One of the things I struggle with in climbing photography is getting good shots and good angles. The composition of a climbing photo tells the story; who is climbing, what they are on, and where they are located. Close-ups may be more dramatic, with more emphasis on hand placements or muscles or facial expressions, but they lack the context needed to tell the full story. Conversely, wide shots miss out on the details of the climb itself.
Below I've shared some photos from my recent trip to Bishop, which I have spent some time reflecting on. Most I feel are too tight of a shot. I tend to do this to cut out things that may distract from the subject: spotters, crash pads, backpacks. It's becoming pretty apparent to me that the bouldering photos I really love are highly staged. I'll return to Bishop next month, and keep that in mind, though the highball classic is a terrible time to try and stage photos! Oh well...
