Creative Lessons From The 100 High Peaks With Scott Kranz

Join outdoor photographer and Sony Alpha Ambassador Scott Kranz for a visual deep dive into the creative lessons learned while climbing and documenting the 100 Highest Peaks in Washington State. Drawing from years spent exploring the Cascade Range and its subranges, Scott will share what it looks like to carry a camera kit through glaciers, forests, ridgelines, and some of the most remote alpine terrain in the Lower 48. Through personal stories and a rich collection of images, Scott breaks down the field-tested practices that shaped his WA100 Project. You’ll learn how he builds a versatile and reliable gear kit, adapts when conditions change, recognizes moments worth pushing for, and knowing when to prioritize safety. He’ll also explore how to read a landscape for compelling visuals, use different tools for storytelling, and how he approaches scale and emotion with partners in the frame. Whether you photograph mountains, wildlife, travel, or your favorite local trails, this session offers an inspiring night of storytelling from our own backyard—along with practical techniques to strengthen your outdoor work and support a more intentional creative process.

In 2023, Scott embarked on a personal journey, called the WA100 Project, to climb and document the state’s 100 highest peaks. All 100 objectives lie in the Cascades, the mountain range that transformed Scott’s life over a decade ago when he moved to the Pacific Northwest. Scott took on this once-in-a-lifetime challenge with the hope of deepening his personal connection with this local landscape, while shining a light on the outdoor community and nonprofit groups that make outdoor gear, education, and experiences more accessible to everyone. The WA100 Project spanned the 2023-2024 climbing seasons and encompassed 54 climbing trips with 38 different climbing partners. Along the way, Scott used his camera to capture both stunning natural landscapes and meaningful shared experiences. His photography now offers us a visual journey into this wild mountain range, with its rugged peaks, valleys, forests, glaciers, and wildlife, as well as a reminder of how we all belong in the mountains.