aspen, Colorado, to escape the confines of the city. It wasn’t long before I was working at the local camera shop, The Walnut House. The owner made me an offer I could not refuse. I spent close to a decade shooting mountain photo, weddings, events, sports, landscapes, and tourism, and assisting other professional photographers. Aspen is an amazing place to live and shoot, but there is such a great concentration of talented photographers that you need to hold your own or be left out all together. It is Aspen where I met some of the best photographers in the world.
In 2002 I parleyed my experience and knowledge into a position at Rock & Ice and Trail Runner Magazine as the director of photography. I spent four years giving as much as I received in return and made some great friends along the way.
My wife Rixt and I have a home in Carbondale, Colorado, and currently reside in Boston, Massachusetts.In January 2007, I will travel to India to shoot a story for National Geographic Adventurer.