Andy Mann Photography

Letting Go

2011-12-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

I recently created this short film for Evolv Sports, journaling Emily Harrington's most difficult ascent to date, "Wacka Flocka" 5.14B, in Rifle, CO. I've begun to treat short videos the the same approach as I do music compositions. No two stories can, nor should be, the same. Each has there own beat, rhythm, leads, and measures, the same as a song. The trick as an editor is to spend enough time with the puzzle to find it's most natural path, knock away a little conventionality, and make it unique in some way. I wanted this piece to feel very human. I began the film with Emily's weaknesses, her obsessive passion, her anger, and her spirit. I find the most unique and authentic statements from an interview can be a foundation for an entire story and opening with that audio can be the most hooking. Making Emily human not only sets the story up for success, but allows the viewer to connect in some way. When the actual climbing footage becomes the least important part of the story, then you have found one. Thanks for following! Cheers _ Andy

Sasha DiGiulian Video Portrait - adidas

2011-12-17T06:39:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud of the attention (250K views) and reviews received from the recently released video of Sasha DiGiulian becoming the first American women to climb 9a (5.14d). Keith Ladzinski and I met up with Sasha in early October to make this short film for adidas Outdoor, following her attempts, and progress, on "Pure Imagination"'." Spending that week with Sasha was one I'll never forget. All her effort on the route, all her success, all her talent, and all her beauty, could never overshadow her genuine awesomeness as a person. We had a great week hanging out and shooting together, topped off by her eventual send of the route. Watching history happen from the front row was more than worth the price of admission (free!) and being at the anchors when she clipped them is now a memory that should be able to bring a smile to my face anytime I need to recall it. Thanks everyone for your support and check out the video if you haven't already! Cheers from chilly NH - Andy

Sasha DiGiulian. "Pure Imagination" 5.14d (9a). from

The "R" Series - Episode One.

2011-10-28T16:24:00.001-07:00

I am stoked to have recently signed on as Deadpoint Magazine's Senior Videographer and am currently producing short films on a monthly basis for "The Stash." The Stash is a $12/yr membership needed to view the films as they are released. It is definitely worth $1/month to get first access to some of today's most talented climbing filmmakers. Check it out!

Here is a special sneak preview of an ongoing series I'll be producing called "The R Series", which chronicles today's best traditional climbers pushing the boundaries on scary & sparsely protected routes around the country. Keep an eye out for them over at www.DPMclimbing.com.

Episode one follows Jenn Fleming as she completes the hardest female traditional ascent to date, "Fraidline" 5.13b R, in one of my favorite historical climbing areas, and my back yard, Eldorado Canyon, Colorado. Enjoy! Cheers from the Red River Gorge - A

Jenn Flemming - The "R" Series from DPM CLIMBING on Vimeo.

"New World Order"

2011-09-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Well, my longest blog hiatus since the beginning over 5 years ago. Sorry folks, but man have I been busier than ever! Traveling, filming, and shooting on some amazing projects this summer, and I can't wait to share the gist of each. One short video I am proud to present today was filmed earlier this summer outside Seattle, WA. When good buddy, and fellow Arc'teryx teammate, Jonathan Siegrist rang me from Seattle, he had one hung what would become the Northwest's hardest sport route. I jumped a flight as soon as I could and was able to capture one of Little Si Mountain's last great projects. I kept this one simple and to the point. What an amazing route! "New World Order" 5.14c Cheers - A

Jonathan Siegrist - NWO from MAXIM DYNAMIC ROPES on Vimeo.

Necessary Evil Video

2011-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Wrapping up the final media release for my Spring '11 stint in Las Vegas, is this short film with Jonathan Siegrist. Released through Maxim Ropes, this little journey follows Jstar through his struggles and victories on the area's immaculate desert limestone. The film culminates with the first real video footage ever shot of Chris Sharma's historical test-piece, "Necessary Evil" 5.14C, a time-tested route which has seen very few ascents in the 16 years since it was first climbed.

The whole media game is changing at a rapid pace, and I find myself filming more than half of the time these days. I've always had a love for both and feel very blessed to do what I do. For me, the biggest satisfaction is when I can finally share the hard work and adventures with everyone. Enjoy the video. Cheers! - A

Jonathan Siegrist Maxim Dynamic Ropes from MAXIM DYNAMIC ROPES on Vimeo.

On a side note. The new bouldering guide to Colorado's high country was released yesterday and I was pleasntly surpirsed to see an image of mine on the front cover. Mount Evans and RMNP are dear to my heart and I'm really looking forward to flipping through this new guide! Dang.

Heather Robinson Video - PrAna

2011-05-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Hot on the heels of the Kevin Jorgeson video, PrAna has released a fun short film that I recently produced for them, with team athlete Heather Robinson, out in Las Vegas this past March. Heather was kind enough to put us up in her house for 4 weeks while we toured the area. She's one of the kindest and passionate people I have ever met with abilities on the rock just as inspiring. Heather is one of the hardest working and dedicated rock climbers out there on the scene today and it show's with her motivating send of "Power Windows" 5.13d at Mt. Potosi.

Check it out here. Cheers from Eldorado Canyon! - A

Heather Robinson: Balance from Prana Living on Vimeo.

The Kevin Jorgeson Video - Black Diamond Journal

2011-05-05T13:18:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce the release of a short film I shot and edited with long time friend and climbing partner, Kevin Jorgeson. Filmed specifially for The Black Diamond Journal Series, Kevin shares with us his passion for the area and offers nice insight into the art of bouldering.

We only spent 2 short days filming this out in Bishop, CA, but a nice weather window allowed him to grab the second ascent of Transporter Room (5.12X - read the full story here) and work on his new mega-project: a five star line right out the belly of the beast. (See photo above.)

Thanks for following. Enjoy - Andy

VIDEO PROFILE: BD athlete Kevin Jorgeson bouldering at the Buttermilks from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

Optical Reverb

2011-05-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

Photo: Olivia Hsu working an undone problem in the Valley of the Giants, Sawtooths of Idaho.

Last Summer some friends and I sailed across Redfish Lake, setting up camp on the beach to explore and develop new untouched granite boulders in an alpine basin known as "Valley of the Giants" in Idaho. We bargained an old captain with an bottomless Gin and Tonic and something for his spirits in exchange for the 45 minute trip across the lake. We scheduled a doubtful pick-up time one week later. I shot some of the wildest backcountry bouldering I've ever seen that week, the article printed, and the adventure was lost to another hardrive.

I'm working on a new way to tell our stories and share the adventures, far beyond the parameters. Both unfiltered and unrestricted. Just the story...as it happened to happen that day.

More on "Optical Reverb" to come.

Two From Hueco

2011-04-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

...In the midst of an editing frenzy here at the cabin. The last couple weeks I've been tied to my machines editing 4 short films that are soon to be released next week at PrAna, Black Diamond, among others... More on this soon. I did manage to squeak in a short filming day in Hueco this winter the day after the Rock Rodeo Competition, capturing Glen Johnson making the first ascent of a scary new highball called "Immortal Whispers" (V11 R - See image below) along with footage of Courtney Sanders crawling out Ten - Ten (V10), both on East Mountain. Check out the video here or as a free download at iclimb.com.

www.iclimb.com

2011 UC Gear Guide Shoot (Fashion?)

2011-04-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Last month I sat down with the editors at UC Mag and we discussed a new look for the 2011 Gear Guide. We were all amped to bring something new to the table and show off the industries new clothes, in action. I've always loved these kind of shoots - full days - 6 locations - MOVE MOVE MOVE! The energy is so awesome. So, with the help of Colette Mcinerney as Art Director (don't even think about doing this kind of day shoot without one), we added a little spice to this issue of Urban Climber. I'm never sure if climber's take well to this kind of "lifestyle" stuff, but we sure had a hell of a time shooting it! Here are the 'tears' from the day. I'm off to catch DSO @ Boulder Theater tonight. Cheers - A

Vegas & 74 Points

2011-04-13T23:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a month long road trip, visiting Las Vegas and Southern Utah with Jonathan Siegrist, Heather Robinson, Sheyna, Beau, etc - lots and lots of good friends. I also spent some time filming with Kevin Jorgeson out in Bishop, CA (a road I went down seeming too long ago.) I didn't put the camera down, not even when I slept. The outcome, I hope, is some of my best film/video/photo work to date - all soon to be released. Also, I put together a rad editorial feature for UC Mag's 'Road Trip Issue' due out this month with Jstar. Feeling pretty smoked right now and playing catch-up. Glad to back in ol' 'Rado! While I delve into all this footage and photos - here's a few from the trip.

and something else I've meant to share -

I recently (well, at end of February) hopped down to one of my favorite places on Earth - Hueco Tanks, TX. This is my 7th year (I think) in a row spending time in this magical desert boulder field, but unfortunately my shortest trip yet. It was great visiting my desert family and squeezing in some quick work. I had a good time making this short film, which follows around my good buddy, Daniel Woods, filming one of our sport's greatest athletes on one of his best days. Between 10am and 2am, Daniel sent 3 V13s and two V11s. Five of those on his first attempts. Then, he had lunch, then, he crushed another V13. Lots of mumbo-number-jumbo, I know, but as a true fan of all things bouldering, this is sick. 74 points in 6 boulder problems! Check it out. Life is bitchin' - A

Because she can.

2011-04-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

This winter I spend some time in Moab filming a mini-series with 3 Strings Media about Steph Davis and her quest to climb and base jump off 5 desert towers...because she can. Here is a sneak peek into our film. Shooting has wrapped on the project and it's into the editing room this month to finish this and many other exciting projects. Having spent a few days filming from her jump points (see point 1:10 in the trailer), all I can say is my experience with vertigo is pretty dizzying. I find it pretty amusing, the set-up time to shoot 500 feet off the desert floor for only a few seconds of usable footage. Steph jumps, and within 60 seconds, she is in her car driving home while Keith and I look at a few hours of decent time, meeting her back well after dark. The other quicker way off...is well...not ever gonna happen for this guy. Cheers! - A

Steph Davis Tower Project from Keith Ladzinski on Vimeo.

Been Busted....

2011-03-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Check out this interview by Abby Smith's "What Matter's" Blog (A Venture There/USA Today Affiliate) with your truly. It was fun to delve into the last 5 years of my work as well as be asked some interesting questions regarding my life before photography, my music, etc. Thanks ladies for the great exposure! Read the interview here.

Serving Optics

2011-02-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple images from last week's ABS Nationals here in Boulder. I'm a wide angle junkie. Always have been, always will be.

The Haps

2011-02-05T11:56:00.000-08:00

Since my last update I've been here, there, and back again. I've been spending a lot of time lately in Moab, working with Keith Ladzinski on a 5 part video series on Steph Davis and Mario Richard. Days consist of jugging 400 foot towers every morning, setting up cameras and tripods on tiny perches high in the Fisher Towers, only to get 5 seconds of footage as they jump safely off the towers. Pretty sick. Really hard work.

Following this year's Outdoor Retail Tradeshow in Salt Lake City, where I spend a few days twice a year reconnecting with clients and sharing in the energy of the industries biggest and best, I connected with a musician hero of mine, Cahalen Morrison. As a folk musician myself, I've been drawn to Cahalen's style of writing and playing for the last year. Earlier this year, he joined up with another force in the Seattle music community, Eli West, and hit the road for a 10 show Colorado tour. Filmmaker, Scott Neel, and I joined the fellas on the road to film a short documentary on them. More on this when we finish the editing. The one thing I love best about my job is when it affords me time to labor over my love of music and musicians.

From here, I wait by the fire till the snow melts. I have a fashion shoot next weekend, followed by a few more weeks in Moab, a March month in Las Vegas, NV, and a busy April on the Frontrange.

Fleeting like the days - Andy

JStar Slideshow!

2011-01-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, go check out Jonathan Siegrist's slide show this Wednesday at the Boulder Rock Club in Boulder. Jtron puts on a great show and I'm stoked to have contributed a lot of multi-media for it. Word is, he's doing a new slide show this time, so even if you were part of Colorado Burl, your in for a new treat. I'll be blazin' back from Moab that evening to make it on time. If I do, I'll take the stage and heckle the ol' boy! Cheers from Moab - A

Embracing Winter

2011-01-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

I've been pokin' my lens around new places in 2011. I can already tell it's gonna be a great year. My boots and gloves are thawin' by the wood stove right now. I'll be need'n them all weekend... Psyched - A

The Cabin Video.

2011-01-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

Here is a cross-section of our life in Eldorado Canyon. A small and humble slice of simple pleasures and great rewards. I shot and edited this in a day with my girlfriend, Sheyna Button. The video follows her while she takes our dogs for a cross-country ski...right out the front door. Life is good.

Scotland Short.

2010-12-28T18:16:00.000-08:00

In September of 2010 my family and I took a trip to Scotland in search of a missing link to our heritage, the lost grave of Janet Lang.

This is the story of how we found it under a blanket of moss.

Under the Moss from Andy Mann on Vimeo.

Pure Imagination

2010-12-15T18:50:00.000-08:00

I just finished the final edit on a short climbing film for Arc'teryx. It features team athlete, and good buddy, Jonathan Siegrist on his first ascent of "Pure Imagination", 5.14d." No doubt, this is one of America's great new sport climbing test-pieces and a strong testament to Jstar's ability as a rock climber. Check it out!

Pure Imagination from ARC'TERYX on Vimeo.

It was filmed over 2 cold days in The Red River Gorge on Kentucky, in which I was able to snag over a dozen angles of the route. Pretty Cool. Over the last several years I have been working a lot in the film/video industry. Although I am not as recognized much for this as I am for my still photography, here is a list of some the major climbing films I have worked on:

2006 - "Specimen"
2008 - "Progression"
2008 - "Players"
2009 - "Core"
2010 - "Rocky Mountain Highball"

After a good solid 5 years of cutting my chops, it is nice to launch out on my own in this medium. I look forward to shooting and editing a lot more video this year. Stay tuned and thanks for following! Cheers - A

Back to Business

2010-12-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

After wrapping up a 2 week trip to the Red River Gorge, I'm back at home in Eldorado Canyon and editing all the footage and images from the trip. I was lucky to catch Paige Claassen's send of "God's Own Stone", which may be the hardest female ascent east of the Mississippi, ever. It's been pretty rad to see her and Jonathan Siegrist grow as people and as rock climbers. Both are breaking into new levels of difficulty and I'm fortunate to have front rows seats their progress. I was able to connect with some old friends over Thanksgiving as well, which I dig even more than the climbing. Below, Seattle's Bret Johnston gives "God's Own Stone" a run for it's money.

Over the final few days of our trip Jonathan and I shot footage of his recent first ascent, "Pure Imagination" 5.14d at the Chocolate Factory. This is by far the hardest route I have ever seen, and having spend two days on the route, shooting the individual sections for the film, I can assure you that this mother is hard. Hard and Beautiful. It's the real deal. Keith Ladzinski and I are working on a two part series of Jonathan's new routes in the RRG for Arc'teryx that should launch soon. Pretty exiting. Below is a frame I pulled from the reel.

Meanwhile, I put together a cool little feature for my friends at iclimb.com on one my my favorite bouldering areas, the Flatirons. I have been looking forward to sharing many of these images for years now. I'm so glad they found a home and I look forward to doing more articles like this in the coming months. Click Here to check it out!

Anyway, cruisin' along, busier than ever before. I am so blessed for this little life and the opportunities to live a reality within these dreams of mine. Hope you enjoy. Peace - A

Off to 'Ol Kentuck!

2010-11-18T23:58:00.000-08:00

Headed off in the morn for a 2 week trip to the Red River Gorge of Kentucky. 'Bout dang time. Sheyna and I are gonna see if we can make it to the top of some rock climbs in between another heavy work load. It'll be my first trip back this year since planting a little root there last summer. So Stoked. Life is grand.

Serving Optics

2010-11-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

Kevin Jorgeson is in Yosemite Valley, right now, on El Cap, attempting to climb the world's hardest big-wall route. I wish him luck and we're routing for him here on the Frontrange! Hopefully, some his bouldering skills are being used. Here, Kev makes the first ascent of a powerful V9 problem high on the West Ridge of Eldorado Canyon, CO. Coincidentally, it's about a 5 minute walk from by back door. He is about 15 feet up right here.

This is one of my favorite bouldering images from the last few years. (Editors don't seem to think so). The light, color, body position, and easy read on the crux move, makes this image seem to jump off the screen. It speaks to me as simply...bouldering. Cheers! - A

SoCal - Part-2: Portraits, San Diego, CA

2010-11-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

About 2 weeks ago, Keith Ladzinski and I took off on a trip to Southern California to shoot the annual Educause conference. Once the job was done, we headed south to San Diego to meet up with some old friends and make some new ones.

My travel advice - Fly "Plus."

The best part of shooting portraits of people is the bullshitting around, and the hearing and sharing of good stories and laughs. We shot with Randy Leavitt, Chris Linder, Buck Bronson, Sam George, and John Long. Here are a few on-set (and off-set) images from the tail of that trip.

Catching the end of a Chargers game through the window of a San Diego bar.

On the bay with Randy Leavitt.

Ocean Beach with Chris Linder.

Kicking it in Venice Beach with Stonemaster, John Long.

Run and gun portrait of surfing legend and director, Sam George

Like I've mentioned before, the best part of an illustrated portrait shoot are the concepts and ideas that run wild. Here I am, taking one for the team (with the help of a red dye and red bull cocktail.) Thanks for following!

Pics from the Laughing Goat Show. 11-3-2010.

2010-11-07T14:09:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful evening of music last Wednesday in front of a full house in Boulder, and couldn't be more psyched for the future of this project! Thanks to all who came and listened. Thanks Scott Neel for shooting a few pics of us up there.

SoCal - Part-1: Educause Conference - Anaheim, CA

2010-11-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, fellow friend and photographer, Keith Ladzinski, and I took a 2 week trip to Southern California. The reason for the trip revolved around the first leg, where we were hired to shoot the 2010 Educause Conference. As the 3rd largest non-profit in the country, Educause is the leader in higher education IT, and the liaison for such grants as - The Bill Gates Foundation. These kind of shoots are really fun for us, and a great opportunity to get creative in a new line of work. We met many inspiring people, pushed ourselves creatively, and made a lot of new contacts in the IT biz. We are really looking forward to next year's conference in Philly.

But after four long 15 hour work days in Anaheim, we were ready for the second leg of our trip. So we loaded the Dodge Charger and drove south to San Diego to meet up with Chris Linder, Buck Bronson, and climbing legends - Randy Leavitt and John Long. To be continued...

Music to my ears. Laughing Goat - 11/3/10 - 730pm

2010-11-02T11:08:00.001-07:00

Music has always played an important role in my life. I first learned how to play the guitar when I was 13 years old, and more important than school or chores, was rock and roll. Zeppelin baby! Further along, and somewhere around 20, I had lost my way, both musically and in character. Soon after, I lost a Battle of the Bands contest to Jason Mraz. Go figure...

Around 20 I found some direction - in bluegrass, gospel, and folk music. I dug the complexity of songwriting mixed with the sorrowful and lonesome sound of acoustic instruments. I took to it fast and soon tried to pawn off as many Americana songs as I could to whoever would listen. Singing has never been my strong suit, and about 7 years ago I let go of caring about it. So, I apologize for that in advance.

Over the last 5 years I've begun to develop my own style of playing. Of course, nothing can be considered "new" or their "own" on this little wooden box. For me, it's rather - a melting pot of those players I've ingested and now channel outwards. Get it? Bluegrass Techno Rock Fury.

The last 3 years of my life have been pursuing a career in another love, photography. Grinding it out on my leather ass and traveling the world to make a living. I can't say it's been all cookies and cream, but I can look back with love, strength, wisdom , and at least say - I made it my own way. I am blessed to have been able to jump when I needed to, I guess. So, I'm jumping again.

I have had too many dreams for this one life of mine, I've been told. And I can only thank my friends, family, and the endless support of my dearest, Sheyna Button, for the chance to put this new one to the test.

When I turned 30, I picked back up the guitar, but this time more seriously. I decided I wanted to write my own music, lyrics, and arrangements. About this time I saw Kate Jaworski play at the Laughing Goat in Boulder. She was solo and the place was packed. She could play, she could sing, and she wanted to be up there guiding the sound.

After seeing a few of her shows, I suggested that we write something together. "About what?" She said. So, upon being asked the hardest question one could ask, I said "I dunno, the ocean." So, by text-message, we wrote, line by line, each alternating thoughts, a song called "Perfect Oceans". It represented something clean and new. It was easy. The whole process was simply easy. I learned to be aware of things happening in their own way and when to step aside. Now, songs just happen, out of thin air.

Since writing our first two songs, our friend Katie Snyder has joined us on violin and added that lonesome sound I have always loved. Together, we are destined to just let it all happen and not get in the way of the sound. What ever is, will be, and our music is very loosely structured to allow this.

So, we're playing our first full show together tomorrow night at the Laughing Goat in Boulder at 730. Kate and I will each play solo (and with friends) for a bit, sharing songs that inspire us, and then Katie will join us and we'll all play together.

Unstructured and uncanned. Please come by and give a listen! Cheers - Andy

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

I think this one spooks for itself.

Mountainsmith

2010-10-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

So, there has been a lack of updates here. Well, I guess that means I've been seriously busy, traveling and shooting since my return from Scotland. I'll delve more into the new shoots/projects in a few days. One thing is for sure... I've been hanging on a rope a ton.

Before I took off over the big pond, I did a catalog shoot for Mountainsmith. Local to me here in Boulder, Mountainsmith has been a big supporter of mine over the years in keeping the best new camera bags on my back. So, I was psyched to tackle this project wit, fellow photographers: Keith Ladinski and Cory Richards, up in Colorado's high mountains. Here are a few shots from the day. Enjoy.

Scotland - Corner to Corner.

2010-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a 10 day trip to Scotland with my family. My father's goal was to retrace our family genealogy to, and back from, a James Mann (1756) who came to the US in 1811 from Elgin. I learned a lot about myself and my family in the process.
My goal was to shoot as many landscapes as possible. We traveled North to South and coast to coast and I documented as much of this beautiful country as I could. Enjoy.

Sawtooths

2010-09-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving first thing in the morning with a motivated crew of Boulder climbers and headed up North into the Sawtooth Mountain Range of Idaho. The plan is meet up with the local Idaho crew first thing in the morning, sail across Redfish Lake, establish camp, and spend the next 6 days hiking into the wilderness, searching out, and developing BIG granite boulders. "Valley of the Giants" it is called. We will see. Since I probably won't see you out there, talk soon. - Andy

New Work

2010-08-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

During the last few months I have been focusing on creative media outside the realm of adventure sports, although I've been able to get out and stay busy shooting it non-the-less. Climbing is my passion and first love, so I never turn down an editorial or commercial opportunity to immerce myself in it. Below are the current whereabouts to some of my more recent printed work...

Maxim Rope print advertisement currently running in Alpinist, Deadpoint, and Rock and Ice Magazines of an autumn image I shot of Paige Claassen in the Red River Gorge of Kentucky.

A new print and banner ad running on Deadpoint Magazine's homepage of Paul Robinson. Nicros wanted a similar look to the Daniel Woods ad you see two below. So, Paul and I shot this image on the granite overhang of Midnight Express, V14, in Boulder Canyon.

An image I shot of Daniel Woods on the first ascent of "Desperanza" (V15) was printed again by Nicros, this time as an insert poster to the last issue of Rock and Ice Magazine.

I was honored to have another image chosen this year 'round for Sharp End Publishing's "Women of Climbing Calendar" 2011. This shot is of Audrey Gawrych bouldering at The Spot Gym.

For the latest issue of Climbing Magazine, I shot 8 unique portraits for a feature article called "The One Thing." It was a super fun assignment and my favorite of all the portraits was Angela Payne's.

I also caught up with Patagonia Ambassador, Timmy O'Neill, on assignment to shoot a fun portrait for Climbing's current issue, seen below.

I also had the opportunity to work with a new client, Woman's Adventure Magazine with this reflective image of Jen Fleming bouldering in Hueco Tanks, TX.

For another new editorial client, and a feature article I am truly proud of, is this 8 page feature for Elevation Outdoors on Frontrange bouldering.

The latest Issue of Urban Climber Magzine feature this 8 page feature article I shot on Smith Rock, Oregon (written by: Jonathan Siegrist) among other gallery/column photos featuring Lincoln Lake, CO, Rocklands, RMNP, and Hueco Tanks.

Finally, I donated an image to the Access Fund which is ran back cover to their 2009 Annual Report.

Kate Jaworski. "Gold Coins."

2010-08-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, my good friend and local fellow musician, Kate Jaworski, called me up and said that she had entered a song writing contest in New York, had made the finals for her region, and needed a video of her performing up before Monday morning. YOWZAH! Well, my roommate Cory Richards (photographer and videographer as well) and I put our heads together in the short amount of time to shoot and edit this piece together for her. Good luck Kate! If you win, take us to NY with you!
Photo Below: Cory running the dolly track while filming Kate at the beautiful Starhouse temple in Boulder.

Kate Jaworski Gold Coins from Cory Richards on Vimeo.

Phish - Telluride Town Park - 8/10/10

2010-08-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

I just finished up, easily, one of the most enjoyable editing sessions to date. Phish. The Vermont jam-band is certainly one of my favorite bands, and I spent most of my youth traveling around this country seeing them perform. Well, early this week I was lucky to catch my first show in over ten years in the most beautiful place on Earth - Telluride, Colorado. I gracefully made my way to the front and shot some unforgettable pics of the boys. It could not have been anymore enjoyable! Enjoy.

Michael Franti & Spearhead

2010-08-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday evening I had the privilege to shoot photos with Michael Franti and Spearhead at a sold out Red Rocks Amphitheater show in Morrison, Colorado on behalf of The Love, Hope, Strength Cancer Foundation. Michael is a huge inspiration of mine and I has a blast - grinning ear to ear the whole time, no doubt. Here are some of the pics from that evening.

The Haps.

2010-07-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

I'm re-surfacing from my longest blog hiatus since 2006. Pretty fair run I had there for a while... Anyway, since releasing the film Rocky Mountain Highball last month, I've been traveling a good bit, climbing, and shooting lots of photos. I've spent most of the summer developing boulders and shooting at Mount Evan's Lincoln Lake, sport climbing in Ten Sleep, WY, and I just returned from a two week trip to Squamish, BC. Life is grand. Here's a photo from Squamish.

I was invited by Arc'Teryx to compete in the 2010 Squamish Mountain Festival Steep Shot Photo Competition. Six pro climbing shooters competed in the event. The rules were simple: Give a 5 minute slide show presentation, set to music, no words. In an effort to try to gain a creative edge on my talented competition, and combine my artistic passions, I wrote and performed a funky instrumental piece on the guitar to my show. It was the first time I've performed live (solo) to a sold out crowd (i know, i know, they weren't there to see me play my guitar, and it was only for one song, but, it happened, and it took some balls.)

I was so psyched for the opportunity, and although I ended up placing third in the event, I was a crowd favorite for sure and received many compliments that evening and in the days following. Congrats to Paul Bride and Andrew Burr on taking a well deserved first and second place! It was one of the most fun evenings I've had in a while and by far the most fun slide show I have given this year. Thanks to Arc'Teryx for bringing me up and letting me loose, and to Scott Milton and Sandra Studer for the place to crash, gear, and food!

I stayed an extra week following the festival to focus on a few climbing goals of my own. Of most importance, climbing "The Grand Wall" (10 pitches, 5.11, A0) on the iconic Chief. Sheyna and I did just that, and although I have climbed several bigger walls in the last few years, nothing compared to the exposure and difficulty of this climb. We topped out early evening and watched the sun set over Howe Sound. Pretty amazing experience and not so bad for an off-the-couch photog!

Other than that, photography work is going stronger than ever. I've been promoted within the Climbing Magazine/Urban Climber Magazine family when the company was sold to Active Interest Media (AIM). I work now as Senior Contributing Photographer for Climbing as well as for Urban Climber Magazine. I'm stoked to have shimmied my way up a little higher within the industry and thankful to still be able to do what I truly love for a living. More posts to come...

Below are some pictures of the "Steep Shot Comp" from the Mountain Festival courtesy of Arc'Teryx. Cheers!

Rocky Mountain Highball.

2010-06-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain Highball is officially out! Three years in the delicate making. This film is stacked! We are very proud parents. Please order your copy here - http://www.rockymountainhighball.com/

Rocky Mountain Highball - Official Trailer from Yama Studio on Vimeo.

Rocky Mountain Highball - Additional Footage Trailer from Yama Studio on Vimeo.

Serving Optics

2010-06-20T20:38:00.000-07:00

Lauren Lee sending in Little Si, Washington. Summer 2009. A most interesting body position.

Serving Optics

2010-06-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not serving as many unpublished images here as I used to, but I get a lot of emails from people who say they enjoy the servings. So, I promise I'll post more. Recently, I have been spending a lot of time shooting up at Mt. Evans. The scenery there is beautiful and I've been getting my alpine fix in before heading elsewhere for most of the summer. I'm interested in documenting some of the more obscure zones there and shooting problems off the beaten path. Here, Klemen Becan from Slovenia, makes a rare ascent of "White Lighting", a Justin Wood/Jason Kehl problem from 2007. Sketchy!

Darrell Scott's new album "A Crooked Road"

2010-06-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, Darrell Scott is the most important American singer/songwriter out there today. If you follow this blog, you may remember a post (here) about having the outstanding opportunity to shoot some portraits of him in March (on a whim). Since that afternoon, I've been pleased to see Darrell using the images to promote his new album "A Crooked Road." Below are some video stills from his new promotional video which are using our images. Hey, and one of them even with a Robert Plant quote. That has got me feeling pretty cool right now :)

Above all, check out the very bottom video if our interested in watching Darrell play.

Red Bull Illume 2010

2010-06-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

Enter - The world's biggest action and adventure sports photography contest. 4,337 Photographers from 112 countries. Whoa! Imagine judging this thing? Crazy. I submitted 25 images in 5 different categories to the contest. Now, months later, much of my climbing photography is being briefly flashed on the contest home page. (See a few screen shots below)

I hope this is a good sign as the judging continues. Please check out the Red Bull Illume website to glimpse the world's best action sports photography from all over the world. Fingers crossed here in Boulder, CO.

Urban Climber Photo Annual Cover

2010-06-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

An image I shot this winter in Hueco Tanks, TX was chosen for the cover of the 2010 UC Photo Annual! I am super amped as this is issue is all about the photos, featuring climbing photography around all over the world. I also contributed a feature-length photo essay of my beloved Flatirons, as well as 2 "Leading off" spreads in the front.
This is by far my favorite cover shot to date, and I remember thinking that this image had a shot at being in the photo annual image as soon as a cracked off the frame.

For this particular shot, I met Jason Kehl at dusk on North Mountain to re-shoot his first ascent of this beautiful problem "To Die For" he had established the winter prior (he didn't even bring a crashpad.) I had an assistant holding a remotely-fired strobe (up and right) on a boulder looking down on Jason (which I hid in negative black space) as well as another remote flash on ground level tucked away to the left. Then, I crawled into a hole under a boulder and queued Jason to climb. My lens of choice was a 10.5mm fisheye lens in order to grab the arching negative space you see above and right of the subject. I exposed for the sunset.

I remember on the hike out, the sky turned a burning orange and red. I had wished we waited another 15 minutes to shoot it, but you can't always get what you want. The excuse I tell myself when that happens is - that some sunsets are meant for us alone, at that moment, and no further beyond. I can dig it.

The whole vibe of this image is very oceanic for me. We couldn't have been further from the ocean that evening, but I guess the crashing wave of negative space, Jason without his shirt, the sunset, and the flat landscape all give me this impression. Hueco is a very special place and I am particularly blessed to get to travel there year after year for "work" ;-)

Smith Rock, Oregon

2010-05-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

After completing "The Battle in the Bubble", I made a quick exit, stage left, to Oregon's Smith Rock State Park to meet up with Jonathan Siegrist, Paige Claassen, and others to shoot some photos. We are staying at Steve House's (Alpine legend) farm a couple miles outside the park and life is good! Slow livin' out here - keeping the cows fed, slow zen mornings, hard afternoon sessions, and early evenings. I'm diggin' it! It feels good to be back on the routine. Only a couple more days left here to wrap things up and then I head back to Boulder, where the weather better be shaping up...

Battle in the Bubble.

2010-05-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I put to rest a special nine month project. I was hired as the Director of Audio/Visual/Live Streaming for a huge bouldering competition, called "Battle in th4 Bubble", held out at the Boulder Reservoir last Saturday. Coordinating an outdoor production of this size was no easy task! The AV team I assembled for the event was the best I could possibly imagine.

We were consistently faced with logistical road blocks and problem solving along the way, but always seemed to put our minds together for a solution. (First off, the grounds had no power and no internet and the event streamed live all over the world!) The competition, a first of it's kind, was an overall success and it is estimated that over 2000 people attended the event. There are many things to improve upon and iron out for next time, but that is part of what makes the learning experience so special.

I gotta say, seeing a conceptual project like this one make its way from a satellite image, to the chalkboard, to one of the biggest climbing events ever held in America, is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding jobs I have ever done. It was nice to focus on something other than photography for a while. Thanks to everyone involved!

Looking momentarily unstressed for a photo. Crew trouble-shooting behind. Photo: Ben Alexandra
View from within the AV Booth: A link of technicians running Macbook Pros, video switching boards, graphics machines, soundboards, lighting boards, flash encoders, projectors, etc...
Two beautiful bouldering walls installed right on the water of the Boulder Reservoir and a 24 foot inflatable projection screen between them. Photo: Keith Lazinski

Angie Payne, local favorite, almost pulling off the big upset! photo: Keith Ladzinski
The sun sets over "The Battle in the Bubble." Photo: Ben Alexandra

New UC Cover

2010-05-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Urban Climber Magazine is out and I am pleased to have landed the cover. This is my 6th cover with UC and I gotta say, I'm reeeeeally stoked on the image and layout. (Yeah Paige Claassen!) Within this issue you'll find Paige and I's article about a recent New Mexico sport climbing road trip, as well as nice five page Hueco Tanks photo gallery from this winter. (2 images running as spreads.) Below are a couple of images I was really amped on from Hueco that are running in this particular issue. Pick up a copy! Next up... Photo Annual. This one is gonna be SICK! More updates to come...

Thanks for making "Colorado Burl vol. 2" a success!

2010-04-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to Neptune's Mountaineering last night to support Matt Wilder, Jonathan Siegrist, and my slideshow and helping to make the event a success. I'd say there was well over 125 people there and i was pretty nervous! It was a blast and I couldn't be more thankful for my large Frontrange family. We almost killed a full keg of Avery IPA and i'm feeling it this morning! I think we can milk a few more beers form the barrel this evening if anyone is interested?! Big thanks go out to: Jonathan, Matt, Katy Dannenburg and Aly Nicholas (our beer ladies), Sandy Rae (raffle queen), Gary Neptune, Arc'Teryx, Mountainsmith, Mountain Hardware, Avery Beer, and all the climbers in the show. I'm looking forward to doing more of these! I've been invited by Arc'Teryx to compete in the 2010 Squamish Mountain Festival's "Steep Shot" slide show competition on July. Damn, playing with the big boys. So stoked!

Slideshow Thursday 4/29 8pm, Neptunes!

2010-04-22T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! This Thursday, a week from today, I'll be presenting a slide show at Neptune Mountaineering at 8pm in Boulder with Jonathan Siegrist and Matt Wilder. The show is FREE. If you love Colorado climbing, climbing imagery, and the stories behind both, you'll love this show. This show will showcase all Colorado rock climbing, with healthy doses of trad, sport, and bouldering. Jonathan will share stories of his success across the Front Range, including his recent bolting accomplishments at “Wizard's Gate” in Estes Park. Matt Wilder will be sharing insight into his first free ascent of the North Face of The Devil's Thumb (“Cheating Reality” 5.14R) and his unrepeated first ascent of “Viceroy” 5.14R. Re-live multiple 5.14 trad and sport ascents from the eye of the photographer and journey into the many buried treasures the Front Range has to offer. Come kick off Spring with friends and family for a fun evening of imagery, stories, over $1000 in raffle prizes and giveaways ($5 for raffle ticket). Bring your own beer (we may have a little..shhh..) We hope to see you there!

New Work - End of Winter 2010

2010-03-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

I've been really busy over the last month and that is always a good thing! Just this week, I finally upgraded and bought a new 15" Matte Screen MacBook Pro (2.66Hz 320g 7200rpm.) SICK! I am so stoked. Things are moving a little faster on the editing end now. Black Diamond Equipment, who have one of the nicest designed websites around, recently purchased some banner images for the site.

Additionally, an image I shot of team athlete, Paige Claassen, was picked up for a full back cover ad in the new Red River Gorge (3rd edition) Guidebook. Very cool!

I also got creative with Jonathan Siegrist (who hit me over 70 times in the head with a rope) to get the new cover image of the Urban Climber Gear Guide. This is my 5th cover at UC, and I loved working in the studio directly with the art director, Andy Outis, to get this specific image.

Please check out the Climbing Magazine Annual Gear Guide as well for several unique 'gear related' images, including this one below that I really like of Heidi Wirtz plugging in a nut in Eldorado Canyon. Running in the the issue is also a Perspective portrait of possum-fur filled mountaineering boots from the first ascent of Mount Everest, a rad shot of Matt Wilder's new FA in Hueco Tanks "Bandersnatch", and many more.

April 1st is the launch day for Eric Horst's new "Maximum Training for Climbing" Book. I was stoked to provide the cover and advertising image for the book. Below is an ad currently running in Deadpoint Magazine.

Congrats to Daniel Woods for his new partnership with Nicros Climbing. Very cool. Nicros and I have teamed up for a few years of imagery to come. Check out this cool print ad they are running with an image I shot of Daniel Woods on the first ascent of "Desperanza" V15.
I recently was a guest blogger on PrAna's website. I shot and wrote a small piece on Boulder's ABC Youth Team in Hueco Tanks and the future of climbing. PrAna has been a big supporter, and client of mine, for many years now. I truly love what they make and what they stand for. Check out post here.

Finally, go over and check out UrbanClimberMag.com sometime, the site is chalk full of interesting features, galleries, and columns that run online after the mag goes to print. I enjoy seeing my images and articles running there for people to enjoy past a shelf life. Can't beat free...

Be Good - Andy

Darrell Scott. The Portraits.

2010-03-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post below I mentioned that I would be shooting the portrait of one of the most important, if not the most important, person in the world to me. I thought once last year if i had two portraits to shoot before i die, it would be of Barack Obama and Darrell Scott. Okay, obsession aside, I got that chance yesterday. I noticed on his website, over my morning coffee, that Darrell was dropping into the Boulder Theater last evening for a quick E-Town performance. It was unlisted on the marquee and elsewhere for that matter. It seemed like a great time to knock one off the ol' bucket list.

How do you approach this kind of thing I asked myself? Typically, I get around, and do a lot of what I want to do, based on kindness and honesty. I don't care much for processes or protocols, usually fly by the seat of my pants, and dream bigger than most. I will always try, with all my heart, to do or get something that I love. If it seems impossible, 99% of people aren't gonna try, and that leaves a small crack in the door with a slim margin for error. I'll take that bet, and I am comfortable losing it.

Anyway, it was cake. I sent an email to his manager and booking agent, explained myself, who I was, and what I wanted to do. I linked the portrait page on my website and kept the fan in me out of it. I was also quick to mention that I only needed 10 minutes, and would be shooting within a block of the boulder theater. I also suggested that after his sound check would be a convenient time. I offered Darrell use of the photos we get for his marketing applications. This can be frowned upon by some photographers, however, the photo opp is more important to me than the money. And secondly, I could never charge Darrell for my time or art, (even though he charges for his usually, I find the influence much different) There are many other reasons that I won't go into, and you can probably chalk on of them up to - not knowing what the protocol actually is for this kind of artist portrait scenario? (See paragraph above: My care for protocols.) Anyway, the manager forwarded the email to Darrell and he accepted.

I got to the alley, behind the theater, an hour early and met my friend Caine Delacy, who helped stand in for the test shots, and gave advice and opinions on my ideas. Thanks Caine! I wanted 3 different photos from Darrell in the end, so i wanted to have them all wired when he got out there. I duct taped a sheet of white paper on the rotten brick wall for one, cleared the alley for the second, and brought a couple props for the third. (Never got the third.)

When Darrell popped out of the back entrance to the alley, I was ready. He said that he was going to perform that evening with a street musician who hangs out on pearl street, an Irish harp player, and they needed to run through the songs together. (The first time Darrell asked the harp player to play a song with him that evening at The Boulder Theater, he said, "No." Darrell said, "How about a hundred dollar bill?", and then he agreed)

So, Darrell suggested I shoot the warm-up jam session. Since I had a chair I brought with me, I plopped down the chair right where I wanted them, set up some lights after they started playing, and shot from the hip. It was a very different energy shooting to the music of this impromptu session. Fuck the studio, I kept thinking, this is so much more real! After they finished, Darrell sat down in front of the white paper for me and I got in tight for the black and white look I really wanted.

I waited till farewells to let him know that I was a big fan and had followed his music for over a decade. We shot the shit a bit, and then, he walked back in the unmarked black door in the rotten brick wall he came out of.

Cool side note: Notice in the image immediately above, that the harp player is playing one handed. Darrell told me later, that in a forgotten musical tradition in Ireland, as the set sets, the player plays one handed and leaves his other for a lady, friend, or family. It is real moments like these that i find true beauty in. Thanks for following! Later - A

Darrell Scott

2010-03-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Today I get to shoot the portrait of my biggest influence and personal hero, Darrell Scott. In my opinion (and my others) Songwriter of the Year, and Grammy Award Winner, Scott, is the most important American folk musician of the last 3 generations. Being nervous right now is an understatement. This man changed my life with his music when I was 18. He plays E-town at The Boulder Theater tonight. Will post the shots tomorrow...
Please watch these and listen to those pipes!

Making a better bouldering image.

2010-03-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

I recently posted a photo from my Hueco Tanks trip here on the blog, and with much surprise to me, I received some email inquires regarding the shot. "Did you photoshop the sky? What lens is that? Where was the flash?" Well, I figured this could be a cool opportunity to share some of the technical details and thought processes that go into a shot; the kind of stuff I normally don't do here on the blog.

Here's the run down for that particular hour.

I typically warm up with everyone, do 5-10 easy problems, stretch out, shoot the shit. I generally think it is best to not shoot during warm-ups because of several reasons.
A: The climbers are only warming up and probably in a short routine that is best not interrupted or interfered with
B: It shows your not trigger happy paparazzi.
C: It shows you have your own agenda: that you're out to enjoy the day as well, and not following them around like a puppy.
D: If you do shoot the rest of day, it never hurts to scratch the skin a little bit!

So, after warming up in the Maze, GP Salvo headed over to try the moves on Nagual, V13. I usually set back and shoot wide at first. If a climber is "working" the moves on a project they haven't sent, it is best to not jump in there immediately for close ups. Climbers can be a little self conscious about being published on a climb they can only do a few moves on (at the moment). Additionally, it can be super annoying to jump in there right away, giving direction, moving ground clutter, etc.

Practice the shot you have in mind, and have a rock solid idea of what you'll need from the climber to get it. So, if you get a cooperative moment of their time, preferably at the end of the session, you'll nail it. Then chill, be patient, help spot, walk away, whatever. Just don't stand there, bobbing up and down like a child in line for the bathroom, quietly signaling "the end-all" if you don't get the shot right then. This is the hardest part, trust me. You're a loaded gun, cool, but be patient, the sun's not going down just yet.

Below is a test frame I fired while GP was working the upper moves of the problem. He likely didn't even know I was there. Here are the notes I made in my head based on the image...

- The Contrast between the blown out rock and the dark shady overhang is way too much.
- The Black shirt GP is wearing isn't working out.
- The spotter is a little close, distracting, and not helping to show the problem's height.
- The sky is a little blown out. Bummer cause there are some nice blues in there.
- I like the angle, but the boulder is a bit cut off at the bottom. Something's not balanced.
- I dig the body position. A rose move on a V13 is pretty cool. The cross through may cover his face though when it counts. Maybe low percentage.

I know right away I can correct the technical issues such as: composition, exposure, contrast balance, lighting, etc. (Experience learned the f-n hard way! Take a course, read a manual, just don't take three years to learn what the M or the A settings on your camera actually do.) However, I will have to ask the spotter to step back and also see if GP is cool with that. I'll have to him to do the "rose move" again, as well as change his shirt. (I've barely known GP for 10 minutes BTW)

So before I drop all this, I show him the test shot, once he takes off his shoes for a rest, and explain how I like it, but would change it. I reassure him how dope it would be. (Confidence and enthusiasm go a long way.) I ask him, once he is done his session on the boulder, if I could have his cooperation to make the photo I have in mind. It may be best in some cases (100% true in this case) to speak of making a beautiful image of Nagual and Hueco Tanks: something artsy and agreeable. We are not shooting GP pretending to send a V13 here. We are setting up a shot to make this classic Fred Nicole problem look sick and unique. This takes out GP's role as a "Sick Crimper Cranker" and relieves him to a smaller role in the landscape. (Some people like that role, I could tell in 10 minutes that GP was not one of them.) I will also share the test photo with the spotter and explain (and hopefully have him agree) that he isn't helping the image by standing there with his hands up.

My advice is to not just ask a spotter to "get out of the frame." Spotters sometimes like to be in the shot. I mean, honestly, what's not cool about being in a magazine spotting someone on a sick V13? Explain yourself, make fun of yourself, make it light-hearted, and try to involve them elsewhere on the moment. If they seem keen - "Would you mind holding a flash?"

Yeah, it's gonna be a pose down shot, but the look I'm going for this go'round is gonna be hard to get via "nitty gritty doc-journalism." Accept it.

So, after GP is done on the boulder and about ready to split, he asks if I still want to try to get the shot. (I'm not standing there looking at my watch or pressuring him to do this) I say, "Hell yeah man, I'm ready when you are."

The spotter takes his position behind the bush with my flash (with some direction), and I toss my shirt to GP. He poses the rose move, I crack off a frame, and it's done. "Damn, that was painless" they usually say. I run right over to share the image with both the climber and "the spotter". Moral is high and I just directed the image to exactly how I wanted it. The conversation usually leads into: "What else can we shoot today?"

Below is the final image and adjustments I made to the test frame.

- I cranked my Aperture to f8 to over-power the bright sky and the harsh sun hitting the boulders and ground. Thus, leaving myself a dramatic, slightly under-exposed canvas in which to pop some light onto the underbelly of the boulder.
- The Black shirt GP was wearing was switched for my lime green one. (Wore it just for this reason.)
- The spotter is gone from the frame, but playing a role by holding a single radio- fired SB800 speed-light behind the bush. I had to crank it to half power to compensate for the loss of light my F-stop choice was gonna bring in. I almost always shoot "profile" when using one flash, hard body shadows on the rock are a little "hoopty."
- I stepped back a few feet in order to rest the entire boulder in frame comfortably. I used a 10.5mm 2.8 Fisheye Lens and centered everything on a horizontal plane as to not "warp or fisheye" the edges of the frame too much.
- I stuck with the body position I liked, and had the spotter aim the flash through the climber's arms to try to light his face.

That's how it happened with a pinch of my 2 cents. And, don't take my job because I love it dearly. Cheers - A

Core.

2010-03-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

Chuck Fryberger just released the official trailer to his new film, Core. It truly looks amazing. I am honored not only to have played a small role in the film's production, but to also be a featured character in the film. I was asked add some original guitar tracks to the film as well. Pretty sick.

CORE Official Trailer from Chuck Fryberger on Vimeo.

CORE goes to the heart of climbing. Join an international cast of the sport's most dedicated athletes as they stick it when it matters most. Shot in 35mm Ultra High Definition, get ready to see every detail of some of the nastiest pieces of rock ever climbed.

A close examination of each character offers perspective beyond just their achievements on the stone. From Helsinki to Hueco, Africa to Italy, the enclosed forests of Tuscany to the vast open space of the American West, this film is a study in the landscapes and lifestyles that define our sport.

Be there, in the moment, as a 5.14 traditional route gets its first ascent. See the mind-bending footage from Livin Large, Nalle Hukkataival's monster 8C. Watch as Fred Nicole polishes off his multi-year project in Switzerland – his hardest ever. All these achievements and more are brought to you here in Chuck Fryberger's followup to the hit bouldering flick PURE. These are the moments and the athletes that define our sport, documented here with a unique style that invites the viewer to be part of the experience.

Featured Athletes:
Nalle Hukkataival
Matt Wilder
Fred Nicole
Kilian Fischhuber
Kevin Jorgeson
BJ Tilden
Lucas Preti
Cody Roth
Michele Caminati
Jamie Emerson
Sarah and Steph Marvez
Berni Fiedler
Myself
And Many More.

On Location in:
Lander, Wyoming
Colorado, USA
Hueco Tanks, USA
Helsinki Finland
Switzerland
Tuscany, Italy
Rocklands, South Africa

The World Premiere is at The Historic Boulder Theater on April 7th. See you there!

A Few from the Road.

2010-02-23T13:54:00.000-08:00

After a great week of exploring obscure desert limestone in New Mexico, we've arrived at Checkpoint #4: Hueco Tanks. My home away from home. I truly love it here. The weather on this trip so far has been hit or miss, but the limestone has been big and steep. Adventure threat level RED! I've been shooting day in and day out, chasing good rock and running the white lines. Life is good. And so it goes....

I'm off.

2010-02-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

I flew back yesterday from shooting the ABS Nationals in DC (and surprising my folks!) with just enough time to type this and pack for another 2 weeks on the road. This time my travels take me through New Mexico, to Sitting Bull, and Last Chance Canyon. From there, I'll be in Hueco Tanks for the 2010 Rock Rodeo on assignment for Five Ten. (See clipping below for a recent online and print ad I shot for them) Then, I have some work in Boulder to sew up before I head to The Red River Gorge end of March. The snow is coming down hard here in Colorado and I'm bidding it, and you, farewell for now.

Also, reflect on the image below running full page in the newest "Green Issue" of Climbing Magazine! It's a great issue if you haven't picked one up yet. I also shot and compiled a rad "Perspective" on Tommy Caldwell gracing the issue prior. Hell, pick 'em all up...

photo: Jen Fleming climbing in the Wellsite Cave at Hueco Tanks, TX. January 2010. This image was shot on the surface of a small 2 foot wide pool of water with a Nikon D90, 14-24mm lens, and 2 remotely fired SB800 speedlights.

Simon Carter

2010-02-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

This video, by one of my personal mentors, Simon Carter, gives a nice glimpse into what it is like to one of the world's very few full time rock climbing photographers, and offers great insight into the thought processes, rigging techniques, etc, in making a quality and unique climbing image. Enjoy. Thanks Narc for the heads up on this!

AAC Promo Trailer and RMH

2010-02-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

Please check out this great trailer for The American Alpine Club. The AAC is the go to organization for climbers, providing knowledge and inspiration, conservation and advocacy, and logistical support for the tribe. Scott Neel, director of Rocky Mountain Highball, did a fine job with this short. AAC was a title sponsor of RMH and we are proud to see them growing and growing. Speaking of Rocky Mountain Highball, things are finalizing nicely, and the film should be heading to distribution shortly! Stay tuned for news on it's official release.

Serving Optics

2010-02-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a coming of the ages. Swiss bouldering legend, Fred Nicole, crimps down on the "Middle Gill Boulder Slab" in Eldorado Canyon. This is one of the classic Frontrange sandbags. Historically given V3, even Fred couldn't flash it! :-D. We climbed moderates all day from the front of the canyon to the back. This was a special day for me to say the least.

New Work

2010-01-25T22:29:00.001-08:00

PrAna Winter 2010 Website Homepage

Falcon Books "Maximum Climbing" cover shot.

Asana Packworks print advertisement

Urban Climber Magazine is offering up a new screen saver of Paige Claassen here.

Also, I have updating my website over the last few days with some new imagery. Please check it out!

Back from Hueco Tanks

2010-01-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

Well, I returned from my adventure to the South desert. It was a wonderful trip and I spent 21 of the 22 days in the park, either climbing or shooting. I was able to obtain a few personal climbing goals while there, including: a couple first try ascents of the V7 grade, as well as ticking the classic highball See Spot Run (first try this year.) I was also stoked to finish off Jason Kehl's new tufa climb, "Bloodline", with totally different beta. But more than anything, I was blessed to make mew friendships and rekindle old ones. I also fired off more outstanding photos than I would have imagined this trip. Now I'm back in Eldorado Springs and looking forward to the next thing that comes my way. I am glad to be back in Colorado.

Below: GP Slavo works the finish to "Nagual" V13.

Hueco Tanks

2010-01-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

I've been in Hueco Tanks, TX shooting some commercial and editorial work as well as helping Chuck Fryberger with filming for his new film "Core." I've been getting some amazing shots this trip, many of which will be in print very soon, including Matt Wilder's new first ascent "Bandersnatch." I'm very psyched! Also, I've been hanging out and shooting with the Boulder Rock Club's ABC junior team. What a great group of creative young kids who crank! Yesterday, Brook did v8 at 8 years old, today she did a V9! Crazy. The shot below represents what a day out with the kids revolves around (besides bouldering).
Yep, goofing off and having fun in the desert. Two more weeks of it!!! More to come. Later- Andy

White Christmas

2009-12-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

I had a killer Christmas this year hanging with Sheyna up in the crisp Colorado mountains. We stayed in a big house up on Peak 7 in Breckenridge, hit the town, rocked the yuletide, and shot some cool photos. I'm headed back down to the Frontrange tonight to pack for a 3 week trip to Hueco Tanks, TX on Tuesday. Mountains > Desert, the way I like it.

Above: A late night photo session in town. I took a gnarly board edge to the knee a split second later from the first (upper) photo. Yowzah, you can see it coming! Below: Three ways to see a pine.

Pickin'

2009-12-16T09:23:00.000-08:00

This morning Chuck Fryberger swung by the cabin and we filmed a segment for his upcoming climbing film (Spring 2010). I've been writing some new music lately, a genre I like to dub as: "Acoustic Techno Fury." Badass. Anyway, we shot an interview, talked jive, and recorded some "Fury". Good times.

above: video frame courtesy of Chuck Fryberger.

Serving Optics

2009-12-12T21:42:00.001-08:00

Daniel Woods at 'full crux' on the classic highball boulder problem, "Jungle Bar" (V11) 8 Day Rain Sector, Rocklands, ZA. Daniel has one of the best 'power crimping' hand strengths in the world. It is pretty sick. If there is a hold, he can pull on it. Colorado's boy represent.

Serving Optics

2009-12-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

"Sunseeker." V13 Mt. Evans, CO. Carlo Traversi. A voluminous alpine storm hit us only a moment later. Certainly, was of those cases where I am glad that we pushed our luck and made the long hike in, despite certain rain. It worked out that we got this shot just in time. Mount Evans is a very special place that always manages to capture my imagination and my heart. One of Colorado's finest.

New Work

2009-12-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

I delivered a whoppin' 20 photos into this month's Urban Climber Magazine. Including: A 2 page spread "First Burn" at Mount Evans, a full page 411 News column about Jonathan Siegrist, Paige Claassen and Kyle Owen "Drive" columns, a 2 page gallery spread on "Psychedelia", 3 spot images in the "City Life" feature, the full length feature article "Climbing Giants, the making a Rocky Mountain Highball", a Mike Spaulding "Unearthed", and a Jon Glassberg "Reads UC" column. Totally stoked.

In this month's Climbing Magazine, you'll find the story and images of Matt Wilder's newest trad route, "Cheating Reality" 5.14R. A truly amazing accomplishment and I was amped to have been there to capture it! Pick up these issues.

So it goes, chuggin' along here in B-town, and preparing for some huge media projects this winter/spring. Full bore baby!!!! Thanks for following - A

Good 'ol Kentuck.

2009-12-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

I've just returned from a nice 2 week trip down to the Red River Gorge. I worked on the house, shot some photos, and dedicated some time for myself to climbing and scampering around the southern woods. I'll tell ya folks, it feels good to be alive. Especially after the flight back, which ranks top 3 worst flights I've ever taken. Never again Northwest Airlines through Memphis!

I boarded a 2 row prop plane, on the tarmac, in the dark and pouring rain, with a bunch of young, drunk rednecks (read: hammered after a NASCAR race), who constantly joked about kicking out the emergency exit door to puke (one dude actually puked in their seat.) It sucked. Obviously the 65 year old stewardess and I couldn't do a damn thing about any of it, as I'm sure some kind of a fight would have broken out in this already old and rickety crop duster. Cool right? Yup.

On our last day in The Gorge, we had the Motherlode Cave to ourselves, which was a pleasure for shooting! On Dan Mirsky's first attempt, see photo above, I was shooting the climber, and the contour of the cave, as silhouettes, in order to expose the sunset behind him. Suddenly, Dan fell from the last move and he took about a 70 foot whipper!!! The biggest I have ever seen, surely.

So, with the 'shot in mind' in the bag, I decided to expose, on his next attempt, the texture of the cave I was sitting in. Pretty wicked place to hang out. Dan sent the route on this attempt. Sick.

Serving Optics

2009-11-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

Mmmm...delicious. Jon Cardwell attempting a futuristic 8C(+) project a few hundred feet below "Slashface." Hueco Tanks season is officially in and I will be traveling to and from there as often as possible this winter. I can't wait! Enjoy.

Three years ago I began a journey...

2009-11-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

And it started here. >>> The Earlier Blogs (06-08)

Onward.

Serving Optics

2009-11-13T10:53:00.001-08:00

Here is Jen Goings, sending the Hueco Tank's classic boulder problem, "Lobster Claw" V5. I really dig this shot. I remember it being kind of a challenge shooting one North Mountain's most popular, and often photographed, classics in a new and different way. The boulder is also tucked away so tightly in a hole, that I had to try several different angles and lighting techniques to finally get what I wanted. This final image makes me feel like I am in the maze of stone. I'm off the The RRG in 2 days, and right as the snow arrives here in Boulder. RUN!

New Work

2009-11-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Nothing beats seeing your hard work in print media form. There is something very satisfying about "picking up" a hard copy of media, at a market or at home, and flipping through it. It almost seems old school. I gotta say, I just do not get the same feeling from the internet. I sure hope print media never dies entirely.

I'm proud to have donated to The Access Fund an image for use on their new Visa Platinum credit card. This is a new and interesting way to help raise money and protect our priceless climbing resources. You can read more about it here. Man, if only this image license was actually through Visa...

My good buddy and Eldorado local, Steve Levin, has published the long awaited full color guidebook to climbing in Eldorado Canyon (Sharp End Publishing 2009). I was stoked to have him use a large hand full of images for the book. Very cool. Did I mention I live here? You can pick up a copy here.

The new Urban Climber Mag is out and in this issue you'll find a lot of my photography. Being Senior Contributing Photographer at UC Mag is quite possibly my favorite gig and I really enjoy working closely with the team there. This issue you'll find of mine: The "Ear Candy" column, a Lauren Lee "Drive" column, a Rocklands gallery image, images to the cover feature article, "Future Gyms", an "Out of The Box" workshop, and a Kevin Jorgeson "Reads UC" portrait. Dang! Rad.

I'm psyched to have worked again with Asana Climbing and to shoot a portrait of Kevin Jorgeson for an ad in the upcoming Second Edition of the Bishop Bouldering Guide (Wolverine Publishing 2010). Its fun to work with designers to create a different kind of art with my images using graphics and design. Creative and fun.

This Maxim Rope ad has been in print for a while now. The image is of Ethan Pringle sending "Iron Monkey" 5.14 in Eldorado Canyon. I personally think that this style of strobe lighting works great for commercial marketing applications such as this one.

Cheers! Andy

Thank God.

2009-11-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

"Dear Andrew Mann,

We wanted you to be among the first to know! We've recently enhanced the 3G network throughout Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Englewood, Littleton, Longmont, Greely, Golden, Arvada, and Fort Collins to provide better in-building 3G coverage, fewer dropped calls and a better overall wireless experience.

The great news is coverage in Colorado will continue to improve as we expand capacity, optimize, and add more sites in the coming months."

Jace Barbin
Vice President & General Manager
Rocky Mountain Region

Thank fucking god. I stopped making phone calls all together with this piece of shit phone. Now my ipod and wireless computer makes phone calls too!!! YAY!!!

Serving Optics

2009-11-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

I recently got back from a catalog shoot with Colorado's own, Paige Claassen, down in The Red River Gorge. The shots from the trip are heading to new issues of Climbing and Urban Climber Magazines along with Maxim Ropes Spring Catalog. Below is a fun pic of Paige climbing at The GMC Wall at The Motherlode.

I'm headed back down there in less than a week for a little over 2 weeks this time. Climbing, shooting, working on the house, stuffing my face with Turkey, and just plain chillin' are the top priorities. The house is looking great, and all 5 bedrooms are available for rent per night/week/whatever.

Hit me up if your interested in having a roof over you head, wifi, showers, etc. Btw, the house is 7 miles closer to the Pendergrass Reserve (Bob Marley, Motherlode, Driveby, Purgatory, Gold Coast, etc.) than Miguel's. But alas, I cannot serve you a brilliant slice of pie, or mega breakfast burrito, so Miguel's is always #1 for camping!

I posted a few "before and after" house pics below to show some of the hard work we've done to the place. Cheers!

Mountainsmith

2009-11-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

Autumn is my favorite time of the year and with it, my motivation, and the motivation of the many climbers I work with, tend to sky rocket. Well, this year is no different thus far. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of traveling, hiking, and shooting. From Matt Wilder's 5.14R First Ascent on Devil's Thumb to Jonathan Siegrist's recent stomping of The Red River Gorge, the fast pace keeps getting faster.

So, in order to streamline my travel, my in the field shooting, etc, I've teamed up, exclusively, with Mountainsmith Camera Bags and Travel Gear. I plan on using, testing, reviewing, and even helping to design, what I believe to be the best line of packs on the market. The team at Mountainsmith has recently unveiled an exciting new line of product that makes what I do, not only more efficient, but safer and faster. I'll be periodically blogging about their different products as I field test and travel with them. Exciting stuff, and I couldn't be more stoked to join forces with such an amazing, local, and forward-thinking company.

On my recent week long photo assignment to the Red River Gorge, I had to get a large load of photo equipment, climbing gear, clothes, computer, hard drives, etc to Kentucky. The last thing I want to do on such a short trip is check bags. Not only is it $20 dollars a bag, both ways, but my return flight to Denver left me absolutely zero time to get from my flight, to the last bus back to Boulder.

Now check this out: The pack on my back above (at Chicago O'Hare on layover) is called, Borealis AT ($179), and is a hybrid of a camera bag, computer case, and accessory bag. Normally, my computer bag, in addition to my camera pack, book both my carry on options and essentially forces me to check a bag (damn $40, chill out!). Problem #1 Solved. This pack is also good for a day of shooting at the crag. I can fit a camera body, 3 lenses, flashes, etc in the bottom camera compartment, jumaring gear in the top, and I can sling a static line over the top of the bag which buckles in securely. Though the pack is not designed to bare such a load, (35+ pounds), it is certainly manageable for hikes less than a mile. The separate camera compartment also means that no dirt, or chalk, will encroaches on it. Good stuff.

The Roller bag you see to my right in the photo above, is called The Boarding Pass ($135) and is designed to the maximum regulation size for carry on luggage. Perfect, as I knew I had not an inch to loose and plenty to pack. Note: The Boarding Pass is designed to fit on an overhead luggage compartment perfectly, so packing it so tight that it bulges out like a pregnant mother means that if your caught by a stewardess wrestling it into the overhead, you may be checking it. However, there is plenty of packing room to avoid this. The durability of this bag, along with the ease of packing, made traveling to, and from, The Red River Gorge a breeze.

Colorado Burl Re-cap.

2009-10-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Boulder Rock Club to see Jonathan and my first slideshow on Wed. night. It was a success...I think. It was hella-fun I know that much!!! My nerves seemed to settle immediately, and I probably could of talked for hours about my photography and rock climbing. I love this job! Truth was, I figured a few close friends would be the only to show up and we'd just divvy out the swag, drink the kegs, and ditch the show all together. But, I'm sure glad that wasn't the case. Over 100 people showed up, and there was quickly standing room only! WHOA!!!!!!

Thanks again to those who showed up, Everyone at The BRC, JStar, Matt Wilder, Arc-Teryx, La Sportiva, Mountainsmith, Avery Beer, and Urban Climber for all their support. The plan is to do several more shows along the Frontange, and definitely one Denver and Fort Collins. Stay tuned for show dates...

Colorado Burl

2009-10-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Howdy Folks. I would like to invite you to join Jonathan Siegrist and I for a special evening of pi'tures, spray, swag, and beer this Wednesday. This is my first slideshow and needless to say, I am super psyched! The show is, again, this Wednesday, October 7th, 8pm, at The Boulder Rock Club. The show is free ($5 donation welcomed) and so is the Avery Beer. There will be a raffle and trivia giveaways from Arc-Teryx and La Sportiva. Colorado Burl will showcase all Colorado rock climbing, with healthy doses of trad, sport, and tons of bouldering. Jonathan will be offering insight into the "burl", and sharing his stories of success across the Frontrange, including his recent bolting accomplishments at "Wizard's Gate" in Estes Park. Please come on by with some friends and at least have a beer on us and leave with some swag! Cheers.

New Work

2009-09-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

The new issue of Urban Climber Magazine has dropped and I'm the proud parent of the cover shot. The photo is of Jonathan Siegrist diggin' deep, and sending 2nd try, a 5.13d route outside Seattle, WA. Pick up a copy to read the feature article about our trip to the NW and back. Also, amongst the pages of this issue you'll find of mine: a 2 page spread bouldering photo of Little Cottonwood Canyon, a Carrie Cooper Drive column, a gallery shot of Vanessa Compton sending in Dream Canyon, and a Phil Schall portrait. Go Phil!

Very cool. Very psyched. All the standard supperlatives apply.

Also, I'm happy to have teamed up with Metolius for the front and back covers of their new 2009-10 catalog. Matt Wilder and Ethan Pringle pluggin' the best cams on the market. You can pick up a free copy here. Cheers!

Back from The Red

2009-09-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

Keith Ladzinski, Lauren Lee, and I drove out to Kentucky last week to start renovating the house. What a truly great place. There are even horses in the backyard. Country livin' at its finest! A few crags are even within walking distance, with most being a few miles drive.

We spent the last week working 18 hour days - pulling up carpets, finishing hardwood floors, tiling floors, landscaping, cleaning, scraping, mudding, painting walls, laying new water pipes, putting in appliances, cutting on utilities...the whole sha-bang. A lot of work! We hope to have 5 bedrooms available by the end of October, each with 2 big beds, country furnishings, locking doors, wifi, and mucho privacy. More info to come.

Photo Below: The crew working late night style, sanding and scrapping old wallpaper.

Serving Optics

2009-08-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

...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.

2009-08-10T23:32:00.000-07:00

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

New Work

2009-08-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T21:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

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...

Merciful Messenger

2009-07-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Jonathan and I left City of Rocks, Idaho yesterday evening. We took to a wild, unnamed, b-side, dirt road in hopes that it would lead us North to I-84 and onto Boise where we planned to hold up for the night. We have been taking mostly back roads when possible this trip and seeking the alternative alterations.

As the sun set we were blazing down this dirt road when we came upon some wild horses, most of which took no notice to us. Except for one. A giant but gentle, black as night, one-eyed horse. It stood right in the middle of this dirt road guarding our way forward. We stared at each other, eyes to eye, through a pain of glass for a several silent minutes before he mercifully moved aside. He must of stood 10 feet tall.

An omen? Never trust a one-eyed horse? A dark messenger? Something happened there and then but we were not sure. The horse rode off into the tall sage brushes and out of view. Confused about where we were, and what just happened, we finally looked on a road map and realized we had drove over an hour in the wrong direction, back into Utah, and even further from Boise.

Thank you horse for that heads up.

We turned around and headed back up that dirt road.

To hear more about the trip, and the climbing, visit Jstar's blog!

Check Point

2009-07-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been, for lack of better words, lacking better words. I can't seem to transport all the amazing stories and adventures through my body, out my fingers, and onto the page. I have been living behind the lens for the last week now, non-stop, and since this road trip started, and I can't seem to get out from behind it. It has been surreal. America is an amazing place!

I will instead take pictures from the road and tell the little stories behind them. "The often and in-between."

So far our travels have taken us The Hoop>SLC>American Fork>Tradeshow>Little Cottonwood>American Fork>City of Rocks>Castle Rocks>Boise.....

I'm eating a tired ass continental breakfast right now in Boise, Idaho of frosted flakes and black coffee. Mmmmmmmm...

To read more about our trip, and hear about the climbing, visit Jstar's blog

Road Trip

2009-07-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Headed off in the morning with my good friend Jonathan Siegrist for a brief 3 week climbing road trip through Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and culminating in Washington.(And back of course.) There are surely many adventures to come as we take the B roads into the Northwest's lesser known climbing areas. Stay tuned for updates and pics from the trip. Later! -A

Serving Optics

2009-07-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

Boulder's own Greg Bilinski attempting "Wild Thing" 5.13a, Independence Pass, Colorado 7/4/09. This route is on, believe it or not, a completely free standing 70 foot boulder. For me, it is the most inspiring sport route in Colorado. Unmatchable rock, perfect line, and impeccable setting. All part of a great weekend spent in Aspen's high country for the 4th!

Serving Optics

2009-07-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here are a few shots that hit the back burner and were inevitably lost to some hard drive somewhere. Every once and a while, I have to chance to go back on a rainy day and re-visit some old adventures, and share them here. Here are two similar images, one of sport climbing and one of bouldering. They are "ying yang" in many aspects.

Ben Randolf "Fire on the Mountain" 5.11c South Saint Vrain Canyon, CO.
Jonny Hork "Nuns and Donkies" V6 Hueco Tanks, TX.

Pike's Peak Rocks!

2009-07-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

I was honored this past weekend to hike Pike's Peak (14,110 feet) with actor Kevin Bacon, along with a small group of folks, to help raise money and awareness for The Love, Hope, Strength Foundation. We all woke woke up around 3 a.m. to make the roughly six-hour climb "It's one of the hardest things I've ever done physically," Kevin said after the trek. "I'm in pretty good shape, but it still really kicked my ass." I concur.

At the mountaintop, Bacon took a puff of oxygen before The Bacon Brothers performed three songs. Cy Curnin of rock group The Fixx also hiked up with us, and played his song "Remember Me When I'm Gone" in a tribute to Farrah Fawcett.

The Love Hope Strength Foundation has held fund raising concerts at Machu Picchu in Peru and Mount Everest to raise money for cancer centers and to raise awareness about bone marrow donation. I had an amazing day and met so many incredible people. Please visit The Love Hope Strength website to learn more about future treks for cancer.

Below are a few photos I took from the event. You can check out more in the upcoming issues of Billboard Magazine, People Magazine, and US Weekly. Very cool!

The Redgarden Wall at Night

2009-06-11T23:22:00.000-07:00

I took this unique winter perspective of Eldorado Canyon's grandest of walls a few months back. The original print will be auctioned off this Tuesday at The Spot Benefit organized to help the rescue and recovery efforts in China. A full hour and a half message from Sheyna will also be on the table amongst many other amazing donations from across the country. Click here to learn more.

Jonny, Wade, and Micah will be missed deeply. Johnny certainly touched my life in many ways and I thankful for the time I spend with him, like this Halloween, when we both, like a couple shirtless dancing monkeys, drove the Djembes home until the wee hours of the morning. Micah was also a friend, who on many occasions schooled me on climbing ethics and brought laughter to the crag, like this winter at The Rincon Wall in Eldo, when he had to take his girlfriend off belay (mid climb) on "Climb of the Century" because he was too freighted to watch her try it. Eric finished the duty while Micah hid in the bushes. Tough guy eh?... And although I never had the pleasure of knowing Wade, I am broken to know that someone who shared the same passion of mountain photography and film making as myself has been taken by the same medium that which helps craft our art. I would have certainly joined this expedition having been giving the chance (or had half the Alpine skills as Wade).

You all will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Please join us at the Spot next Friday.

Lighting

2009-06-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

I took this photo last night while driving to Boulder for a few late night errands. The storms in Colorado this Spring just won't quite brewing. Thus, more rain and more lighting photos I'm certain will follow...

Water Droplets

2009-06-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

I have been spending a lot of time and energy of late trying to understand my photography and deal with it's meaning. I have become fascinated with water, shooting thousands of single water droplets and documenting each unique "splash." This kind of photography has always fascinated me. I hope to soon shoot adventure photography through a new lens: a single drop of water.

Update

2009-06-03T09:35:00.001-07:00

The UC Photo Annual Issue is just out, and amongst my favorite photographers' work, you can find a Eldorado Canyon Bouldering photo essay i recently shot, as well as a few full page images mixed in taboot. Check out the last page in the issue for one of my favorite shots of Tommy Caldwell on a mind blowing FA at Box Lake, RMNP. In other news, I recently added Nikon's new D90 to my bag. This is a nice new weapon in the arsenal, and allows me the option to shoot HD video on my shoots as well. Psyched.

I leave tomorrow for The Teva Mountain Games in Vail, CO for a long weekend. (I'm in a condo at the village this time!) The Bouldering World Cup will be on hand again this year, and it is one of my favorite events to shoot all year. Go USA! Other than that, I've been shooting as always. New faces, new areas, new FAs, go, go, go! Be on the lookout in the next couple months... Cheers! - Andy

California RMH Premiere

2009-06-03T09:28:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 4th, Scott Neel (the director) and Kevin Jorgeson will be hosting the CA Premiere of Rocky Mountain Highball at the Rialto Theatre in Berkeley. This event is presented by Vertex Climbing Center, Marmot, and the Berkeley Marmot Mountain Works retailer. Tickets are $10 and available at the door. Please check out the film if you are in the area. I wish I could be there! BTW, sorry for the lack of posts lately. The hustle is at an all time high. Pics to come...

New Work

2009-05-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

There are a few things new out there this week that I'm proud of. I'm psyched to be working with Five-Ten on the cover of an event pamphlet that will be going to Japan where superstar Kevin Jorgeson is traveling for a climbing competition. Kill'em Kev! Also, the April issue of France's Escalade Magazine is out. I'm stoked to have a full page published in the “Telescopage." It is always cool to have featured work getting viewed across the pond. (clippings below)

Other than that, I've just been working my tale off and trying to get in some rock climbing. i just got back from a nice Spring day in the South Saint Vrain Canyon with my friend Ben Scott. I fired "Temptation Arete" first go, and got jazzed on a really hard route to the left of it. These are the two better sport routes in the canyon, and a good sign that my finger injury is near 100% recovered. Epic river crossings abound right now, YEEHAW!

We also took a tip some new boulders and unearthed some real gems nearby. Gotta love all the potential still out there. The best is yet to come...

RMH Premiere Re-cap.

2009-05-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

AKA: Where do we go from here? Well, Rocky Mountain Highball is headed into DVD production and distribution, so be sure to check back here for the DVD release dates. Also, stay tuned for further screening dates, and film festival appearances around the country.

Climbing Magazine has recently posted a "re-cap" of the world premiere last week in Boulder, CO, as well as some photos from the evening. If you couldn't make it to the show, then click here. What a night!

You know, the shift from photography to film production was an amazing ride, but I am as fired up as ever to get back to my first love; photography. This year is my most promising yet, and I am buried up to my neck in excitement! This morning I officially teamed up with Skrammedia to exclusively bring all of my editorial climbing photography to Climbing and Urban Climber Magazines for 2009-10. My goal is to bring these magazines the absolute best climbing imagery that one man can produce. The focus is clear.

See ya'll out there!

Photo below: A few of the RMH cast at the AAC sponsored pre-party: Jim Holloway, Kevin Jorgeson, John Sherman, Steve Mammen, and myself enjoying a few beverages before the show.

New Cover Shot

2009-05-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

This month's issue of Urban Climber Magazine is out and it is a good one! I am fortunate to have had one of my shots chosen for the cover (back to back) and to travel down to Hueco Tanks to shoot a feature for the issue as well. I was also able to contribute a gallery shot of KJorg on the FA of "The Heist", a "Cardwell reads UC" add, and an "Unearthed" column on Virginia bouldering stud, Austin Manning. So amped! Pick you on up a copy... bottom photo: Nalle Hukkataival takes a clean shot at "Slashface" V13.