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.

A cloudless night at the Wheatbin beach on Canada's north shore of Lake Superior.

After a very busy summer of buzzing around the country (at least it seams that way) and managing to be away from Toronto for qite a bit (yay!), I'm again off on another exciting adventure. Every year for the last three, I  and a group of friends paddle a good chunk of the north shore of Lake Superior on the Canadian side. We're revisiting an old favourite route this year (Wawa to Agawa). For me it's another great excuse to photograph the rugged north shore as well as the adventurous people I love to travel with.

Photos to follow - For now, check the website under "outdoor adventure " for photographs of previous Lake Superior endeavours.

Cheers.

Tags: agawa bay, lake superior, ontario, photography trip, sea kayaking, wawa.