Cory Richards Photography

Nearly a decade ago, Cory Richards purchased a watch. As a burgeoning Adventure- Advertising photographer, Richards realized that, in order to stay on top of his ever-busy schedule, it would be best if he were on time more often than not. The purchase was based on the function of necessity and he wore the watch everywhere.

Over time, the sparkle of the chrome faded and the crystal grew foggy with scratches. It wasn’t that it wasn’t built tough enough, but more that it was too tough. There was no need to replace it as no matter how much abuse it took, it kept keeping time. Climbing, skiing, sea kayaking…it accrued as much mileage as Richards while keeping him on schedule (most of the time).

After years on the road, exposed to some of the most hostile environments in the world, the watch took on a personality of it’s own. Likewise, it took on a second function, telling Cory not only where he needed to be, but also reminding him of all the places he had already been. The appearance of the watch became a subtle representation of a life less ordinary. Despite the years of abuse however, its primary function was uninterrupted.

Richards photographed the watch after six years of use and sent the image to Zodiac…the company behind its design. The rest, as they say, is history.

The image was viewed by the Zodiac marketing team as a representation of the design philosophy behind the brand…the melding of rugged style. Subsequently, Cory has worked closely with the brand to develop a key component of it’s marketing concept: The Zodiac Athlete Ambassador Program. This core group of athletes, recognized as the Zodiac Adventure Team, works to represent Zodiac in the same fashion that Richards had accidentally been practicing for nearly ten years. The Adventure Team is an elite group of individuals who test the quality of the product as a matter of lifestyle. They are the face of the brand and act as international ambassadors through their respective occupations and subsequent adventures.

As it was Cory Richards who designed the team for Zodiac, the Adventure Team is represented on the Zodiac website through images solely by Cory Richards / C.Richards Photography. To see more of Cory’s work and more of the Adventure Team Athletes, please visit the team website by clicking on the following link zodiacwatches.com/at.