Just stumbled on this image of yours truly working for an advertising photo down at Smith Rocks, OR a few years back. I don’t do a ton of climbing photography – it’s pretty damn specialized – but when I get to, it reminds me a whole lot of why i like to climb. It really focuses your attention on the task at hand. While the handful of support crew who help make these shoots possible are a real blessing, my biggest appreciation during work like this goes to the athletes. Every safety measure is taken, but they certainly put themselves at risk to get the shot – often needing to make the same move a half dozen times to get it just right. #respect.
My biggest challenge in this case is multi-tasking while in position. I’ve gotta be communicating with the athlete, communicating with the crew, etc, and being my own assistant at the same time as focusing on the shot.
Happy friday – and happy to answer any questions below.
Chase you do any climbing throughout the year and are you any good at it? 🙂
Not much rock climbing anymore. I climbed 5.10c/d for a while but my shoulders have been rebuilt so I had to back off climbing and bouldering.
i still mountain climb a bit. summited kilimanjaro in africa in june 19,300 feet
Who’d win in an arm wrestling contest; you or Corey?
i’ve got cory by about 75lbs and i’m a lot meaner. but he is surely a better climber. my shoulders are shot
OMG, that was an insane shot.
Chase, I am not sure who is the more awesome athlete, the climber or you 🙂
When you started your photography career, had you dreamed of these type of days or did they just develop as your skills and networks developed?
Love the shot featured and loved your social media post to get me here, well done.
Marcelle
i have been dreaming of these days since I was 17 years old.
sunk way more than the requisite 10,000 hours in to be here. and had amazing support from this community the whole way along. #gratitude.