About Renan
EXPEDITION CLIMBER, LANDSCAPE ARTIST & FILMMAKER

Renan lives to tell stories about our connection to the natural world,often set within the most challenging environments on Earth.

I kicked off my career as an expedition climber and landscape artist, dedicating years of my life to living in a tent, whether it was beneath the towering walls of U.S. National Parks or in the frozen expanses of the Himalayas. Every painting I've ever made was born on an expedition; I'd lug large cotton canvases on my back and sometimes even extract natural pigments right from the earth to bring these awe-inspiring landscapes to life. In 2013, my unique blend of pioneering first ascents and visual storytelling earned me the title of National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

Fast forward to today, and I wear multiple hats: I'm a commercial and documentary filmmaker, an expedition climber for The North Face, and a photojournalist for both Sony and National Geographic. The films I've contributed to have gained global attention, including MERU, for which I served as both cinematographer and subject and which took home the 2015 Audience Choice Award at Sundance. Another career highlight is the critically acclaimed Sherpa, where I was a cinematographer and co-director, screened at TIFF and Telluride. On the commercial front, I've directed and shot campaigns for big international names like Apple, Google, DJI, and Nike.

Clients & Partners