Tielma Productions: May 2011

Peanuts!

Photography is supposed to be fun. Jonas Wigren celebrating his flash of Pumpmaskin, 7a+, Skevik with some well placed peanuts...

The follow up... First let me reiterate that Climbingpics is one of my favorite blogs. Photography is, for me anyway, an individual pursuit that I do for my own reasons and under my own terms, I enjoy it that way. It would be a stretch to suggest that one considers it to be any different for someone else. Nonetheless, in dissecting my own photo I might learn something... Here's the shot I was looking for, and as such, can be illustrative for climbing photography fundamentals:

1) We've waited for the light to change, one, so there's better stick and two, to avoid the speckled light from the sun through the trees.

2) Climbing is a dynamic sport, regardless of how you look at it, capture some action!

3) Here, I've turned down the shutter speed to accentuate the move...

4) and, of course, the law of thirds is obeyed...

5) with the focus on the grip and the climbers face slightly blurred yet clear enough to depict the focus and concentration.

6) Knowing the move, having done it myself, I set up to capture three points which is necessary to avoid a north-south shot...

7) The engaged belayer has a red touque to provide depth in the background.

8) Even if the reduced shutter speed results in the grip being slightly out of focus the essence of the hardest move on Tabu is captured through Christoffer's concentration and his desire to send.

9) Maybe it's not necessary to photograph the hardest climb, but rather climbers who are intense in their undertaking. After all, climbing is about climbers...

On a final and more serious note... It is troubling when those who are willing to provide critique do not have tolerance for someone else's. Smacks of hypocrisy... so bring it on!

Christoffer Westin sending Tabu, 7b, Skevik.

Photo Lesson: 1

Due to a recent spate of junk at one of my favorite climbing blogs

I thought I'd illustrate a few fundamentals of climbing photography:

1) Make the most of what you have. Sure, it's speckled light and that definitely limits the possibilities, but use it to your advantage! Here the law of thirds is obeyed by use of the obvious large grip, though it is not in focus...

2) Instead the light leads to the climbers face...

3) Which is in focus, after all climbing is about people...

4) and Christoffer is looking at something, his feet, which is, and this is essential, in the picture...

5) and happens to be the move of interest, that is...

6) know the climb, either by doing it yourself, or observing and listening to the climber to learn where you can capture tension and stress in your photo.

7) Give the move a context, here depth is provided by the tree and the ground below and

8) contrast is created by the blank wall above, where the route goes, as compared to the choss beyond.

9) While this was not the shot I envisioned it is a different perspective and that is probably the most important point of all. Good climbing photography captivates through a new view while maintaining suspense and awe, Christoffer is apparently at ease, rather than just documenting a move.

10) Think about what you are doing and try and create something that inspires rather than trying to shoot for the sake of bragging rights in the pecking order.

11) Be critical of your, and others, work, its the only way you'll improve... So go ahead, disect this shot, its to your own advantage!

Christoffer Westin heading towards Tabu, 7b, Skevik.

Hog Farm

Inspired by a friend who doesn't leave the crag until its dark, Christoffer Westin dawned a headlamp for one last try on Hog Farm 7a+, Gåseborg. An excellent route with a bearable name if you don't consider the context of the crag.

Dick for a Day

Münchenbryggeriet is the sort of place you go once every ten years, so I was seriously bummed to find out, on reading the guidebook AFTER sending, that the iron rod has been ELIMINATED from the route. It seems slightly out of character considering the crag but maybe I'll mend my ways in ten years time...

Tielma Productions

Peanuts!

Photo Lesson: 2

Photo Lesson: 1

Hog Farm

Dick for a Day

Superhero?

End of the season

Boarders...

Sørfjelltinden

Blueice

Jiekkevarre

Lillgaltan

Slow Guides