AS SEEN IN THE JANUARY 2012 ISSUE OF FREESKIER. WORDS BY SHAY WILLIAMS.

CHECK OUT THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY

Photography has never been more accessible or more affordable to get into than it is today. The rise of digital photography has led to a proliferation of camera-toting folks. From weddings to sporting events to parties, everyone is a photographer. This isn’t an inherently bad thing. Snap away! Capture the memories! Post ‘em on your Instagram!

But the problem lies in a subtle distinction: the difference between a photograph and a picture. Any camera will record a picture. But it takes a photographer to create a photograph. That guy who dropped $2,000 on a prosumer camera isn’t automatically a photographer. Right now, he’s a guy with a camera.

And it’s that tiny distinction that we venerate in this annual issue. Yes, we are honoring the finest images of the year, but more importantly, we’re placing the ideal of the photograph on a printed pedestal. The blood, the sweat, the tears. The years of experience and grueling effort. The foresight to envision the image beforehand and the serendipity to capture the perfect moment.

 CHECK OUT THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY

 SKIER: OLOF LARSSON
 PHOTOGRAPHER: OSKAR ENANDER
 LOCATION: ENGELBERG, SWITZERLAND

I haven’t known Olof for more than a year, but I have been shooting with his older brother Jon for years. Jon has always said to me that his younger brother is a better skier than him. Last December, I got a call from Olof saying he was heading down to Engelberg for a few weeks to ski and was wondering if we could ski and get some shots. I’m not making the call who is the better skier in the family, but Jon is on the cover of this issue.