Meet Forrest Barton | Photographer, filmmaker, marketer, and athlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Forrest Barton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Forrest, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Taking risk’s often leads to unforgettable experiences and life changing opportunities. In the context of everyday life, I enjoy mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, trail running, pack-rafting, and many other “risky” activities. Pushing through the fears that accompany these activities has helped me grow and afforded me opportunities that most people might never experience. I have rafted down remote rivers in Alaska, climbed and skied down epic volcanos in the Pacific Northwest, and jumped off 500 foot cliffs in Utah. All of these experiences would not have been nearly as unforgettable without the risk that is involved with all of them.

This view on risk has carried over into my professional life as well. A lot of people say that having a stable job with good benefits is the very important, especially in an unstable economy. I felt like I had a lot of untapped potential at my 9-5 job, however, and that if I were to pursue my passion I would get to where I wanted to be. With all of the risk assessed, I left my job and now I am chasing my dreams as a freelance photographer and videographer working with incredible brands in the outdoor industry. Every day I think about the risk that I am taking not having a steady income but the experiences and skills that I will acquire along the way will be worth it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I feel most at home when I am in the mountains with a camera in my hand. I take a huge amount of pride in being able to keep up with and photograph/film mountain athletes as they climb, run, ski, etc. Currently I am working as a freelance photographer and videographer shooting for high profile outdoor brands. The majority of what I have been shooting lately is ultra-marathon’s and elite runners. Throughout college at Colorado State University, I ran for the division 1 cross country and track teams. Being a part of the running world I have become immersed in it and made many connections. The most challenging part of being a creative freelancer is finding consistent work. I am always trying to network and meet new people because you never know what connections will lead to what but a lot of the time it feels like an uphill battle to be recognized and sought out for my work.

I have learned many lessons but the most important one is perseverance. It would be much easier to find a 9-5 job, unfortunately, I have aspirations that don’t align with a regular desk job and even-though it often times feels overwhelming trying to find enough work, if I keep on persevering, I will come out the other side with invaluable experiences and skills. The main thing I want the world to take away from my work is inspiration. Inspiration to get outdoors, inspiration to take risks, and inspiration to chase their dreams whatever they may be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Fort Collins, CO I would have to take a friend to some of the world renowned breweries such as New Belgium and Odell’s. These places encapsulate the feeling of community and excitement that I seek out in any city that I visit. We would also have to take a drive up the Poudre Canyon and Cameron Pass to do some back-country skiing in lesser visited yet beautiful mountains. Up the Poudre Canyon, we would also visit the Mishawaka Amphitheater to watch a concert along the bank of the Poudre River. Finally, I would take my friend to Rock Mountain National Park and climb Longs Peak and grab some nachos at Ed’s Cantina at the end of the day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My girlfriend Lily Tomasula-Martin is my biggest fan. She has inspired and often times persuaded me to step out of my comfort zone and to chase dreams that may seem impossible. Additionally my parents Paul and Dolores Barton have been instrumental in getting me to where I am today.

Website: https://www.forrestbarton.com/

Instagram: @forrest_barton_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forrest-barton-7b513a164/