Several months ago, I posted a big collection of climbing shots (Link here if you're interested) and promised more to come in the future. This past week I destroyed my shoulder (anterior dislocation, torn rotator cuff, maybe some more - I'll let you know after my MRI) and so now I've got plenty of time to post more images. Unsurprisingly, I got injured climbing. Sigh....
Anyway, I took these next shots in a slightly different direction and shot these under "studio" conditions in an indoor climbing gym where I had the freedom to use large and heavy gear and no mosquitoes to bother me . The pictures are a little old and have been taking up space on my server so I figured now is as good a time as any to let them see the light of day.
Comments, critiques, questions, and personal attacks are all welcome and encouraged!
Lighting: 2 Dynalite 1000WS packs with three 4040 heads with 20degree grids, one head for each climber. Another 2000WS ring flash on-camera for low level fill. This is why the center climber's shadow is softer than the outer climbers' shadows.
Lighting: Dynalite 4040 head in Chimera 3x4 softbox on the ground at far right, aiming up at the climber. Another 4040 head in a 1x3 stripbox directly behind the climber for the highlight on his shoes and legs.
Lighting: Dynalite 4040 head in Mola Demi 23" Beauty dish to climber's right. Another 4040 head in a 1x3 stripbox directly behind the climber for the highlight on his shoes and legs.
Nice. That first shot makes the bouldering wall look high.. How did you get permission to shoot in the wall? I'm tempted to try some similar work locally.. (mainly cos it keeps raining outside..)
Thanks Jason. You're probably right about the vignette. I'll erase the right side and see how it looks tonight.
Matt, thanks. That's actually not the bouldering wall, that's the 45' lead wall with a 40º overhang.... I hope it looks high, ha ha. As far as permission.. I asked, they said yes . Where are you from?
one question, do you order the climbers to release their footing, or just wait for them to screw up? (I can't imagine climbing in slim jeans...). Sorry, there are no critiques or personal attacks in this reply
Klevevs- From what i can tell, the cut feet are just the result of a hard move. Happens all the time in bouldering. As for climbing in jeans...I do it sometimes :-p just depends if I'm too lazy to change into shorts :-p
Matt, thanks. That's actually not the bouldering wall, that's the 45' lead wall with a 40º overhang.... I hope it looks high, ha ha. As far as permission.. I asked, they said yes . Where are you from?
Ah, nice. I assumed bouldering just because I couldn't see any rope or clips on the central climber.. I think I can now though if I squint..
I'm from Derbyshire, middle of the UK (home of the famous gritstone edges) but now living in Cardiff, South Wales (sea cliffs for the most part..).
M
Klevevz - their feet "cut" from the wall as a result of a move called a "dyno" - short for dynamic. When the next hold is too far to simply reach, you have to jump for it. As a result of the jump, the feet cut out wildly into space. My aim was to catch that cut at its apex.
Jeans can theoretically constrict your movement, but it's not the end of the world. Same as jason above... when I'm too lazy to change, I roll in my jeans.
Matt - they are bouldering, but happen to be soloing (climbing without ropes) on the leadwall. Hanging out after hours when the gym is technically closed has its benefits
. The pictures are a little old and have been taking up space on my server so I figured now is as good a time as any to let them see the light of day.
. Where are you from?