Serving Optics

Ryan Olson adding a new variation (11+?) on a nice deep water soloing wall at Independence Pass, CO. 2006. Taken with the ol' Coolpix point and shoot. High altitude psychobloc? Good times. The prow leading up to Ryan's position in the photo remains a project. Likely 5.14 or harder, although, hard to establish on without a little raft of some sort. This particular line climbs in from low and right. Worthy, with great position.

Serving Optics

Jonny Hork. French Tickler V9 Hueco Tanks, TX. I really dig this shot and here is why: His colors really work with the landscape, nice back lighting, nice soft side lighting, hard angle, crux sequence, clean set, subject off centered, all 4 points and a face, interesting depth of field, etc.

It all adds up for me. It is always worth the extra set up time and attention to detail. Even if it never gets published. Enjoy!

One foot planted

I am excited to announce that my good friend, Keith Ladzinski, and I just recently bought a house together at the Red River Gorge in Eastern Kentucky. Owning a piece of land in the South, especially this close to The Red, is a childhood dream of mine finally come true. I am so psyched.

So, why in the world would two Colorado-based photographers buy a house at The Red River Gorge? Damn good question. Well, besides the fact that "The Red" is a beautiful world class climbing area that we will no doubt enjoy forever, we wanted to offer climbers a local place to stay while visiting as well. The house is located extremely close to the climbing. If all goes well over the next couple months, we will be able to offer 6 bedrooms, and plenty of other space for climbers to unwind, cook delicious meals, take hot showers, use wifi, and enjoy the slow, quiet, country livin' at The Red!


We will offer more info on the place and how to book a stay there soon. Lots to take care of first. Very cool!

New Work

Urban Climber Magazine's "Interview Issue" is on stands now and I am fired up on this issue. Among other heavy hittin' features, you'll find some new work of mine, including: An interview feature with Kentucky's own Dave Hume, a drive column with Noah Kaufman M.D., a wrap-up spread of the Bouldering World Cup in Vail, a killer full page gallery shot of Colorado's best new boulder problem, "Sunseeker" at Mount Evans, and a Matt Wilder "reads UC" add. Psyched! Grab you a hard copy while they last!
Also, click here to check out an online interview I shot with Lord Scrummage.

Also, Sharp End Publishing is gearing up for the release of their 2010 Women of Climbing Calendar. HAWT!!! Alex Puccio and I made a trip down Hueco Tanks, TX this winter and shot some images for it. Alex will be holding down the month of November with her natural beauty and strong arms. Very cool. Click here to purchase a copy of BS Production's new movie "The Players" where I produced and shot a full segment with Alex while we were down there.

Sharp End has also recently released a new full color guidebook to climbing in the Flatirons. FINALLY!!! I love the Flatirons and approve of this amazing new work. Mixed through out the guide are many full page action shots of mine including: Ethan Pringle, Ted Lanzano, Lauren Lee, Johnathan Siegrist, Lynn Hill, and many others. Click here to purchase.


Finally, pre-order is on for Wolverine Publishing's new Boulder Canyon Climbing Guidebook. This long awaited arrival is full color, cover to cover, and includes tons of great full page action shots I've taken over years with my Sheyna Button, Jen Goings, Chris Shulte, Daniel Woods, Matt Wilder, and others...

Shhhhew! Glad I could help everyone out!

Serving Autumn Optics

...in hopes that it will arrive earlier this year than planned! This is one of my favorite unpublished shots. It is of local hard man Austin Manning bouldering in my hometown of Richmond, Virgina. Who'da thought? I had to lean dangerously far over the edge for this perspective, which I hoped would be the right angle for the move. I think the textured sandstone sloper and fallen Oak leaves really captures the heart of Dixie bouldering. I can smell autumn when I look at this shot.

Spring behind our cabin.

A Remix of April's last storm. Click to enlarge and smell.

New Work

I'm psyched to have worked with Music Connections Magazine this issue to bring them news and photos of Kevin Bacon playing on Pike's Peak. This music mag has been in the game for over 30 years, and I'm honored to have been givin' the opp to work with them, if even for a small 1/4 page blurb. Stoked!

Serving Optics

Paul Robinson sending "Black Shadow" V13 Rocklands 2008. A classic Klem Loskot problem from Rocklands 2005, Klem named the problem after persevering a several day battle with a severe and blinding migraine in the days prior to his ascent. (Also serving knowledge.) And sure, a black and white image of Tommy Caldwell crushing the problem a few days later. Enjoy, and thanks for visiting!

Washington

Things have been rolling along super well for us here in the Northwest. Seattle in an absolutely amazing city, and we are beginning to know our way around pretty well. Much of our time has been spent sport climbing at Little Si Mountain, which is a A+, 120 foot, overhanging, granite-esqe crag with a plethora of 4 star routes up to 5.14. It is totally amazing climbing and a very inspiring place to shoot photos.

We have hooked up with Keith Ladzinski and Lauren Lee for the last few days here in Seattle. We spent the other evening at the Lee family reunion and got to meet Lauren's extended family, play with kids, and finally eat a home cooked meal. Big families are amazing, and good friends are priceless when your on the road. Thanks Lauren!

Here is a photo of Keith jumaring up to join me for a photo session at Little Si. Nothing is cooler than dangling over 100 feet of air and shooting along side your biggest inspiration. After kidding around, kicking each other, and threatening to cut each other's lines, we buckled down and got some amazing shots. Photos from this trip will be featured in the upcoming issue of Urban Climber Magazine. I am certain these shots are among my best work to date. I can't wait to see them in print!



More updates on the trip, from a climber's perspective, here on Jonathan's blog.
Off to shoot a wedding today in Tacoma and off to new crags Monday. Lata...