Interview with Kamil Bialous about tips for photographing rock climbing.

A quick update of what's been happening here at the hen house. I'm thankful to Peter West Carey for featuring me in his interview for digital-photography-school.com Whilst twittering one day some time ago, Peter sent out a message looking for a photographer to collaborate on the interview, after some quick discussion, and answering some question, the interview is complete.

You can find it here: http://digital-photography-school.com/rock-climbing-photography-tips-with-kamil-bialous

It's a quick read, and light-hearted read, and who knows, you might just learn something, or laugh, or be inspired. Not a whole lot to lose, folks. It also helps that I love shooting climbing and hanging out with climbing folk - they're a good bunch.

If you're looking for more tips, or just a quick clarification on something you're not understanding in the interview, please let me know. If you need expanded information I will try my best to help, and if I can't I'll point you in the right direction. Interested in some more adventure photography writing from me? Tips? What would you like to receive more advice about? Drop me a line, and we'll chat.

contact(at)kamilbialous(dot)com

Up next I'll have some more images and news coming your way. Skiing, mountain biking, another exciting interview feature, and new stuff getting published. Stay tuned and see you soon.

Cheers,

Kamil

Tags: adventure, climbing, digital-photography-school, interview, photographing, photography, rock, shooting, teaching adventure photography, tips, writer, writing.

Climber Stephen Vindler on the first pitch of Apron Strings, Grand Wall, Squamish, BC.

This blog post accompanies a completed photo story of climbing in Squamish, BC. You can catch it on my site here.

I loved my time spent in Squamish this summer, and I'm sure those of us who visit share the same feelings. Perfect weather (too perfect if you ask the fire fighters) allowed for extended periods of climbing and photography. The Stawamus Chief, affectionately known as the Chief, stands tall above the logging town, slowly becoming Canada's outdoor recreation mecca. It is very to see why this is; although the winters can be rainy, wet and long, the climbing and rec season that does arrive is spectacular in weather and potential for different activities.

For years I've heard of the mass migration of eastern climbers to Squampton in the summer, either pitching a tent at the Chief Campground right underneath the monolith, or finding a couch or backyard to surf for a good couple months. This amount of time provides for projects to be set and hopfully sent, relationships to be made and then cheated on when the next party arrives, and for long-time traveling climber friends to see each other again. So I had to go. It worked out that a few of my good friends were heading there as well, and hence, we had a blast.

Although I haven't really climbed in about 5 years, aside from dabbling in it here and there, the granite was really inspirational ans satisfying. I did a bit of climbing and instantly felt a void filled by the solid and textured rock. I was just as, if not more excited to photograph the people that commune in Squamish to spend their well-earned vacations, and sometimes lifetimes.

I brought almost everything in my photo arsenal which consisted of Nikon digital bodies, everything from wide angle to 300mm lenses, flash setup, and a kit of ascenders, and aiders to shoot from the rock. From the EXIF info, I can tell I shot 50/50 wide and long. My favourite lens, the 85mm made it out for a few occasions as well. I was looking for new compositions, compressing scenes, shooting into the sun, as well as slowing down shutter speeds to create some blur in the climber. I feel that too much of the current climbing photography that gets published is just super crispy crisp, and looses some emotion of "the moment", especially in a sport as dynamic as climbing.

Climber Scott Winston makes his way up Cat Crack at the Smoke Bluffs, Squamish, BC.

The second part of this post concerns itself with the use of black and white photo conversion in adventure photography. Upon sorting through the 2000 images from Squamish, I narrowed them down to about 30 or so that I felt did the place and climbers justice. While I love colour in photos, I do use black and white conversions for presenting my photos for several reasons. I should preempt this by saying that if you don't have a good photo in the camera, a bw conversion in post to make something of nothing (add moodiness?) will not work. Zero multiplied by anything is still zero. I use it not to add, but take away. Climbing expecially, is a very personal experience. an article I once read called it a selfish experience, because it really is - it's about me, figuring out the route, for my own benefit and glory.

To me, a bw conversion allows for that personal experience to be represented that much more clearly. In all the photos in this post, it is about the climber, Stephen, Scott or Dale, their environment, and the rock they're on. No colour. No mess. Just them. It literally simplifies the scene in our eyes, so that our brain is not bothered by colour (which not all of us can see anyway) and instead focuses on shapes, lines, and emotions. However, I am not a colour or bw only nazi. Take a look at my portoflio to see for yourself.

Climber Dale Sood climbing Exasperator crack on the Grand Wall, Squamish, BC.

Thanks to all those who made the Squamish time wonderful, in particular: Scott Winston, Dale Sood, Jessica Bettencourt, Guido Vettoretti, and Peter Winter and his lovely wife whose name I regrettably forget.

If you made it this far down, thanks for reading!

Kamil

Tags: bc, black and white adventure photo, climbing, granite, photography, photography trip, squamish, Stawamush Chief, the Chief, trad climbing.

Mountain Life Magazine, Fall Issue, Elora Gorge Story, Photos by Kamil Bialous

I'm excited to let you know about some of my current photographic endeavours. The current issue of Mountain Life Magazine has a story about Elora Gorge in Ontario, and feature two of my photos in their story. The climber in question is none other than Dale Sood himself, who's also heavily featured in many of my photos from Squamish, BC, right here on my website. You can also check out a short bio of me on their contributors' page found here. Thanks to Dale for grabbing that photo of me. Of course you can pick up a print copy of the magazine if you'd like. It's a good read about all things Georgian Bay and Niagara Escarpment related.

I've also been crunching many photos on my computer recently, especially white water kayaking, so look for an update on that getting featured on my site pretty soon. As soon as it's up, I'll let you know. After that, and awesome travel photo update, and even a feature on some of my documentary work for a different spin on things. That should feed your fix until the snow flies.

Cheers,

Kamil

Tags: climbing, Editorial, elora gorge, hiking, mountain life magazine, niagara escarpment work examples, ontario, tear sheet, work.

Mountain biking just outside of Banff. Model name will follow shortly.

Day two was great straight in to shooting. The day began with a mid-morning meet-up with great models from the area, and the shoot was mountain biking. Technique was primary focus, especially motion blurs and flash blurs. I have to admit, I was pretty apprehensive about working with models, for various reasons. But the guys and gals were great. Super friendly and keen on trying stuff over and over again.

Environmental action shot of mountain biking in Banff.

The great thing about the field sessions is that i am forced to shoot outdoor adventure in ways that I otherwise wouldn't. For example, I would previously have left my flash at home and shot a more side lit photo of the above two mountain bikers. I'm not quite sure if I like the fill flash on it, but the point is that shooting stuff outside of your norm is great for expanding creativity. In the future, I can definitely see myself shooting way more with flash in the outdoors. (Maybe.)

Elise Sethna climbing at the base of Rundle Mountain. The cool thing about Elise is that she placed third in Women's Open Tour de Bloc Championships in May 2009, and twentieth at the World Juniors in France in August 2009.

So working with "models" and shooting climbing had me a little worried. I think the worry stemmed from the fact that when I've shot climbing previously it was with people who were trying to send a route or project, and were not "acting" for me, but climbing for their personal fulfillment. It didn't take long for my worry to pass as I realized that working with models is actually quite amazing. They are there solely to do what you ask them to, which is photographically beneficial in many ways. You can ask them to hang out at a particular spot for a few more seconds, look at the camera or look away, move a hand or a foot in this way or that, and if that didn't work, to re-climb the route all over again until the photo you're trying to create works out.

Sasha (last name to come) climbing at the base of Mount Rundle in Banff.

The models turned out to be excellent climbers and were really cool to hang out with. I may see some of them in Kentucky if I can try to make it there this fall. Super cooperative, just all around great people. Can't say enough about them. Sure, the photos don't look as "hardcore" when people are top-roping and smiling, but the exercise was to try different techniques in photography, not get the most gripping, run-out lead shot. Lots of fun in the end.

My day ended with a braised lamb shank at the Vistas Dining Room at the Banff Centre where I'm staying. If there is one thing that the Banff Centre does well, it's gotta be the food! (and perhaps construction).

Stay tuned for tales from day three coming to ya tomorrow. I'm too tired to do much else right now, as tomorrow is another early wake-up call.

Talk Soon,

Kamil

Tags: 2009, banff centre, climbing, mountain biking, national geographic, photography workshop.