Snowboard Magazine has a tradition of non-conventional covers; it is one of the defining characteristics of this brand over our 11 years of publication. For The Olympic Issue of Volume 10, we featured Ian Ruhter’s wet plate collodion portrait of Terje Haakonsen, a man legendary for his outspoken opinions and boycott of snowboarding in the Olympic Games.

Wet plate collodion is a form of photography that thrived during the mid to late-1800s, a process which has sparked the interest of a name that was once widely seen in snowboarding, Ian Ruhter, Alchemist. His search for photographic art has brought him to this rudimentary style of photography, which he produces through the use of a custom built truck the he utilizes as a camera and portable dark room for developing the plates. It is a highly sensitive and volatile process where the smallest movement can be detrimental to the image’s outcome, and requires toxic chemicals required to develop the image. However, it also captures some of the most microscopic, stunning details in the subject when executed correctly, creating a truly one-of-a-kind photograph.

This has produced the Silver and Light project, which has brought Ruhter and his crew around the West creating wet plates using this rudimentary photographic method. Sometimes in order to move forward with creativity it requires a tremendous step backwards, which Ruhter has embraced in its entirety. You can learn more about his work and career on his website.

We are proud to present two masters of their craft in Creating the Cover by Snowboard Magazine.

Watch the full interview with Terje Haakonsen here.

Read the full feature interview with Terje Haakonsen from The Olympic Issue here.

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