The life of a ski photographer might seem ritzy. And sure, in many regards it is: The job comes with exotic travel, an abundance of deep powder and exposure to the world’s top skiers and the sport’s most exciting events. But “making it” as a photographer ain’t a cake walk. The hard work put forth behind the lens goes largely unnoticed. Oftentimes, bagging the perfect shot is the culmination of detailed planning, time spent in brutal weather and snow conditions, a deep knowledge of photographic equipment and so much more. Our favorite images transport us from the comfort of a couch or a desk chair into the mountains that we love. In the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day schedules, perhaps we should be so lucky as to find an image that makes us stop in our tracks, and just for a moment, forget about everything else.

In an effort to highlight and give back to the hard-working photographers out there, FREESKIER introduced its inaugural Photo Shootout this past fall—a web-based photo contest through which photographers could submit imagery for a chance at winning up to $10,000. With more than 4,000 photos submitted (from 1,126 photographers) it’s safe to say the contest was a smashing success. Our readers cast north of 65,000 votes for their favorite photos, helping us to narrow the vast pool of imagery down to a batch of finalists. Our esteemed judging panel then had the tough task of picking winners for categories including action, scenic, lifestyle, abstract and overall. And now, we take things one step further: We’re taking the winning photos (and other great photos, too) on the road.

That’s right, we’ve produced large-scale prints of the winners’ photos (plus other standouts) and we’re showcasing ’em for a live audience, in five different locales. Join us for an evening of art, music and good ol’ fraternization. Enjoy 20 blown-up photographic prints, upbeat tunes via DJs, raffles and prizes, free food and more. Don’t miss this opportunity to soak up stunning ski photography while mingling with our team, local athletes, photographers, industry personalities and stoked skiers alike.

Here’s where to find us…

pARTy Gallery Tour Schedule

• Denver, CO
  Thursday, April 7, 2016
  @ Tavern Uptown, 6-9 p.m.
  RSVP now
• Steamboat Springs, CO
  Saturday, April 9, 2016
  @ The Base Club, 3-6 p.m.
  RSVP now
• Copper Mountain, CO
  Friday, April 15, 2016
  @ Incline, 3-6 p.m.
  RSVP link coming soon
• Portland, OR
  Thursday, April 21, 2016
  @ Basecamp Brewery, 7-10 p.m.
  RSVP link coming soon
• Bend, OR
  Saturday, April 23, 2016
  @ Velvet, 7-10 p.m.
  RSVP link coming soon

Note: All events are 21+