Austin Holey, a 20 year old Merritt College in Oakland student and Berkeley native, studies at the landscape horticulture department at Merritt College in Oakland. When he's not busy building vegetable beds, he photographs his friends, other Bay Area climbers in Bishop, Owens River Gorge, and Yosemite. He's been climbing for over two years, mostly bouldering. He has started to take his experience from Ironworks out to Bishop and the routes at Mickey's Beach.

Shooting with a Canon Rebel XTI and a Nikon D 300, Austin has taken a number of great climbing photos. He took a moment to talk about some of his climbing shots.


Scott Cory on the Buttermilker in Bishop

I have always been interested in photos and have always been the one with the camera but have never taken any formal classes. Up until very recently my photos have simply been for pleasure and for cool documentation. After my trip to New Zealand I was given the opportunity to take some really cool pictures of climbers and amazing landscapes which has helped me to begin taking photography a bit more seriously. Right now its looking like something that I will want to continue with a more "professional" attitude and hopefully produce some cool shots.


Matt Johnson on Center Direct

I try to find angles that never really been shot from. With climbing that can be hard but if you find that angle you can make a simple climb look world class.


Cuz flashing Fight Club 5.13b at Owen's River Gorge

Don't be afraid to be the guy who is always taking pictures or to tell people to get out of your shot.

You can check out more of Austin's work at his Flickr site.

Labels: Austin Haley, Climbing photography, Matt Johnson

Capturing the moment of climbing, the second where the subject is just right, the lighting is perfect, and the scenery amazes, isn't easy. More likely are the instances like this photo- where some dude in a Hawaiian Shirt poses on a problem that he can't do.



A photographer with work in climbing magazines like Rock & Ice, Alpinist, and Climbing , John Vallejo has had his share of good and bad photos.

Recently, John took pictures of the Touchstone Rope Comp at Great Western Power Company in Oakland. He employed a few different lenses, a remote flash, and an artistic eye to capture some rad photos.


Employing some flash photography, John shoot Touchstone route setter, Brian Hedrick on a 5.12 route.


John took this picture of Hans Florine in an excellent move.


Here John did a good job of capturing not only Andy Liu climbing but the logo and Al Liu watching.


Maria Schriver emerging from the overhang and the shadow.

Checking out climbing blogs and photography sites is a learn a little bit more about how to take that perfect climbing photo. For some other great climbing images and a little background on some professional photographers check out Max Hasson, Ben Ditto, Mikey Schaefer, and Jim Thornburg.

The Digital Photography School recently interviewed climbing photographer Kamil Bialous, who explains some of the challenges of taking pictures of climbing. This is another great reference.

Good luck capturing the image. Get out there and practice!

Labels: Ben Ditto, Climbing photography, Jim Thornburg, John Vallejo, Max Hasson, Mikey Schaefer