Rolls-Royce speaks with award-winning National Geographic photographer and explorer Cory Richards, in the latest in a series of ‘Inspiring Greatness’ films created by the marque. Inspiring greatness is central to Rolls-Royce’s philosophy, from hand-building each motor car at the marque’s Global Centre of Luxury Manufacturing Excellence at Goodwood in West Sussex, to creating an Application named Whispers, specifically to inspire greatness for clients around the world.

The film explores Richards’ insight on risk-taking and striving for perfection, an affinity he feels he shares with Rolls-Royce. From a challenging childhood to summiting Everest without the use of supplemental oxygen, Richards’ life has followed an irregular path. His photography has taken him across the world – from the unclimbed peaks of Antarctica and the Himalayas of Nepal to the forgotten war zones of Angola, Uganda, and Pakistan. In 2011, he climbed Pakistan's Gasherbrum II, making him the only American, and one of only a few people, to climb the 8,000 metre peak, in winter. It was on this climb that he survived an avalanche on the descent, taking an extraordinary photograph of himself just moments after his recovery.