Introducing our newest storyteller: Forrest Mankins

We sat down with Montana-based photographer and director Forrest Mankins following our latest campaign photo shoot to understand what life in the outside means to him. And to hear where he finds inspiration and how working with Coleman was a dream gig.

Coffee with a view photo by Forrest Mankins

Getting ready for adventure photo by Forrest Mankins

Looking out at nature photo by Forrest Mankins

Creating the Moment

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with Forrest Mankins

"So I’ve been a fan of Coleman since I was little. We had a ton of Coleman gear and when I started photography it was definitely one of those unattainable kind of pipe dreams that I had."

"The thing that I remember the most is the lantern my dad had. He still has it actually, but roughly 25 years ago I can still remember the vacations we had which were road trips. We would drive around and camp and just spend a ton of time outside and I always recall that lantern coming on during blue hour at all the various places we explored with that lantern. I just have these memories of that light coming on and hitting everyone’s faces. It’s kind of fitting though, because as time goes on you realize that it’s really about the people who you’re with and not where you are."

Forrest's Dad standing next to a vintage Coleman lantern recently

Photo of Forrest and friend in 1994 taken by his Mother.

Creating a Moment of fun photo by Forrest Mankins

"I’m not sure how I would define my style, but I think at the core of it there’s an element of spontaneity and that comes from my mom being my favorite photographer. Growing up she always had a camera with her everywhere we went and as I got older and became a teenager I looked back at those photos and just fell in love with them. I got interested in photography from the way that she sees light in her composition and her timing is just rare. The way she was just as a fly on the wall and she was never in our face with the camera, and I really see that I’ve been trying to emulate that in my own work."

"Showing the outside as a place that is for everyone and you know maybe for people who haven’t spent a ton of time outside or camping there can be an element of fear or intimidation around that and so the goal is to remove that fear of the unknown and intimidation in really to showcase camping and the outdoors in general as something that is truly attainable and accessible for everyone."