I AM AN ADVENTURE PHOTOGRAPHER SPECIALIZING IN MOUNTAINS, PEOPLE, ACTION AND DOCUMENTATION
I’ve had the privilege to travel across the Himalayas of Nepal, India, Bhutan and the Alps of Europe as a photographer and writer for several magazines, adventure races, producers and explorers. I have been regularly photographing development projects, stories and adventure races in the outdoors as a photographer and videographer, be it southern flats of Nepal, merciless humidity of midhills, or isolated regions of the Himalayas.
Having started a career in photography in 2015, I was hired to shoot UTMR and UTMB, the world’s largest trail running race in the Alps, by September 2017. Photos I took have been featured on cover page of nine magazines, books and reports, based internationally (France, Germany, UK, Taiwan and the United Nations). Further, UN Habitat commissioned me with a 135-page photo story report on beneficiaries post 2015 earthquake in Nepal. More recently I worked as the photographer for the United Nations Nepal to cover its response for the Covid-19 pandemic, and also as a videographer for a Yeti documentary in Everest and Mustang regions.
I have good physical stamina, thrive with challenges and risks, and am self-sufficient while travelling. I do not depend on porters at elevations, have no issues crashing beneath a shady overhang, and can munch on stale, moldy bread for survival should such a situation present itself.
I have shivered through frigid nights at Annapurna’s eastern flanks awed by a meteor shower overhead. I have melted in the scorching summer of Bardia for days on end, hoping to frame the elusive tiger. I can crack a silly joke for a cheeky smile on an unsuspecting grandma or steal a shot of grandpas lazying and smoking in the sun. And I equally can play hide n’ seek with a wagtail to capture its flight over a glacial lake.
When it comes to photography, I am trigger happy.
Education
Bachelor of Arts
- Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Double Major in Economics and Management
- Graduated with Honors in Economics and Magna Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.73 on a 4.0 scale
High School
- St. Xavier’s High School, Lalitpur, Nepal
- Graduated with Distinction and in 97th percentile of Commerce batch
Awards
- Davis Foundation Projects for Peace $10,000 grant to launch a social project in rural Nepal
- GHT Dolpo Photography Competition
- Omicron Delta Epsilon – the International Honor Society for Economics
- Beta Gamma Sigma – the International Honor Society for Management
- Fiat Lux Honor Society (Clark University), “academic excellence, leadership, and sustained commitment to community service”
- Dean’s List: 7 of 8 Semesters
- Presidential Scholarship: Full college tuition fees for Bachelor’s
Languages
- Nepali Mother tongue
- English Bilingual fluency
- French Advanced professional proficiency (5 years training in Nepal and the US)
- German Intermediate proficiency (3 years training in Nepal and the US)
Work Experience
vonKathmandu
2021 to present – Co-Founder / Guide / Product Development / Programmer / Photographer
- Oversee product development, IT, branding, promotions and media for treks in the Himalayas and day hikes in Kathmandu Valley
- Guide clients in the mountains and outskirts of Kathmandu
Snail Trail Series
2018 to present – Founding Director / Admin / Product Development / Programmer / Photographer
- Organized 17 trail running races (till date) in Kathmandu and Pokhara, including monthly KTM Series (ongoing)
- Oversee product development, IT, branding, promotions, logistics, media and operations of trail races
Gnarly
2015 to 2019 – Co-Founder / Product Development / Photographer
- Organized 14 mountain biking races, including the Grand Himalayan Enduro (part of World Series)
- Oversee development, promotions and operations of the mountain biking races
Eutai Mala Nepali
2015 to 2017 – Founder / Programmer / Content writer
- Lead relief and reconstruction in various districts of Nepal affected by 2015 earthquake
- Source funds and maintain rapport with donors as well as implement projects on ground level
- Implemented projects of more than USD 200,000 in funding in Nuwakot and Gorkha post earthquake
ECS Media
2012 to 2016 – Editor / Feature Writer / Photographer
- Wrote over 400 stories and photostories
- Edited publications: Fr!day, ECS Nepal, Living, VenturePlus HealthyLife and Wedding Bells
References
Lizzy Hawker
Kora Explore
Organizer of Ultra Tour Monte Rosa
Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year 2013
info@ultratourmonterosa.com
Jill Wheatley
Mountaineer, Runner, Skiier
Currently on a mission to scale all 14 8000m peaks
Mountains of My Mind
jillewheatley@gmail.com