Photo series captures the stories and passions of Oregon outdoor athletes

 Ben Kitching is a commercial photographer in Bend who specializes in adventure photography - think, for example, of an ad for kayaking equipment you might use or apparel you might wear while running rapids on the Rogue River. Last summer, Kitching embarked on a personal project that combines his skill in adventure photography with a documentary-like lens on a particular group of people he admires. The Oregon Outdoor Athlete Project has since grown to nearly 30 profiles of rock climbers, skiers, ultramarathoners and other athletes who live mostly in Central Oregon. They share first-person accounts of not only their introduction to the sport they love but also, at times, candid descriptions of how their pursuit of it helped overcome personal adversity or mental health struggles.  Kitching joins us to talk about his project, which was recently profiled by Central Oregon Daily News.