I don’t want to be a tech head or turn this blog into a how to for photography but after a few emails and spending this past week taking climbing photos and thinking about what system to use and how to get there it is on my mind.  Climbing is by far the hardest and most demanding activity that I photograph, especially in the mountains.  From rigging ropes, hiking deep into the hills, jugging or following behind climbers that are stronger than me, it is exhausting.  That said, here we go, a rant on climbing photography and what I use.

Photo Gear:

Typically I bring the Nikon D3s and four lenses for all things outdoor/action photography; a Sigma 15mm Fisheye, Nikon 17-35 2.8, Nikon 35mm 1.4 and the Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR.  Due to most alpine climbing circumstances that kind of weight can’t be justified.  So I bring Nikon’s 24-120 f/4 lens and the fisheye up on the climb but have the 35mm prime at base camp for lifestyle/documentary shots.  I still haul the extra size and weight of the D3s because it is worth it’s weight in gold due it’s durability and how high of an ISO I can shoot at when climbing during the dawn and dusk hours.

Some accessories that I find handy are an extra battery or two for the camera, a Singh Ray 4×6 3 stop soft step filter, Singh Ray Warming Polarizer, some sort of sensor cleaning device, a lens cleaning cloth, tripod, headlamp and a trigger remote for longer night exposures.

That is about as light as I go into the hills for multiple days on a photo centric climbing assignment.  I carry all of this in with the F-Stop Satori backpack, their small ICU and I attach the Mala with nothing in it on the outside of the Satori.  It looks pretty janky but that Mala bag is about the best I have found to climb and take photos with.  It is comfortable and holds my lenses plus food, a liter of water and layers with no issues.

Climbing Gear:

Most of the time I try to climb the routes because I enjoy climbing nearly as much as I like taking the photos.  Plus being in the action and taking part also gets a more personal angle and the opportunity to catch some unique moments.  Ideally a team of 4 will join you that way myself and one other can go first and then I can shoot down on the team that is following.  When on a fixed rope I typically use a cinch or grigri with an ascender, an alpine aider, daisy chain and the rope thread through a biner attached to the ascender which gives you a little more efficient ratio to pull yourself up on the rope with.  Pretty simple.  This said I am not talking about big wall, El Capitan style days.  These are typically about 4-12 pitches long and done ground up, not rigged top down with fixed lines all over the place.  If that were the case I would use a more complex/efficient way to move quickly and bring more lenses.

I hope that helps a bit.  Feel free to comment and ask more specific questions.  I am no guru compared to other guys that I know who photograph climbing nearly year round but I have a few systems that have worked well for me over the years.  Cheers, G