Articles ...
Offa the beaten track…
Many of us return to the same crags time and time again; I would imagine that psychologists would sign this off as normal behaviour. However, changing the norm and getting off the beaten track takes a bit of effort mentally as well as physically. That said, mixing it up every once in a while is not only a great way to rekindle waning interest but climbing on different crags works mind and body in a different way. It also spreads out the demand on crags so, all in all, it’s a win win...
It ain’t over till it’s over…
Rachael Crewe, the spandex-loving 22 year-old graduate ex-Nottingham Uni. who won the top prize in the ‘Be in my calendar competition’ which ran on www.UKClimbing.com, has now been subjected to the full works – photographically speaking.
The idea of running a competition and then photographing the winner for the calendar had been on (or perhaps that should be – in?…) the slow-burner for a while but when UKClimbing became a page sponsor for climbing:09 the opportunity to run a comp became too good an opportunity to miss. Public participation seems to be where it’s at these days, especially where the www comes in. The popularity of UKClimbing, with its public forums, photo galleries and competitions, must surely be proof positive that people have a burning desire to get involved?
Wanna go Sport Climbing?
Following its creation in Germany, sport climbing spread like a wild-fire across Europe and into the UK taking root on the limestone cliffs of the Pennines and North Wales.
The likes of Jerry Moffatt and Ben Moon were earlier adopters of the new skool climbing and as the 80’s rocketed by, many other climbers joined the party, myself included.
And now, 20+ years on, I’m still battling away at my tick-list which never seems to get any shorter! Save for winter/spring bouldering forays and the odd ‘away-day’ on the grit or into the mountains, I’ve been a ‘regular’ sport climber throughout.
Burning considerable midnight oil in the process, I eventually managed to shoe-horn as many tips and techniques ….
Under the boardwalk, down by the sea…
It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, lest we take it for granted, the great thing about UK climbing is the awesome diversity of venues and climbing styles that we have - usually within spitting distance of each other.
Steve Mac v’s Big Brother…
Nearly a month ago, ‘bat hanging’ Steve McClure hit the national press; the event, as you all know, was his ascent of Overshadow 9a+, his latest and hardest super-route, at Malham Cove. For once, a domestic climbing event got significant national press column inches.
Home and Away: A Photographic Exhibition of Climbing and Scenic Images from the UK, Europe and Beyond…
As an exhibition title I knew that it was total cheese but I needed a ‘handle’ for the collection of images I was to hang at a forthcoming trust-fund lecture and I was drawn back time and time again to Home and Away. Let me explain. I’d been asked if I would prepare a photographic exhibition for the eleventh Paul Nunn Memorial Lecture at Sheffield Hallam University on the 18th October 2006. I needed both a theme and a name for said exhibition. After some thought I settled on a theme; a dozen climbing and travel/scenic images from the UK and overseas. All I needed then was an exhibition title. And that’s when Home and Away just kept on coming back into my head. Eventually I just gave in and, total cheese or not, Home and Away it was. Now you’re in the picture (pun intended)…
Yorkshire Limestone Guidebook Published ...
“It's Dave Musgrove on the phone” came the shout from downstairs. “He's after some photos for the latest Yorkshire limestone guide”. I break off what I'm doing and take the call. Some time later, I send a Jiffy bag with a bunch of slides in away in the post and I think no more of it. As a photographer, I'm always shipping slides around the country. You take 'um, you sort 'um, you post 'um, then you move on to the next assignment. In May, guidebook supreme, Musgrove, rang again. “Guide's out,” he says, “and we've used a few of your shots. We're having a bash and there's an invite for you to come up for the evening. And by the way, we used a shot of yours on the front cover”!
Motorcycle images in the can...
By the time I’d finished shooting David on his Honda Fireblade coming over Topley Pike on the A6 west of Buxton, the light had all but gone. It was time to finish; the images were either ‘in the can’ or they weren’t! It had been a completely new photographic venture, no climbers in sight, just motorcycles and roads. The images will be published in April in a new textbook to help highway engineers and road safety specialists provide and maintain roads in a motorcycle-friendly way.