TEST PILOT SPOTLIGHT: SCOTT SPORLEDER

GIVE US A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND WHAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

My name's Scott Sporleder, I'm originally from Laguna Niguel, California. I currently live in Venice Beach but would say that for the most part I have spent the last decade consistently on the road working for a travel magazine. I think the thing I am most passionate about is seeing, experiencing and documenting the various faces of life. From remote outdoor adventures to filming intimate moments cooking with strangers in a family kitchens, I've been lucky to be able to taste a little bit of everything on the road and that's what I enjoy, the variety of it all. I wouldn't say I'm specialized in any one discipline but I have a knack for observing the nuanced way in which lives are lived.

YOUR DISCIPLINE

Well my title is a Creative Director (for the travel magazine Matador Network) but I've spent the majority of my adult life being a filmmaker and photographer. I would say that somehow I always find myself gravitating towards water and light. Growing up bodyboarding at Aliso Creek and around Dana Point, I found a love early on for being in the water and the way the earth & life looked differently from in the water. I've always loved early morning barrels, and it was surf photography and my first taste of travels that lit my passion for documenting/filmmaking.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Laguna Niguel, California

WHAT OUTDOOR ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I wouldn't say there's a single accomplishment that I am most proud of, but rather having worked hard for a career that keeps me outdoors. Being able to continue to explore and be immersed in the outdoors, for my job, that is truly something I'm grateful for.

WHAT’S THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR YOU?

That's a good question and one that I find myself grappling with often. I've spent years shooting and documenting amazing locations all over the world but oftentimes I'm moving quickly through those locations. A morning here, a brief interview there and I'm back on the road... it's left me wanting to spend more time with a location or subject without instinctively trying to capture it all. Which has led me to my latest project in the desert, building a small getaway for myself from the ground up in the foothills near Pioneertown. It's been a beautiful experience of learning completely new skill sets, all while embracing the discomfort that the slow process of the entire project has brought. I find myself taking mental pictures more often than pictures with my camera.

WHAT PIECE OF GEAR DO YOU TEST / USE THE MOST?

• 1.5mm FlatLock Wetsuit Jacket did not come off of me recently in Tonga. I could believe how comfortable it was, even after 10 hours in the water trying to shoot Humpback on the whales, I still didn't want to take it off.

• Sun Pro Long Sleeve. I work a lot in the desert and this top has become indispensable for me. From the breathability while working in a harsh sun and keeping me protected, this thing has been a must have for me.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS