Meet Gennady Joel Lipovetsky | Photographer, Geek, Designer, Seeker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gennady Joel Lipovetsky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gennady Joel, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’m very lucky to be inspired by almost everything around me. I’ll grab a little inspiration from what I see on desert hikes with my dog, Venus (@thevenusbetweenus), a little more from the tribe of mountain bikers that I am fortunate enough to serve, work and ride with at my bike shop job in Moab, still more from the beautiful drives that I take, always with my camera to document and spread the incredible stoke that I feel.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
“Compelling Collaboration” is the common thread that runs through all of my work. I rely on my friends and colleagues. I don’t do anything on completely on my own, there is always another set of eyes, an opinion to consider, a tweak that can be made.

My brand is almost a mosaic of everything I’ve ever done. Ultimately the goal is to create small runs of apparel, accessories and a variety of riding gear, under my own brand, Downslope Designs, utilizing the connections I’ve cultivated working in the outdoor industry and photography for the last couple of decades. When I can move into slightly higher production numbers, I foresee being able to incorporate my own photography into the gear I create. I have some fantastic support from my collaborators.

The support for my own creative work comes from helping clients design their own bespoke product, whether for sale or promotion, creating the associated media needed for marketing, as well as offering full service social media services. I saw a trend and need among a group of solo business operators, mostly “dirtbag” hustlers, (I use that term extremely respectfully) that were starting up at or right before the beginning of the pandemic. I have had this dream for a while, but a few months into 2020, I thought ‘why not?’ I started posting about what I was doing and started to pick up clients pretty quickly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1: Mountain biking at 18 Rd. North Fruita Desert: we’re starting slow. Many slices at The Hot Tomato in Fruita.

Day 2: Paddleboarding at Connected Lakes in town or a shuttle down the Colorado River through Grand Junction. Burgers and libations at The Handlebar.

Day 3: A couple of choice hikes at the Colorado National Monument, followed by a spicy feast at Thai Smiles in Orchard Mesa.

Day 4: Side trip to Ridgway/Ouray for a soak at the hot springs, some landscape photography on Red Mountain Pass followed by a few GNAR Tacos in Ridgway.

Day 5: Backcountry Snowboarding at Old Powderhorn, earning my turns, skinning uphill (or hitchhiking sometimes) and grilling a great meal in the parking lot afterwards.

Day 6: Side trip to Moab, my second home… maybe see Arches or Canyonlands, or go mountain biking, followed by tacos and Jarritos at Giliberto’s in town… or Milt’s.

Day 7: Cruise the Riverfront Trail on our bikes, lots of little beaches, artsy photos to take, lots of birds, brews and wings at Edgewater Brewery.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had many mentors over the years, that are still a daily influence in my life:

Kishma Bey: she was a seasoned bike messenger that took me under her wing when I was a mere rookie and showed me how to stick and move in the mean streets of Washington D.C. without ending up underneath a bus.

Jeremy Parfitt, Alchemy Bicycle Works, Santa Fe N.M.: I was “Grasshopper” to this “Sensei” after I had gone to bike mechanic trade school, coincidentally Barnett Bicycle Institute in Colorado Springs. He took his time showing me how little I actually knew and imparted a level of mechanical understanding and performance that I am grateful for to this day.

Reid Callanan, Founder of Santa Fe Photographic Workshops: The opportunity to learn the craft of photography, to grow, express my artistic vision and ultimately teach, helping artists with their own work was truly a gift. He is incredibly generous with his spirit and character, putting everything and everyone in place to realize incredible photography and to limitlessly progress.

Gina Lipovetsky, my mother. She used to call in sick to take me to museums and the theater when I was little. She has a boundless sense of style and empathy.

Website: https://downslopedesigns.com/

Instagram: downslope.designs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063602103624

Image Credits
All mine.