Shapiro the hero

I love the uncertainty of shooting something new and fresh (that is just for me) that can’t be repeated and only happens at one moment in time. These moments provide so many new learnings, so much uncertain creative expression, things I know I’d change in hindsight, and a list of stuff I’d do differently next time. It’s a process of messy satisfaction.

This gallery is made up of Matt Shapiro racing The Mammoth 200. These are his moments strung out all along the 214-mile course through the Eastern Sierra. The race started and finished in The Village, right at the base of Mammoth Mountain. 2025 was the inaugural year for The Mammoth, and it was the first race I’ve ever shot. Matt’s journey took somewhere in the ballpark of 75 hours to complete, and he accumulated over 30,000 feet of elevation gain.

These opportunities and this messy satisfaction always come with a beginner's perspective for me. Usually shooting in commercial spaces, this race was something completely new. It allowed me an opportunity to capture something I’ll never be able to again. There were no do-overs or directing the model “just one more time,'‘ it was just trying to capture Matt as he passed, stopped and processed his way through the whole course. Through the race I was gaining a completely new perspective, and a list of “do’s and don’ts” that wouldn’t be complete until after the race was finished. I look at the body of the project and see its imperfections and wrinkles, but I love it. This whole project was an odd combination of realizing things in the moment, holding onto them, and then pairing them with the wisdom of hindsight. A process that feels like a creative “bridge crossing” into something new, something that feels like it will come to life in a new way down the road. Hopefully that next thing will be “better” (whatever that means) and have all the applied creative learnings of my time capturing Matt’s journey.

Matt is an amazing videographer and photographer, you can find his work here and give him a follow on his Insta here

A man sitting inside a white van with the door open, making a peace sign with his right hand. He is wearing a black jacket, shorts, and brown shoes, with tattoos on his left leg. The van's interior has a black container with stickers and a water bott
Close-up of a person wearing a black shirt and a bib number with the number 308, standing with hands on hips.
Close-up of a man wearing a black cap, sunglasses on his forehead, with a hydration pack, in a crowded outdoor setting. Other people around him are taking photos and appear to be in a race or event.
Hiker walking through a forest with mountains and a lake in the background
A person running on a dirt trail through a forest with tall trees and autumn leaves, wearing a gray hat, black shirt, and shorts with tattoos on the legs.
A male trail runner wearing a black cap, sunglasses, and a gray running vest, running outdoors in a natural setting.
A man with tattoos, wearing a black cap with 'PATH PROJECTS' written on it, sitting in a portable chair outdoors, tying a shoe. He has hiking poles and a backpack, with a goldfish-shaped foam or pillow on his lap, a can of Coca-Cola on the ground, an
A person running through a field of tall, golden grass with a mountainous landscape in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Two men and a dog outdoors next to a white van. One man with tattoos lying on a mat, the other man sitting in front of the van's open storage area. A dog wearing a bandana is standing nearby. The van's interior has various supplies and stickers, incl
A shirtless man with a large detailed Japanese dragon tattoo on his chest and arm, wearing a green hoodie over his head, a black wristband, and black and blue athletic shorts, standing against a plain white wall.
A male trail runner with a backpack running on a mountain road with a mountain range in the background during golden hour.
Person with tattoos on their left arm wearing dark socks and black shoes, seated on a concrete floor, with their legs extended, feet pointing outward, and hands resting on their ankles.
A man with tattoos on his arms sitting on a colorful striped blanket at night, wearing hiking shoes, with his tongue slightly out, appearing to be in a playful or relaxed mood.
A young man with short dark hair looking at a plastic bag, with a tattooed arm visible in the foreground; other items like orange gear are on the table.
Puppy's paws and various objects on a concrete floor, including snack wrappers, pens, a water bottle, and other miscellaneous items.
A man with short dark hair wearing a dark blue jacket with a tan and black backpack, looking down at a small plastic bag, in a dark environment.
A collection of writing tools including pens, markers, and a pencil with a humorous message on one of the pens, placed on a concrete surface with some paper and a person's feet visible.
A man with tattoos on his legs and wearing shorts stands inside a camper van, looking down at a woman sitting at a table with various items. The woman is wearing glasses and a puffer jacket. The camper's interior has wooden panels and shelves with su
A man wearing outdoor gear and a headlamp giving a thumbs-up at night, standing outdoors with a white sign nearby.
A man running along a dirt trail in a forested area with pine trees under a bright blue sky.
A person's foot is placed on the ground next to a beige sneaker with brown accents, surrounded by dirt and small rocks. The person has a tattoo on their toes and visible hair on their foot. A sock with red and teal stripes is partially visible in the
A man with tattoos on his arm, wearing a black cap and black shirt
A person with a black backpack decorated with orange smiley faces and handwritten notes, wearing a black cap and headphones, holding a stack of colorful pens.
A person with tattoos on their arms wearing a black baseball cap with white text that reads 'PATH PROJECTS', a black backpack, and dark shorts, sitting with hands on knees. The image is taken from above, focusing on the person's torso and arms.
A person with tattoos running on a dirt trail through a forest of tall pine trees during daytime.
Inside of a van or small camper with a person resting on a bed, wearing an eye mask. The ceiling is lit with LED strip lights, and there are various belongings and storage nets around.
Close-up of a person's legs and feet wearing hiking shoes and pants, standing on a gravel surface at night. There is a coffee cup on the ground and part of a tripod or hiking pole is visible to the right.
A man with short, dark hair and blue eyes is seen making a heart shape with his hands above his head against a black background. He is wearing a black jacket.
A man with tattoos sitting with a service dog in front of an open vehicle packed with outdoor gear and supplies.
A person running outdoors in a desert-like landscape with blurred background, wearing a white shirt, black shorts, gloves, a cap, and carrying a small backpack.
A man with short curly brown hair and light skin is looking down, wearing a light beige hoodie with a small black logo on the chest. The background shows a wall and a partially open door with a dark interior.
An outdoor scene with a white camper van and several motorcycles parked on a dirt road in a mountainous area. A person is lying on a yoga mat doing a stretch, with a dog nearby. The background features mountains under a cloudy sky, and supplies are s
A man with short, dark hair and tan skin looking to his left, wearing a cream-colored hoodie with a logo, with a serious expression. He has a black wristband with yellow lettering and a tattoo on his left arm. The background includes a truck or large
A man lying on an exercise mat outdoors on rocky ground, stretching his leg.
Close-up of a person wearing a gray cap, sunglasses, and a headset with a microphone, outdoors during sunset.
A person walking down a winding dirt trail through a mountainous landscape with autumn-colored shrubbery and trees.
A man in black athletic clothing preparing to eat a waffle topped with ice cream and syrup, while holding a can of whipped cream in a cluttered room with various athletic gear and snacks around him.
A man outdoors at night wearing a headlamp, a black jacket, and a black beanie hat. He's holding a sandwich or food item in his hand.
A man wearing a black outdoor jacket and a gray knit beanie with a mounted headlamp. He has a hydration tube over his shoulder and yellow and black gloves, with a dark background.
Outdoor scene with a person wearing hiking shoes, yellow waterproof jacket, and a watch, seated on the ground near a backpack containing climbing or hiking gear. Two cups of coffee or tea are on the ground nearby, with a person's hand reaching for on
Two men in outdoor gear, one standing and one sitting, under a tent with equipment and fans, engaging in conversation.
Two people walking on a dirt trail in a forested area during sunset. One person wears a yellow jacket and is carrying a black bag, while the other is dressed in darker clothing. parked cars and a white van are visible on the side of the trail.
Three people hiking in a wooded area with orange and green foliage, some trees bare, under an overcast sky.
Two people hiking along a sandy path beside a lake with a forested hillside and tall trees in the background.
A person wearing a black and yellow LEKI wrist strap and a black watch with a digital display showing calories burned, date, and time, and a black/gray jacket with water droplets on the sleeve, with a blurred background.
A male runner in black athletic clothing and sunglasses crossing the finish line with a wooden clock tower and trees in the background during a race event.
Three people hugging outdoors on a cloudy day, with fall foliage in the background.