Rock Climbing Portfolios in Photo.net

Anybody shooting rock climbing or been aware of rock climbing portfolios in

photo.net? I am interested in rock climbing photography and looking to

exchange ideas-advice and imporve my style. Thanks guys!

Geordios,

I remembered seeing <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2636550">this</a> in my travells, but that's the only one in his portfolio... I love the flying chalk particles!

Cheers Ian

Not many, but some from some short routes in Chamonix... <br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/2866171-md.jpg" height="225" width="340"

border="0"><br>

Aiguillettes d'Argentière

I have one, its not on P.net but in my own space on fotopic.

http://jon8037.fotopic.net/

Its most of the pictures i took last year whilst with the Exeter University climbing club. No indoor stuff as it doesnt look good in pics and not my cuppa

I also photograph rock climbing and am always interested in learning technique. One forum I've found that has some information is:

http://www.rockclimbing.com/forum/climbing_photography

My climbing gallery:

http://www.pbase.com/segan/rock_climbing

I do not know too much, except these basic things I try for:

1. Avoid "butt shots" taken directly below the climber.

2. Try to get side-on to the climber, better if at the same level (sometimes the ground rises along the cliff, equal to the climber).

3. Try to capture the dynamics, when the climber is trying a tough move. Try to get the climber really extending him/herself.

4. You'll notice in my attempt to do #3 I tend to frame tightly on the climber. I've seen others advise that it's good to get some rock and/or distant backdrop too.

5. Don't center on the climber (for shots including some of the rock)...try for composition following "rule of thirds".

6. Photographs of lead climbers are generally more interesting than of top-ropers.

7. Lighting on climbers is often difficult. Their faces are shaded, most climbing is during mid-day, etc. In order to properly expose the climber, I sometimes end up with a white sky...I'm not sure the solution for that, but one is to correctly expose for the sky and let the climber be a silhouette.

I've never roped in on a neighboring route to catch a shot, but I guess that is one way to do it. I've had an occassional opportunity to photograph from above. This is great for perspective and facial expression. Just be sure and anchor yourself in, and hook your camera into your own harness too! I use a runner looped around my camera strap, hooked to harness loop with locking carabiner.

Like I said, I don't know much and would like to learn more myself.