Ben Kitching launches the Oregon Outdoor Athlete Project

“I didn’t see a lot of super passionate people growing up, so moving out to Oregon introduced me to this passionate outdoor community,” he said. It was really the move to Oregon that broadened his understanding of the ways life could be lived.

Kitching has now been in Bend for about a decade and joined the outdoor community himself, creating his own path in life. “You don’t have to live like the ‘normal’ demographic does. Many outdoor athletes have jobs like teaching or nursing while they chase other goals. They are finding a life that is fulfilling for them and learning to be the happiest person they can be,” he said.

To pay homage to these fulfilling lifestyles, Kitching has undertaken a new photo-interview series in which he plans to feature a different outdoor athlete every week until reaching 100. He made his first entry to the Oregon Outdoor Athlete Project in August 2023 and has since highlighted almost 20 people.

Kitching said he’s never worked on a project of this scope, but he began it as something to enjoy creatively and spend his time on long-term. He has built up his brand as an adventure photographer over the years and is excited to now utilize the athlete contacts he’s gathered from various shoots.

“I was drawn to the athletes I work with and wanted to provide a space to share their stories, what their passions mean to them,” he said. His own adventures and desire to be outdoors also bolster his excitement about the project.

In addition to passions, athletes share fun facts like favorite trail snacks, hot takes, and book recommendations. But the most eye-catching portion of the project is Kitching’s refined, double-exposure photography. “I stay true to the process and capture two intentional images to layer in the same way it’s done in a darkroom,” he said.

The results are striking photographs that usually portray the athlete and the setting of their passion. Not all photographs in the project are double-exposures, but it is a unique and noticeable style choice Kitching is using to grab viewers’ attention.

A little over three months into the project, and Kitching feels excited about where it’s heading. His goal for the project remains dedicated to the athletes he features. “[My subjects] live their lives in a way I find exemplary. They continually face fears, learn new things, challenge themselves with big goals, and pursue their passions,” his project website states.

Kitching is still looking for subjects to feature, too, and the athletes he chooses are not always professionals; that’s not the point. “It’s not necessarily about who is sponsored. There is so much room for growth and insight when challenging yourself as an outdoor athlete, whether guides or weekend warriors,” Kitching said.

His current athlete features cover a good range of sports, from fly fishers to Ironman triathletes and white-water kayakers. For example, Kevin Rose is a retired climber who wears fun cat sweatshirts while hanging around Smith Rock. Another climber and ultramarathoner, Care Bilo, shares her struggle with an eating disorder while trying to tackle intense outdoor goals and personal records.

Yet another athlete, Hugh Russell, is a close friend and mentor of Kitching, whom he taught and inspired in the outdoors in many ways. As a raft guide, ski patrotler, and “professional fun haver,” Russell spoke of his insecurities on and off the river, something Kitching never would have known or guessed without this interview.

Kitching mentioned that many athletes felt like their interview was closer to a therapy session, as they dove into their deepest motivations and relayed their relationship with nature. Having worked in wilderness therapy previously, Kitching is familiar with using the outdoor setting to find solace and clarity. “I’ve never really interviewed anyone before this, but I’m enjoying digging more into these super relatable stories and the mental health side of things,” Kitching said.

Interested athletes can reach out to Kitching via Instagram, or follow along with the project by signing up for his monthly newsletter at www.oregonoutdoorathleteproject.com. The transient nature of many community members, from skiers to boaters to climbers, can make it hard to nail down contributors but the project loosely revolves around those exploring Oregon.

Inevitably, seasons change and so will Kitching’s featured athletes and passions. Snow, rain, and sun all effect which sports are currently calling the most people but he feels confident about his current lineup in the Bend area and will continue to share stories of passion and triumph through this project.