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Top 10 Aire Libre Pictures of 2024

A selection by mike mcmonagle

New Zealand Running Experience 2024, by Aire Libre

Every year, we gather the most captivating photographs from our journeys and invite a trusted friend to select their top ten. For 2024, we were honored to have Mike MacMonagle, a gifted photographer and passionate trail runner, take on this meaningful task. 

Mike approached the challenge with intention, selecting images that resonated deeply with him and embodied the very essence of Aire Libre. His curation reflects not only the visual beauty of these moments but also the values that guide us—connection with nature, community, and movement as a source of transformation.

Through every experience our intention remains constant: to bridge people with the profound inspiration found in nature and shared journeys. Mike’s chosen images tell a vivid story of our 2024 adventures. Each one invites us to pause and relive moments of awe, unity, and motivation—all gifts of the trails we tread together.

01. The Aire Libre manifesto resonates in this photo; it takes advantage of a unique perspective and creative use of color to show an individual connected to the Earth and apparently at peace with themself, regardless of what may lie outside the frame. *Photo by Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama.
02. The hydration vest in the background tells me that this was a moment of stillness and connection with others during what must have been an active day. This photo illustrates the deep connections that Aire Libre seeks to foster, and does so by capturing a fleeting special moment. *Photo by Luis Navarro.
03. I can almost hear this photograph - laughter, rolling tides, splashing feet – and feel the breeze. It’s a bright, delightful exposure that excites my senses and puts me right there with the subjects. *Photo by Hannah Shaw
04. There were many remarkable photos from this location; this one stood out to me for its candor. Just the right amount of light shows us what feels like an authentic moment of reflection and coexistence with nature, and a structure which appears to be made of elements of its wild, natural surroundings. *Photo by Sam Prada.
05. I love the way the soft, natural light in this photo allows us to see a thoughtful, intimate expression as the subject pauses to experience their natural environment. *Photo by Hannah Shaw.
06. This photo seems to me a perfect capture of the Aire Libre ethos: closeness with nature, stillness among the noise, appreciation without disruption. This is a creative capture of a powerful moment, and it makes me take a deep breath. *Photo by Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama.
07. I can feel the chilly mountain air and hear the silence in this nicely framed capture of a candid moment of meditation. I wonder how long this structure has stood in its wild environment. It elicits a contrast to more modern manmade infrastructure which often exists in spite of its natural setting, rather than with it. *Photo by Fred Millán.
08. I love this photo for its unique perspective of a dynamic moment in tricky lighting conditions. The highlights are soft and we still see all the details we need in the shadows. Did they both make it across the creek successfully? What kinds of trees are casting those shadows? *Photo by Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama.
09. This photo stood out to me in the collection because it demonstrates the scale of nature, and the remoteness achievable on an Aire Libre expedition. I like how the composition makes the people feel small, which of course they are, in a seemingly infinite, healthy forest. *Photo by Jesús Ricardo Guadarrama.
10. In this photo, I see someone experiencing, and appreciating, a different reality – an existence outside of some of the harmful patterns and modern societal structures they may be accustomed to. The trail marking on the wall in the background tells me this is a place that not only accommodates foot travel, but was probably made for it. *Photo by Hannah Shaw.

About Mike MacMonagle

Mike is a photographer and trailrunner from Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. His work most prominently highlights the stories, athletes, and performances at the biggest trail running events around the world.

 

 You can see his own work and reach him at shitinthewoods.com or on Instagram @shitinthewoods

From November 24th
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From November 25
to December 2nd, 2024
15% OFF in all our experiences

Discount Code: ALBLACKWEEK

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*Promotion limited to 5 discount codes per experience and

cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.

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