Malik Martin, better known as , has carved a niche for himself in the outdoor industry as a photographer and filmmaker. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, and now living in Denver, Martin filmed and appeared in the project Black Ice, a documentary about a group of Memphis rock climbers who learn to ice-climb in Montana. He鈥檚 also the subject of a short film, , about his friendship with mountaineer Conrad Anker, and the host of 鈥攁 series for 国产吃瓜黑料 TV in which he interviews influential people in the outdoor world while the pair walk on treadmills in a park.

Martin began his career as a photojournalist. In 2017, at age 27, he started freelancing for the in Memphis. His photos of the raw energy and tumult during the protests that led to the dismantling of Confederate statues garnered him a promotion to a full-time position. In 2018, while photographing the opening of the nonprofit climbing gym Memphis Rox, he decided that he wanted to participate, not just document, and began climbing indoors. Soon after, a Colorado road trip that included hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park ignited his interest in the outdoors and a passion for nature photography. Today, Malik not only captures stunning visuals but sparks important conversations about diversity and inclusion in urban and outdoor spaces.

Martin discussed his unique journey in a series of interviews with 国产吃瓜黑料.

国产吃瓜黑料: Can you share some insights into your youth? How did those early years influence your career path?
Martin: I was adopted by my grandmother when I was two and moved to Salt Lake City, because she felt it would give me a better chance at life compared with Memphis. My elementary years were spent experiencing extreme racism, being one of the only Black kids in my school. The mountains were there, but they were no more than something to look at. I never thought about hiking or climbing them, even though I did camps as a youth. These experiences didn鈥檛 directly influence my career, but they gave me a fighting spirit and taught me to never be afraid to speak truth to power.

What led you to become a photojournalist?
I wanted to make a living off my camera. Initially, getting booked for birthdays and baby showers was cool, but I needed something more dynamic. I remember walking into the Tri-State Defender without an appointment, to show the lead editor my portfolio, and saying, 鈥淚 want to be a photojournalist.鈥� He looked over my work and responded, 鈥淚 think you already are.鈥�

What do you focus on in your work?
Things I love. When you shoot things you love, you can never make them look bad.

You鈥檝e mentioned living in a tent for a period of time. What led to that situation, and how did the experience shape you?
In May 2016, I chose to live in a tent to escape a bug-infested apartment run by a slumlord. I realized I could cut back on expenses like rent and utilities to focus on my art. For the next six months, I camped and couch surfed, investing in myself rather than paying rent. I had an extra $1,000 a month that I could put into camera equipment instead of bills. This period taught me the importance of betting on myself, especially during times of uncertainty.

What about the experience in Rocky Mountain National Park made you fall in love with nature?
I don鈥檛 know, it just felt weird and I kind of liked it. Initially, I thought maybe the thin air was giving me a natural high, but it also made it hard to breathe, yet I couldn鈥檛 stop moving forward. I had never felt such euphoria. The mountains spoke to me in a way the city never could. They taught me about silence, depth, and the wildness of spirit.

How did you meet Conrad Anker, and how has that relationship influenced your career and personal growth?
I met Conrad at Memphis Rox during Global Climbing Day, organized by the North Face, in August 2018. He immediately helped me with technical skills like rigging ropes and positioning myself on the wall to capture great shots. Conrad has been like a mountain dad to me, profoundly changing my life and career trajectory. After observing my coverage of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, he invited me on a trip to clear my mind. This trip turned out to be a two-week expedition where I climbed the Granite Peaks in Montana and the Grand Teton in Wyoming with Jimmy Chin.

What projects are you currently working on?
My current project is 国产吃瓜黑料 Ain鈥檛 Free. It鈥檚 my first completely independent film and focuses on the challenges of accessing the outdoors when you live in a concrete jungle. It questions the notion that the outside is free by highlighting barriers like a lack of gear and knowledge needed to safely navigate the backcountry.

When did you start writing poetry? Is it a hobby or have you considered publishing your work?
I’ve been writing poetry my whole life, walking around in third grade with Edgar Allan Poe鈥檚 book of poems. Over the years, it took me a while to find my style and approach. Poetry is more than a hobby; it’s a crucial mode of personal expression. It allows me to convey emotions and experiences that may not always come through in my visual work. I haven’t had anything published. There are just some things I keep private.

We鈥檙e all aware of the lack of diversity outdoors, and obviously you stand out. Can you discuss the impact of imposter syndrome on pursuing aspirations, particularly in environments where you might feel out of place?
I鈥檓 supposed to be here. In the early stages, I was adjacent to the big names, but now I鈥檓 becoming one myself. I used to look at all these great names on posters, admiring their achievements. But now my name is on the poster, too. I鈥檓 doing great things, and I鈥檓 supposed to be here.

You are. But how do you react when someone doesn鈥檛 feel the same?
I have tried to join groups of people that have the same interests as me and haven鈥檛 been offered a seat. So why not build my own table? While they鈥檙e at their table enjoying themselves, I鈥檒l be over here, gathering nails, hammering the wood, sanding, and building chairs. They’ll look up and see that while they were busy excluding, I created a space for me and whoever else to thrive, share ideas, and eat.

A Poem About the Poet

As someone who has grappled with stuttering, I鈥檝e often sought solace and inspiration in the words of great orators like Maya Angelou. Her mastery of language has guided my own pursuit of expressive power. Martin shares a reverence for Angelou, too. Speaking to him inspired me to write a poem in her style.

Malik the Lens, Malik the Light

In Memphis beats a heart, unquiet
A spirit fierce, refusing to deny it.
Malik, with a camera as his sword
Cuts through silence, his unspoken word.

From humble streets to mountain鈥檚 breath
His journey sings, defying death.
With each snap, a new world unfurls
Canvas of dreams, his lens swirls.

Poet first, through streets he roamed
Each photograph, a verse, a tome.
To the stars, his gaze now cast
In every frame, his future, his past.

He built a table, long and wide
Inviting all to come, reside.
By firelight of stars and flash
His community, his mosaic, his bash.

Through city鈥檚 pulse and nature鈥檚 calm
Malik moves, his soul his balm.
A Martian, they say, in jest, in mirth
For he brings the heavens down to earth.

Photographer, wanderer, seeker, friend
On each journey, he finds his mend.
Through lens and heart, he charts his course
With nature鈥檚 power, his endless source.

A Walk in the Park with Malik Tha Martian is .

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Solitude, southeast of Salt Lake City, may first appear like a sleepy mountain resort with ample groomers. But it鈥檚 so much more: Fantasy Ridge, Silver Fork Ridge, and Evergreen are just some of the best big, steep terrain there to discover.听Local skiers Grete Eliassen, Patrick Spence, and Harrison Holley, along with snowboarder Shannan Yates, show us their backyard of spines, while California athlete JT Holmes gives us a crash course in what in-bounds speed riding looks like. See the full segment in Warren Miller鈥檚 72nd feature film,听Winter Starts Now. You鈥檒l find tickets and more at .

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On July 12, 2018, professional climber Sasha DiGiulian set out to become the first woman and second person in history to complete the Rocky Mountain Trilogy, a compilation of three of the hardest 5.14 big walls in the Canadian Rockies. The imposing climbs, on Castle Mountain, Mount Louis, and Mount Yamnuska, respectively will take Sasha two months of continued effort with the ultimate goal of ascending each sheer wall in a single day push, with zero falls 鈥� a combined average of over 9,000 vertical feet of climbing at a lung-busting average elevation of 7,000ft.

Setbacks with climbing partners, a shoulder injury, and mounting wildfires, DiGiulian is faced with ever-increasing obstacles and forced to balance her goals with her safety. This is not only an extraordinarily unique physical journey, but a universal introspective story of overcoming fear, the importance of self-confidence, and in finding friends when and where you least expect them. Pushing through the uncomfortable moments and riding the ups and downs of life, DiGiulian drives herself through mounting fatigue and a closing weather window to strive for her historical goal.

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The Rocky Mountain Trilogy is a triumvirate of 5.14 walls in the Canadian Rockies. When Sasha DiGiulian set her sights on becoming the first woman鈥攁nd second person ever鈥攖o complete the Trilogy, she got more than she bargained for.

DiGiulian is a professional climber and an accomplished one at that, so what makes the Trilogy such a challenge? The three climbs on Castle Mountain, Mt. Louis, and Mt. Yamnuska combine 9,000 vertical feet with 5.14 pitches, iffy weather, and remote access. Simply put, this isn鈥檛 an objective most climbers would ever consider if they aren鈥檛 Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers or don鈥檛 have names that rhyme with Blalex Fonnold. Luckily for the rest of us, DiGiulian made The Trilogy.

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Of course, the climbs are the main attraction. Watching DiGiulian scout, set, and climb these monstrosities over the course of several months is worth the price of admission, but underpinning the whole enterprise is a much more personal story.

DiGiulian originally sets out solo, with no crew or climbing partner. As The Trilogy progresses, you see changes in how she follows her instincts and learns to trust new people; you see her grasp the value of letting herself be vulnerable. As she develops camaraderie with a new, tight community, you understand that she finds more than just climbs to conquer deep in the backcountry of Alberta. She finds a family.

The Trilogy is oddly relatable. Sure, average Joes and Janes aren鈥檛 conquering mile high spires or dangling off sheer faces. But we鈥檝e all struggled with self confidence; we鈥檝e all felt lost and alone. Watching DiGiulian overcome these obstacles on the way to her goal is an emotionally satisfying journey. Oh, and the climbing is pretty spectacular, too.

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Professional riders Ryan Peatry and Alexey Vermuelen both agree that cycling sports need to be more accessible and inclusive. Peatry, a mountain biker, and Vermuelen, a road cyclist, recognize the barriers beginner cyclists face when it comes to buying gear, training, and finding the motivation to race competitively. They鈥檝e made it their mission to help new cyclists surmount those obstacles, and in 国产吃瓜黑料 TV鈥檚 new series From the Ground Up they work to show that anyone with enough determination can race with the pros. Over the course of the five-part series, the expert riders train three people who recently picked up cycling for the infamous Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race in Colorado, one of the most demanding bike races in the country. Peatry and Vermuelen provide the participants with gear and take them through grueling distance and high-altitude training to help prepare for the race in only a few months. Catch the first episode on 国产吃瓜黑料 TV this week ahead of the 2021 Leadville 100 on August 14.

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