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A brush with death helped this photographer capture what it really means to live.

A brush with death helped this photographer capture what it really means to live.
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Universal Pictures: Everest

A few years ago, Cory Richards was deep in the Himalayas with two friends when a devastating avalanche hit.

He thought for sure they were all goners.

The instant he realized they survived, he turned his camera on himself.

He captured one photo that would go on to change his life. It landed his face on the cover of National Geographic.

And that was just the beginning.

Cory's always had a desire to reach the unknown. Ever since he was a young high school dropout, he's been using photography as a way to educate himself and to explore this big, complex world we live in.

But he never guessed that a single self-portrait, which "was really just my way of dealing with stress," would catapult him to a whole different level.

The portrait "push[ed] my life in such a dramatic direction," he explains in a Blue Chalk documentary. "Towards telling that larger story of what it means to hurt, what it means to triumph, and what it means to be human."

Now he's reaching new heights and digging deep to capture raw, intimate stories from all over the world as a photographer for National Geographic.


He's captured gorgeous faces, with years of stories.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


Spear hunting in the middle of the ocean.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


Life on the job.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


Animals up close and personal.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


Navigating a tiny boat on a hugely intimidating sea.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


The effects of climate change.

A photo posted by Cory Richards (@coryrichards) on


Just to show a few. (See more of his Instagram pics here!)

Cory has proven that he'll do whatever it takes to reach the shot, to uncover the unknown, to create a new story, and most importantly, to get to know the people he's photographing.

Having that intimate connection matters, and it shows.

"It doesn't matter if I can't feel my fingers," he says. "It doesn't matter how my face stings and literally feels like it's getting sandblasted. What matters is that someone else can feel that by looking at a picture."

The world is a serious place with serious problems, but with people like Cory, more of us have a chance to see what we all share: life.

After all, we are one big human family. Let's get to know each other. This feature on Cory shows the magical human moments that can happen when we do.


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Children with special needs now have more options for Halloween costumes, and it's magnificent!

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Often, parents of children with special needs struggle to find Halloween costumes that will accommodate medical equipment or provide a proper fit. And figuring out how to make one? Yikes.

There's good news; shopDisney has added new ensembles to their already impressive line of adaptive play costumes. And from 8/30 - 9/26, there's a 20% off sale for all costume and costume accessory orders of $75+ with code Spooky.

When looking for the right costume, kids with unique needs have a lot of extra factors to consider: wheelchair wheels get tangled up in too-long material, feeding tubes could get twisted the wrong way, and children with sensory processing disorders struggle with the wrong kind of fabric, seams, or tags. There are a lot of different obstacles that can come between a kid and the ability to wear the costume of their choice, which is why it's so awesome that more and more companies are recognizing the need for inclusive creations that make it easy for everyone to enjoy the magic of make-believe.

Created with inclusivity in mind, the adaptive line is designed to discreetly accommodate tubes or wires from the front or the back, with lots of stretch, extra length and roomier cut, and self-stick fabric closures to make getting dressed hassle-free. The online shop provides details on sizing and breaks down the magical elements of each outfit and accessory, taking the guesswork out of selecting the perfect costume for the whole family.

Your child will be able to defeat Emperor Zurg in comfort with the Buzz Lightyear costume featuring a discreet flap opening at the front for easy tube access, with self-stick fabric closure. There is also an opening at the rear for wheelchair-friendly wear, and longer-length inseams to accommodate seated guests. To infinity and beyond!

An added bonus: many of the costumes offer a coordinating wheelchair cover set to add a major boost of fun. Kids can give their ride a total makeover—all covers are made to fit standard size chairs with 24" wheels—to transform it into anything from The Mandalorian's Razor Crest ship to Cinderella's Coach. Some options even come equipped with sounds and lights!

From babies to adults and adaptive to the group, shopDisney's expansive variety of Halloween costumes and accessories are inclusive of all.

Don't forget about your furry companions! Everyone loves to see a costumed pet trotting around, regardless of the occasion. You can literally dress your four-legged friend to look like Sven from Frozen, which might not sound like something you need in your life but...you totally do. CUTENESS OVERLOAD.

This year has been tough for everyone, so when a child gets that look of unfettered joy that comes from finally getting to wear the costume of their dreams, it's extra rewarding. Don't wait until the last minute to start looking for the right ensemble!


*Upworthy may earn a portion of sales revenue from purchases made through affiliate links on our site.

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Support for marriage between white and Black people in America just hit an all-time high

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Over the past six years, it feels like race relations have been on the decline in the U.S. We've lived through Donald Trump's appeals to America's racist underbelly. The nation has endured countless murders of unarmed Black people by police. We've also been bombarded with viral videos of people calling the police on people of color for simply going about their daily lives.

Earlier this year there was a series of incidents in which Asian-Americans were the targets of racist attacks inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given all that we've seen in the past half-decade, it makes sense for many to believe that race relations in the U.S. are on the decline.

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Macy’s and Girls Inc. make it easy to empower girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Here’s how you can help.

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Did you know that girls who are encouraged to discover and develop their strengths tend to be more likely to achieve their goals? It's true. The question, however, is how to encourage girls to develop self-confidence and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.

The answer lies in Girls Inc., a national nonprofit serving girls ages 5-18 in more than 350 cities across North America. Since first forming in 1864 to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War, they've been on a mission to inspire girls to kick butt and step into leadership roles — today and in the future.

This is why Macy's has committed to partnering with Girls Inc. and making it easy to support their mission. In a national campaign running throughout September 2021, customers can round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar or donate online to support Girls Inc. and empower girls throughout the country.


Kaylin St. Victor, a senior at Brentwood High School in New York, is one of those girls. She became involved in the Long Island affiliate of Girls Inc. when she was in 9th grade, quickly becoming a role model for her peers.

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Within her first year in the organization, she bravely took on speaking opportunities and participated in several summer programs focused on advocacy, leadership, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). "The women that I met each have a story that inspires me to become a better person than I was yesterday," said St. Victor. She credits her time at Girls Inc. with making her stronger and more comfortable in her own skin — confidence that directly translates to high achievement in education and the workforce.

In 2020, Macy's helped raise $1.3 million in support of their STEM and college and career readiness programming for more than 26,000 girls. In fact, according to a recent study, Girls Inc. girls are significantly more likely than their peers to enjoy math and science, to be interested in STEM careers, and to perform better on standardized math tests.

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