SAMMY SPENCE
campfire imagery sans bug bites
content creation: blog work + Photography
The Feeling of Flying, The Freedom of Movement
written and photographed for Rocky Mounts
“We swing the bike rack off to the side, reaching in to grab our bike shoes and our helmets. The three of us live in our old Ford E-350 van, we try and run it mostly on the fumes of discovery, but every once in a while we have to put gas in it too. Under the bed located in the back of the van, we are full to the brim with our belongings: our backpacking gear, different types of shoes, our first aid kit, our camping chairs. The kind of things we need often enough to need a rack with a swinging arm.”
You Can't Always be High + Dry
photographed + written for Therm-A-Rest Camp Blog
"As outdoor adventurers, limit pushers, tree climbers, pow hunters and summit hikers, we know we can’t plan for everything that happens when we’re out on expedition. We simply can prepare for the unexpected. Just about the only plan we can follow is the trail. When we leave control behind and let the sweet chaos of the adventure take over, we get the opportunity to find a heightened awareness for nature and all aspects of its wild and unpredictable beauty. Good gear allows us to be a little braver and hit the trail no matter the weather forecast. Therm-a-Rest sleeping bags have the technology to provide us with easier dreaming."
Memories from a 1984 Sleeping Pad
Photography + Blog Content for Therm-a-Rest
“Its continuously fading color reminds me of all the nights I’ve rested my head in new wild places. It reminds me to push my limits (and my muscles) because I can count on it as a soft spot to land, just like it was for my mom and dad. It feels like home. It reminds me of nights spent on fresh, untouched forest floor, with a touch of star drenched skies. Rolling it up and attaching it to my backpack always causes me to remember a day spent touring up steep mountain peaks and instant coffee, steam rising with the sun.”
"those sleeping pads
were more than just a place to rest after a day of adventuring. They were a place to form memories, a place to create bonds with both people and the outdoors, and a sanctuary to build a lifetime of respect for the world and all it’s wild places."
