We’ve heard about burnout at retail jobs, of hitting the limit as a desk jockey, but what happens when shooting photos of the best skiers in the world—a proverbial dream gig—reaches its threshold?

At 33 years old, French ski photographer Jeremy Bernard was leading an enviable life, chasing the deepest conditions, best skiers and biggest lines around the world. His raw talent on skis helped him focus on finding unique angles without having to worry about keeping up with the athletes he shoots. But, more than anything, Bernard set out to capture the culture and emotions of the community in which he’d immersed himself for the last decade. 

Bernard’s career has taken him from shooting the Freeride World Tour in Haines, to the tops of big lines in Chamonix, to journalistic work with his own outlet—the French online platform Neuf Dixieme. But eventually, Bernard was worn out by the road, longing for some equilibrium amid the merry-go-round of plane tickets, rental cars and foreign snow reports. With the arrival of COVID-19, the world delivered on that wish in bittersweet fashion, forcing Bernard to absorb a valuable lesson: Sometimes slowing down is the best way to enjoy the ride…

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