Entourage #40 - July 2010

DAMON CORSO

Like so many other adventure seekers, moving to California in 2003 marked a pivotal change in Damon Corso’s life. It was there that he got into climbing at Stoney Point, making weekly trips with his uncle. Ever since, he’s been living the life in Santa Monica, where he snowboards, surfs, skimboards, and, of course, climbs. Shooting “Thanks California!” (p. 46) only reinforced his affinity for California granite, because in his words, “It’s everywhere, and the potential is endless.” His serious pursuit of photography began pre-Cali, when he hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2002 and documented his six-month journey. After the cross-country move from Connecticut and his start in climbing, Corso combined two passions, met a lot of professionals in Los Angeles and San Diego, and the rest is history. Corso’s photography philosophy is “more pictures, fewer words,” which made him a perfect candidate for this year’s photo annual. Living in a culturally diverse metropolis so close to the ocean allows Corso to survive off noodles, sushi, and mochi. When asked about the best place in the world to shoot, Corso responded, “I still don’t know, but California sure will give me a lifetime of excuses not to leave!”