Some people are a force. They carry a certain energy and determination, and when they lock onto an idea, you can feel it immediately. For better or worse, that was Dean Potter. I did not know Dean particularly well, but I spent a few days with him on assignment back in 2012. He absolutely had that kind of presence.
This was one of the images I photographed of Dean and his dog Whisper during that trip. It was obvious how much he loved that dog, and vice versa. Even in quieter moments, there was an intensity to him that stood out.
Now, more than a decade after his passing in 2015, Dean’s story continues to leave a mark. The new HBO docuseries 'The Dark Wizard' directed by Sender Films gives a deeper look into the complicated and sometimes troubled mind that drove him. The four part series is worth watching in my opinion, especially for anyone interested in climbing, risk, or the mindset behind pushing limits.
One of my photographs appears briefly in the series, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and photograph Dean, even if only for a small moment in the larger story of his life.