Cory Richards has had enough adventures to last a thousand lifetimes. He’s dug himself out of an avalanche, summited Everest. and visited Franz Josef Land (an archipelago few have heard of, and fewer can find on a map). His story is one of survival.
A new film from Rolls-Royce features Richards and explores his quest for greatness, complete with tumbles to new lows. As part of the “Inspiring Greatness” seres, the short film showcases picturesque landscapes as Richards narrates telling audiences how he got where he is today.
Richards has traveled around the globe capturing stunning moments with his lens for National Geographic.Photo courtesy of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Richards, a photographer for National Geographic, has had his photography take him all over the world – from the unclimbed peaks of Antarctica and the Himalayas of Nepal to the forgotten war zones of Angola, Uganda, and Pakistan. In 2011, he climbed Pakistan’s Gasherbrum II, making him the only American, and one of only a few people, to climb the 8,000 metre peak, in winter. It was on this climb that he survived an avalanche on the descent, taking an extraordinary photograph of himself just moments after his recovery.
Though the film primarily captures his achievements, Richards is quick to point out while detailing his climb up Mt. Everest sans oxygen, “What makes it a great moment, is not standing on top. Every single piece that had to be put in place to make that moment possible; that is what greatness is to me.”
As a company, Rolls-Royce strives to craft perfection, something Richards says resonates with him. In 2018, Richards took part in ‘The Final Challenge’ which followed his journey to some of the most remote parts of Scotland, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America in a camouflaged Rolls-Royce Cullinan, testing it to the point of destruction and ultimately proving it highly capable on all types of terrain. Richards documented the challenge as Cullinan undertook these final trials ahead of its world debut in May 2018.
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, commented, “Cory Richards is an extraordinary individual. His skill behind the lens is unquestionably inspiring. The Final Challenge, documenting Cullinan’s final grueling testing phase, perfectly captures Cullinan’s ‘Effortless, Everywhere’ nature, in some of the world’s most spectacular locations. This was an historic episode in Rolls-Royce’s history – and one that we are delighted was captured by such a notable and talented photographer.”
Other films in the “Inspiring Greatness” series feature Moving Image Artist Refik Anadol, Ndebele Artist Dr. Esther Mahlangu and Portrait and Fashion Photographer Rankin. See all the films here.
