DESTINATION CASE STUDY / MICHIGAN ICE FEST
Michigan.
Lake Superior.
MICHIGAN ICE FEST
MUNISING & GRAND ISLAND
Destination photography and festival storytelling.
Ice climbing around Munising and Grand Island, from the event to future campaigns.
Michigan Ice Fest
Munising & Grand Island
Lake Superior, Michigan
Photography, reel clips
& content distribution
6 million
My festival reels & carousels
01 / THE PLACE & THE FESTIVAL
Climbing above
Lake Superior.
My work with Michigan Ice Fest documents the climbing around Munising and the people who bring the festival to life.
The photographs move between close climbing action, athlete portraits and wider views of the ice and shoreline. Together, they show the character of the destination as well as the event.
02 / GRAND ISLAND
A rare window
across the lake.
Frozen lake conditions opened up a rare opportunity to photograph Jackson Marvell and Conrad Anker climbing on Grand Island.
We travelled out on two sleds with TNF athlete manager Justin. The access was a defining part of the trip, bringing us to the ice curtains and pillars at Trout Bay and elsewhere on Grand Island.
03 / FESTIVAL STORYTELLING
Shared during
the festival.
Photography, reel clips and content distribution brought the Michigan climbing to audiences beyond the event.
My festival reels and carousels generated a reported 6 million views. The work also reached brand channels through The North Face’s main and climbing accounts.
Festival view total reported by Tim Banfield. Views are an aggregate count across the reels and carousels, rather than unique viewers.
See the TNF distribution evidence04 / CAMPAIGN USE
A life beyond
the shoot.
Photographs from this shoot were selected for Michigan Ice Fest’s 2027 marketing.
Photography from my work for The North Face appears on the cover and inside the 2027 festival program, including the opening interior page. The work also carries into these planned Alpinist advertisements, featuring Matt Segal on Resurrection and Jackson Marvell at Trout Bay.
Michigan Ice Fest 2027 · Planned Alpinist ad
Michigan Ice Fest 2027 · Planned Alpinist ad
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL / MICHIGAN ICE FEST
In the festival’s words.
For years we have hired Tim Banfield, a professional photographer to capture stunning images and video to help promote and market the festival not only locally but internationally as well. With his unique skills set, he plays a vital role in the Michigan Ice Fest by capturing the adventure of climbing high above Lake Superior, and the community that makes the event so special. His high-quality images showcase our sponsors’ products, athlete partnerships, and brand visibility across social media, websites, promotional materials, and future event campaigns. These images provide lasting marketing value for both Michigan Ice Fest and our sponsors, extending their reach well beyond the festival itself. By promoting our photographers, we also help connect sponsors and other businesses with talented professionals whose work can support their future marketing, advertising, and outdoor industry projects. Tim is a valued member of our Ice Fest family and highly respected in the climbing community.
Bill ThompsonMichigan Ice Fest Director
THE SELECT / MUNISING & GRAND ISLAND
More from Michigan.
Explore the photographs
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