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Your BEST Climbing Photographs

Original Post
Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

1) Post the THREE best climbing photographs you personally have ever taken. We're talking magazine-quality, ooo-and-ahhh worthy photos that spawn road trip plans and buy plane tickets...

Think Jim Thornburg: Stone Mountains or any R&I cover photo

Classy DWS shot

2) What I really want to know: The KIT you used to capture each photo
-If DSLR, what model body with which specific lens?
-If point-and-shoot, what camera?
-Any anecdotes about rigging/ lighting you'd be willing to share? How did you get the shot?

3) Why I'm interested: I am graduating from college in a few weeks. My grandfather has offered to help me invest in a DSLR (he runs Nikon). I want to see what glass you all are looking through and what body is maximizing your results.

I am looking at the D3200 body specifically, but would love to hear other suggestions!

And to beat the clever but cliche internet-poster to the punch: I know the camera that comes out of the pack is the one that takes the best pictures. I'm looking to step it up a notch from point and shoot, and I understand this bulkier/ heavier format's challenges

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

1) Approaching Zion's east side classic, Led By Sheep

dramatic approach

Kit: Olympus TG-610 tough series point and shoot
Shooting considerations: Positioning (ran ahead of partner), lighting (clouds did their thing)
What I would do differently: subject engagement: LOOK AT ME! (He's a bit stubborn)

And if you are concerned about "publishing" your images online, put a giant, nasty watermark on them or use a poor resolution like I did

Thanks for any advice!

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

2) Sending the gap from the tower to the buttress at Maverick Buttress camping

Exposed?

Kit: Olympus TG-610 tough series point and shoot
Shooting considerations: Timing was everything here. Also, my position relative to the jump. Loved getting Moab's "Behind The Rocks" area in the background
What I would do differently: Subject visibility. If I were a bit higher he would have popped against the talus field more visibly than against the wingate wall

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715

3) Pulling pockets and wobbling cobbles above Telluride in fall

Hard to shoot poorly here...

Kit: Olympus TG-610 tough series point and shoot
Shooting considerations:
-Getting elevated on an adjacent route to adjust background (self belay on TR)
-Timing of climber in the crux sequence
-Fully overcast day resulted in perfect lighting despite wall's north-facing aspect

What I would do differently: again, subject engagement. Climber ideally would face the lens (and not be on TR)

Dylan Weldin · · Ramstein, DE · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,715
John Marsella wrote:There's a whole forum dedicated to this:
Thanks for the link. I thought it would get more visibility in "General". (Also I didn't notice that category).

Despite the existing content I would still like to see more info about what setups people are using.

Again, specifically body info and lens suggestions as well as user's .02 on the Nikon/ Canon marriage decision I'll have to commit to
Jason Kim · · Encinitas, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 255

If your grandfather runs Nikon, you should be able to do better than a Nikon D3200. I kid, I kid.

Keep in mind that it is difficult, if not impossible to assess lens quality by looking at a relatively tiny web-size image. If your ultimate goal is to make big prints, the glass matters a lot more than if your images are primarily destined for web output. Having a clear understanding of your goals is important when deciding what sort of camera system to invest in.

A DSLR like the 3200, coupled with a decent zoom should work great. I use a full frame DSLR for portrait and landscape work, but I find myself climbing with an old Canon Rebel (1st Gen) and a lightweight, inexpensive zoom (or a point and shoot) most of the time. Unless I'm specifically out to target a certain photo, it is usually too much hassle to deal with all the weight and bulk of a "pro" setup (and the very real risk of breaking your expensive gear). That is, unless you're out there as a photographer first, and a climber second. It's all about priorities.

Nearly any modern compact DSLR and lens kit is capable of making publish-quality images. The technology is so good, it's now more true than ever that it's about the person standing (or hanging) behind the camera.

Jason Kim · · Encinitas, CA · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 255
Dylan Weldin wrote: Again, specifically body info and lens suggestions as well as user's .02 on the Nikon/ Canon marriage decision I'll have to commit to
Don't get caught up in brand hype. That's like asking whether you will climb harder using Petzl vs. BD draws. If your grandfather runs Nikon, I would expect the decision to be a no-brainer, no?
Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

I don't know about, "Best". But these are my FAVORITES.

Woody Stark

Woody Stark

Woody Stark

Equipment used was the CHEAPEST piece of shit I could buy from Wal Mart. (Paid approx. $75.00, CANON, "point and shoot". JUNK!)

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
Jason Kim wrote: Don't get caught up in brand hype. That's like asking whether you will climb harder using Petzl vs. BD draws. If your grandfather runs Nikon, I would expect the decision to be a no-brainer, no?
Seriously, I shoot Nikon, but you'd better believe that if I had someone close to me that shot Canon, i'd shoot Canon just to be able to share lenses. Also, as has been mentioned, unless you are making really, really big prints, pretty much any current Nikon or Canon lens will do just fine for climbing shots. For the most part, you're going to want a decent depth of field, so having a fast lens isn't too important (plus they're heavy for taking out climbing), and the crappiest lens made by either company will easily produce a magazine quality print.

Unfortunately, when I'm climbing, I'm climbing, and when I'm photographing, I'm photographing, so I don't have many great climbing shots to contribute to this thread.
GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385
bishop

Richard

Will

Rooster

Taken with an Olympus TG-2
Ben Brotelho · · Albany, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 520
Jon C. Sullivan · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 30

One of them is good, I just cant ever decide. Indian Creek. Some 10d dihedral. My attempt to bring the lycra back!

One of the best climbs of the trip! notice the black diamond advertisement?

and another photo from different slope

Ben Brotelho · · Albany, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 520

Jon: is that a BD beer cozy??

Jon C. Sullivan · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 30

Yes sir it is. Also, one more photo. best campsite I have ever had in ten years of regular car and backcountry camping. views of the creek as you can see, were ridiculous and the Bridger Jacks were no more than a few hundred yards behind the camera that took this photo.

Rest day! I need to get better at slack lining.

Jon C. Sullivan · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 30

whoops, forgot the camera details. I believe most of these were shot with my new Cannon Rebel T3i but my girlfriend is the photographer ( B.A. in fine arts and photography) so Im sure some of the details were intentional. The camera's glass is the one that comes with the T3i out of the box. Great camera for under 500.00 for sure.

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

Dylan, you're going about this all wrong. If you just want to see some pretty pictures, then fine, you're on the right track, but it's a fools errand to try and pick the best camera based on the images you see in this thread. They won't tell you anything at all.

It's simple: Buy whatever is on sale. Nobody makes a bad camera any more. They are all equally capable, the resolution wars are over, and lens prices have (more or less) achieved parity.

It doesn't make your choice any easier per se, but that's the way it is. I made my living with Canon cameras for years. I'm in an entirely different industry now, but I would have no hesitation buying Nikon or Sony today (but would lean towards Canon or Nikon for reasons of ubiquity alone).

LIV Veraldi · · Lone Tree, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 495
Adam Stackhouse · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 13,970
Jon H wrote:Dylan, you're going about this all wrong. If you just want to see some pretty pictures, then fine, you're on the right track, but it's a fools errand to try and pick the best camera based on the images you see in this thread. They won't tell you anything at all. It's simple: Buy whatever is on sale. Nobody makes a bad camera any more. They are all equally capable, the resolution wars are over, and lens prices have (more or less) achieved parity. It doesn't make your choice any easier per se, but that's the way it is. I made my living with Canon cameras for years. I'm in an entirely different industry now, but I would have no hesitation buying Nikon or Sony today (but would lean towards Canon or Nikon for reasons of ubiquity alone).
In a nutshell, there you go!
Joe Virtanen · · Charlotte, NC · Joined May 2010 · Points: 241

Here's a couple of recent shots.

Drew Hayes on Pit Barbecue (V6)

Camera - Canon T3i, with Canon 430 EXII flash
Considerations - relative darkness of the pit from which the problem starts

David Barbour on Too Many Puppies (5.12a)

Camera - same, no flash
Considerations - Sun was at just the wrong spot, I had to frame the shot like this so that I didn't get the shadow of my rope or my own shadow in the shot.

Ryan Nevius · · Perchtoldsdorf, AT · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,837
Locker wrote:I don't know about, "Best". But these are my FAVORITES. Equipment used was the CHEAPEST piece of shit I could buy from Wal Mart. (Paid approx. $75.00, CANON, "point and shoot". JUNK!)
Is that the Tall Wall in the AH, Locker? I feel like I've been on that climb. Nice shot!
sarcasm · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2010 · Points: 445
Dylan Weldin wrote:1) What I would do differently: subject engagement: LOOK AT ME! (He's a bit stubborn)
Whaaa? James....stubborn?
I'd go with relentless.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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