Chasing Autumn's Fire: Inside Forest Barkdoll-Weil's Adventure with OWC Gear

Witness the Wild: Go Deeper with Forest in Our New Video

Capturing moments like these, amidst such unpredictable conditions, requires not just skill and passion but a workflow you can trust implicitly. And in our new feature on YouTube, you can get an even closer look at Barkdoll-Weil's incredible Patagonian journey and his meticulous creative process.

Dive deep into his adventure, hear him discuss his unique approach to capturing nature's grandeur, and see firsthand how he navigates the challenges of filming in one of the world's most breathtaking landscapes.

Watch the full video here:

The Eye Behind the Adventure: Introducing Forest Barkdoll-Weil

Beyond the epic landscapes and the immediate thrill of adventure, who is Forest Barkdoll-Weil? Based in Denver, Colorado, Barkdoll-Weil is a distinguished professional fine art nature photographer and videographer. His profound connection with the natural world isn't a recently acquired interest but a lifelong passion. "Nature has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up rock climbing and hiking, camping," he reflects. This deep-seated love was nurtured during his childhood on the coast of Maine, exploring the rugged beauty of Acadia National Park and tackling challenging climbs from a young age. This early immersion in the outdoors shaped his perspective and fueled his artistic journey.

Barkdoll-Weil's formal foray into photography began in 2017, and his dedication to mastering the craft has been unwavering ever since. But he doesn't confine his storytelling to a single medium, adding videography to his skill arsenal as a way to tell nature stories in ways still images cannot.

Since becoming a freelance photographer and videographer in February 2022, Barkdoll-Weil has collaborated with renowned brands like Nikon and Benro, a testament to his skill and professionalism. His work is a blend of artistic vision and technical precision, a combination that demands gear capable of meeting the highest standards of both creativity and reliability.

The Relentless Pursuit: Forest's High-Stakes, Data-Intensive Workflow

To capture the kind of breathtaking imagery Barkdoll-Weil is known for, especially in remote locations like Patagonia, involves a workflow that’s as demanding as the environments themselves. The sheer volume of data generated is staggering. "As both a photographer and a videographer, I go through a ton of storage," Barkdoll-Weil says. "There are days where I'm going through over 2 terabytes, per day, capturing every detail that I need to capture to create and tell my story".

His creative process involves a complex dance of equipment and techniques. "I always have at least two cameras on me," he explains, "one for timelapses, one for video and stills". The content itself is incredibly data-intensive: high-resolution stills, wildlife timelapses, 8K, 60 frames per second video. His shooting schedule is relentless, often "filming sunrise, midday, sunset, and often at night" to capture the full spectrum of light and life in these wild places.

In such a high-stakes environment, where conditions can change in an instant and opportunities are often singular, the reliability of his equipment is non-negotiable. "I need to be able to rely on the memory cards, to make sure that they don't fail me and lose all of the stuff that I capture," he emphasizes. This concern is magnified by the fleeting nature of natural environments where certain lighting and conditions are once in a lifetime. Missing such a moment due to gear failure isn't just an inconvenience; it's the loss of an irreplaceable piece of art, a story untold. This immense pressure underscores why every component in his workflow, particularly his data storage, must be utterly dependable.

The Gear That Doesn't Flinch: OWC in Barkdoll-Weill's Expedition Kit

When facing extreme conditions and pursuing fleeting moments, an artist-adventurer like Barkdoll-Weil needs tools that are not just capable, but unyieldingly reliable. His choice of OWC gear reflects this critical need, providing the performance and dependability essential for his demanding workflow, from initial capture in the wild to final edits.

Unfailing Capture in the Face of Extremes: OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B Cards

When you're days into the backcountry, miles from civilization, and every single shot counts, the memory card in your camera transcends its role as mere storage; it becomes your lifeline to preserving those unique moments. "This is why I only use OWC Atlas memory cards. They are extremely fast and reliable. I never have to worry about my equipment causing me to miss my shots," Barkdoll-Weil says.

"I shoot predominantly with the 2 TB Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B," he says. The choice of such high-capacity cards is a strategic one, born from the realities of extended expeditions. "It allows me to have confidence throughout an entire day. Sometimes multiple days. I know that I'm never going to miss a shot. The card is never going to fail me".

This extended shooting capability is particularly vital in the backcountry, enabling him to go "multiple days without having to swap cards or backup my footage," thereby minimizing the risk of damage or loss in challenging environments. But these cards are not just about capacity; they are built with the performance and durability to handle the most demanding video and photo tasks.

The Ultimate Memory Card: OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B

OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B cards achieve minimum sustained write speeds of 1500MB/s with max read write speeds up to 3650MB/s and 3000MB/s, respectively. The robust physical construction of these cards, designed to be "impact, bend, shock, ESD, UV ray, and x-ray resistant" , directly addresses the extreme environmental challenges Barkdoll-Weill and other adventure creators encounter.

Check out the OWC Atlas Ultra CFexpress Type B here.

Lightning-Fast Backups & Editing on the Edge: OWC Express 1M2 SSD

Once those precious, data-intensive shots are captured on Atlas Ultra cards, securing them immediately and reliably is paramount. Barkdoll-Weil admits to being "neurotic about making sure that everything is redundantly backed up"—a trait essential for any professional dealing with irreplaceable footage. This is where OWC's portable SSD solutions come into play.

"On top of the Atlas Ultra cards, I always travel with OWC portable SSDs," he says. "For this trip I brought the OWC Express 1M2 which is an extremely fast and powerful portable SSD drive". This drive is not just for backup; it’s an active part of his mobile workflow. His process is efficient: "Whenever we came out of the mountains, I would back up all my footage and then I would edit off of this drive."

The power and sheer speed of the Express 1M2 is what makes this on-location editing possible, even with demanding 8K footage. "Because it's so powerful," Barkdoll-Weil explains, "I'm able to edit my videos, photos, whatever I need to do while on the road and not have to bog down my computer or use a drive that can't process what I'm doing." This capability transforms the Express 1M2 from a simple storage device into a mobile post-production powerhouse, allowing Barkdoll-Weil to review, cull, and even begin assembling his stories while the inspiration of the location is still fresh. This accelerates his entire creative cycle in a big way.

Discover the power and portability of the OWC Express 1M2 SSD

With max real-world speeds up to 3836MB/s and featuring universal USB-4 compatibility, the OWC Express 1M2 is a powerful, extremely portable bus-powered SSD that is indispensable for professionals like Barkdoll-Weil. Backpacking demands lightweight, compact gear, but high-resolution video editing typically requires substantial processing power. The Express 1M2 elegantly bridges this gap, delivering top-tier speed in a highly portable form factor, enabling a sophisticated workflow far from any traditional studio setup.

Check out the OWC Express 1M2 here.

The OWC Ecosystem: Confidence from Capture to Archive

For Barkdoll-Weil, the value of OWC gear isn't just in the impressive specifications of individual products, but in the cohesive, reliable ecosystem they're part of. "The biggest thing when traveling is just having confidence in my gear," he says. "OWC allows me to capture the natural world and create my art with complete confidence." This confidence factor is a recurring theme in his experience, highlighting an emotional benefit that transcends performance. It's true peace of mind that allows him to focus entirely on his creative vision, knowing his tools will not let him down.

Barkdoll-Weil underscores the importance of having an, "end to end solution. So from being in the field and shooting to getting to an Airbnb or my car, backing up that footage and then going home and being able to offload all of that footage onto my OWC ThunderBay Flex 8. Having that whole workflow be entirely seamless with OWC is crucial for my business."

This seamlessness, from the Atlas memory cards capturing the initial image, to the Express 1M2 for on-the-go backup and editing, and finally to a robust home storage solution like the OWC ThunderBay Flex 8 for archiving and extensive post-production , minimizes bottlenecks, compatibility issues, and the risk of data loss.

Such a streamlined process is more than just convenient; it's a significant operational advantage.

For a professional whose livelihood depends on capturing and preserving unique moments, an efficient and reliable workflow saves time, reduces stress, and ultimately allows for a greater focus on artistic creation and business development. As Barkdoll-Weil puts it, OWC solutions are "a game changer for me while on these trips and I wouldn't choose any other solution."

Your Adventure Awaits: Explore More and Get Equipped

Don’t forget to immerse yourself in Barkdoll-Weil's adventure by watching the full OWC feature. See his workflow in action and witness the breathtaking beauty he captured by clicking here.

To further explore the stunning results of his craft, get inspired by Barkdoll-Weil's incredible photography and videography at his website: https://forestbarkdollweil.com. Follow his ongoing adventures on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestbarkdollweil

If Barkdoll-Weil's story has ignited your own creative ambitions, or if you’re looking to elevate your professional workflow with gear that offers uncompromising reliability and performance, consider the tools he trusts. Explore OWC’s range of Atlas Memory Cards, engineered for the most demanding capture scenarios. And discover portable SSDs like the Express 1M2, designed for lightning-fast backups and on-location editing.