Climbing Photography Clinic Day at Devils Lake.

Andy Hansen on "Breakfast of Champions" 5.9+

After two days of discussion, preparation, and practice in the gym the Climbing Photography Clinic participants Peter and Giulia where ready to get the full experience of shooting climbers outside. So for the third and final day of the clinic we set out to the west bluff of Devils Lake to shoot the classic routes on The Lost Face, as well as "Son of Great Chimney" and "Stuck Knee". Conveniently the routes are near each other, but offer distinctively different challenges and approaches when it comes to photographing them. So we woke up early, packed gear, and hiked the approach. Soon after anchors were set a plan was hatched to shoot Andy and Josh on the Lost Face overhangs. Both photographers rigged up a line to shoot from and the decision was made to break up the 90 foot route into two pitches for a greater opportunity to get some really unique photos.

Overhead view of the clinic photographers and climbers on the Lost Face.
Yes, I can levitate...

Peter Beck shoots Andy Hansen and Josh Knapp pitching out the Lost Face overhangs.

Giulia Bartolotta gets rigged up to shoot the Lost Face.

The lighting this morning offered some common photographic challenges. Although it was still early in the day, the sun was high and there were little clouds in the sky to diffuse the light. The photographers dealt with the challenge of metering and selecting the best exposure to shoot the bright rock. As time passed the light became a little more diffused by some thin clouds appeared overhead. The lighting became more even and the shooters and climbers rejoiced. Soon after we gathered our things and moved over to shoot "Stuck Knee" and "Son of Great Chimney". We started with the off-width "Stuck Knee" which is an especially unique climb because it can be shot from both sides. Peter set up to shoot the climber directly, and Giulia set up the shoot the climber looking through the big off-width crack. The big gear required, difficulty of off-width climbing, and ability to shoot multiple angles made this climb a great choice for photos.

Peter Beck shooting Ryan Strong on "Stuck Knee" 5.7

Giulia Bartolotta shooting Ryan through the offwidth crack on "Stuck Knee" 5.7

We wrapped up the day by moving down to shoot "Son of Great Chimney" a classic Devils Lake 5.11c that offers many aesthetic photographic angles. Peter rigged a line to shoot from around the corner, and Giulia shot from the top of an adjacent pillar. The group worked on the different challenges of shooting several climbers on top rope instead of on the sharp end lead climbing. Peter also worked to refine his use of an aid climbing hook to use as a directional while shooting. Guilia enjoyed the comforts of shooting a quality angle from the comfort of a huge ledge.

Peter Beck lowers in to shoot the classic "Son of Great Chimney"

Peter Beck works on getting a hook placement for a directional.
Does it hold?

So with the third day of the Climbing Photo Clinic wrapping up we were all excited to go back to our computers and take a look at all the new images and compare results. I am yet to see many of the groups shots on a full screen, but I am excited to see how the class used what they've learned from the clinic and to see the final results. I would like to put together a small show/exhibit of the work from the clinic to be hung in the gym so the work can be viewed in print by all. Until then I'll do my best to keep everyone updated and share some links when/if Peter and Giulia post their photos online.

For all of those who wished they could have signed up or had scheduling conflicts for the first photography clinic I would like to put on another clinic in the Fall. There are no determined dates and it all depends on your interest! So please keep let me know if you're interested in signing up or have any questions about future clinics. Thanks to Peter and Giulia for making this clinic a blast, and I hope to see you guys out there shooting!

Photos of MBEC Bouldering Finals Posted

View from the top of the wall. Who's gonna grab that finish hold?

Here are a few of my favorite shots from Adventure Rock's first annual Member BBQ and Bouldering comp. I am super psyched with how they turned out, and of course shooting them was a fun and challenging experience. The lighting was tricky but for the most part really helped make the photos exciting. The white light(s) illuminating the wall also lit the climber and really helped to give the climber definition and provided what photographers refer to as "rim light". The bright contrasting colors of the wall and holds certainly help the photos pop. Well done to all the climbers and Adventure Rock for pulling it all together. For more photos check out my Flickr Photostream.

Annaleah Fields sticks the dyno and prepares for the next moves on Route 3.

Annaleah Fields attempts the crux move on Route 2

Jake Fields is so close and he can feel it! Dyno on Route 3

Ian Hill attempt a mondo bump move on Route 3.

Minda Silvestre eyes up the finish hold on Route 1.

Maddie Rafkin working out the moves on Route 3.

Find the complete collection on my Flickr Photostream.

MBEC Finals and BBQ

Here are some video highlights from Adventure Rock's 1st Annual Member BBQ and MBEC Bouldering finals! The climbing was strong, the pork was tasty. and the tunes were bumpin'. A great time was had by all, and the photos look pretty slick as well. Check back soon to see the photos.

Matt Kuehl Presents: Climbing Photography Clinic

I am excited to announce the dates of my first educational brain child... a climbing photography clinic! This three-day clinic is designed to transform your climbing photography from butt-shot to cover shot. Geared towards climbers with an interest in photography and the desire to develop the skills and techniques required to capture better shots in the vertical world. This course will begin with the fundamentals of photography, ascending, and rope access inside Adventure Rock and will progress to intermediate and advanced shooting and rigging techniques working outdoors at Devil’s Lake. Participants are required to have their own DSLR, harness, and personal anchor system to attend the clinic. Upon completion of the clinic participants photos will be printed and displayed in Adventure Rock.

Clinic Overview

Day One: Wednesday June 15th 5:30pm-9:30pm

Photography fundamentals are explored. Content includes camera functions, exposure, metering, focus, depth of field, focal length, lighting and digital workflow. Rope access fundamentals will also are explored. Topics include ascending single and double ropes, rappelling with the use of a backup device, and specific positioning on the wall for shooting photos.

Day Two: Wednesday June 22nd 5:30pm-9:30pm

Get ready for an intense and exciting day getting practice shooting while hanging and ascending. Rope access and shooting exercises explored. Gain experience setting up your camera and rope(s) for three separate shooting environments in the gym. Practice ascending with several different set ups and photograph climbers while working together in a team to get the best possible shots. Advanced positioning topics explored such as the use of multiple directional lines, setting up a bosman's chair while hanging, and fighting the spins on overhanging terrain.

Day Three: Sunday June 26th at Devil’s Lake 8am-4pm

Gain the full experience of being a climbing photographer by hiking in, hauling gear, finding the light, dealing with elements and rigging your line. Apply previously learned techniques to make informed decisions on how to deal with the challenges of photographing several different climbs unique to the Devil's Lake environment. Set up anchors (with guidance) and embrace the outdoor specific challenges and topics that will be explored. Climb, ascend, photograph and enjoy the great outdoors on this capstone day.

You can sign up for this clinic at the front desk at Adventure Rock, or give the gym a call at 262.790.6800. There is a limit of 9 participants for so sign up before all the spots are filled!

Photo Slide Show Extravaganza!

Andy Miers on the Breathe Right 5.11c, Red River Gorge, KY.

Taken during my first "photography only" trip to the Red.

I have been asked by Adventure Rock climbing gym to do a slideshow sharing climbing photos and stories from the last few years. The slideshow will be presented on "Media Night" during the gyms 13th anniversary week. I will be telling my favorite climbing stories and experiences from several different climbing endeavors from the last few years. Some of the stories to be explored will be road tripping and multi pitch climbing in Red Rocks Nevada, my hardest trad on-sight attempt in the Red River Gorge, and other shenanigans about trying to live the dirt bag climber's dream. (Including but not limited to foot-shaking, whipper-taking, coffee-making, tent-breaking, finger-acheing, hand-shaking, and house-faking)

Those of you out there who have been reading the blog for a while will recognize a story here and there, but like always thats just the tip of the ice berg. So tell your friends and come out to the gym for what's sure to be an interesting slideshow experience. This event is free!!!

Wednesday February 16th, 2011 7pm-8ish

Adventure Rock Climbing Gym

21250 W. Capitol Dr.

Pewaukee, WI. 53072

Stag Barbershop: Mustache Shaving Party

In preparation for the 12th Annual Quick on the Draw climbing competition the men of Adventure Rock visited Stag Barbershop in Bayview for a classic shave. Each year the gym has a new theme for this competition, and this year's just happened to be mustaches. I think most people were pretty excited, although some still perplexed by this manly decision. Either way we knew we'd need a professional and classy shave in order to be contenders in the best mustache competition. So plans were made to visit Stag, and we all waited patiently for our upper lip hair to grow. And as time passed we left no mustache style un-googled in our growing excitement and preparation for the big shave.

A Stag Barbershop Stag

I have visited Stag once before to get a haircut from my fiend Sarah, who just got a job working there. From the moment I walked into the place I could tell that I wasn't in for a typical haircut experience. I had only had my hair cut once since I cut off all of my dreads with a regular scissors while camping in the woods. Walking into Stag I felt like I had just discovered a mecca of Milwaukee class and style and in the confines of the small and aged building. Right away I knew that I was in for a treat as well as a stylish haircut! Before I knew it I was enjoying a nice cold Pabst and the company of three classy gals, Sarah, Robin and Jess. After getting my first haircut at Stag done entirely with a straight razor, I had been immediately transformed from your everyday slob-slum looking bum with halfa-mullet, to an outstanding slob-someone with a non-bum haircut. What can I say, I didn't even leave with a new set of jeans or t-shirt, but that haircut looked good and I smelt nice! Everything just fell into place...

Sarah working on Rory's stache with Robin trimming up Danny in the background.

Owner Jess Stern giving Craig a nice, professional, and sophisticated stache.

After being so impressed with my first visit to Stag, I knew I had to spread the word to my friends about this gem in Bayview. I was confident that they would think my barbershop transformation was a success, as well as an entertaining story and perhaps they'd be down to go check it out someday. One of the first people I saw was Craig Burzynski, manager and funny-man of Adventure Rock climbing gym where I am a loyal employee. I told Craig about how rad it was to go to a barbershop for the first time, especially after all of the years of having long dreadlocks. I mentioned I was planning on going to get my mustache worked on before Quick on the Draw so that I could fulfill my dream of having a mustache worth noticing. Craig thought it was a great idea, and he wanted in. Before we knew it the word had spread around the climbing gym like the chalk that circulates with the air, and a mustache shaving party was born.

Soon the day had come, were the blade met the skin, and the faces of eight men were to become new again. What once was a group of bearded ape-like men was to now been transformed with the simple grace and discipline of a straight razor. And you might be asking yourself "Well where are they now after the shave, and how has their mustache blessed them?" And I assure you the men who once spent their time climbing the walls of the local climbing gym have now been spotted in the most sophisticated and upholding of establishments and organizations.

Craig Burzynski sports his new look.

With his new stache, Craig is now considered to be everyone's favorite (and trusted) uncle, regardless of any legitimate relation to his new "family" at the local super market.

David Nimmer gives us his version of "Blue Steel"

No longer having a chunk of "tree sap" stuck in his hair, David Nimmer has jump-started his modeling career and is reported to have a major portfolio review with Maytag in the

near future.

Mark Nimmer leaner and meaner than ever.

Mark Nimmer, now better known as has"Johny Stache" became the new face of the WWF with his new found self confidence after sporting his new stache in his first ever wrestling match tie.

Peter Beck might make you look like a fool.

Peter Beck is the brain child for VH1's new hit series "The World Wide Web's Most Outrageous Uploads!" where he has worked his way up from comment poster to head-criticizer of popular youtube videos.

Danny Clifford has the authority and might just use it.

Danny Clifford has also fulfilled his lifelong goal of becoming a stunt double's double on the popular TV show Reno 911, where he also works on-set security part time.

Rory Trainor is just having the time of his life and wants you to know.

Rory Trainor is now a trainee for peanut salesman position for the peanut super company Planters, where he sees himself having a salty yet sweet relationship with the manufactured peanut corporation for many years to come.

A big thanks to the women of Stag for giving all of us an opportunity to fulfill our dreams and to give us the confidence to pursue the toughest and most mustache dependent of lifestyles. A little off the top, and a little over the top indeed!

Quick on the Draw Photos Published

Click here for the Quick on the Draw 2011 photo slideshow

My photos from Adventure Rock's 12th annual Quick on the Draw climbing competition are now published on the gym's website. I'm excited to have the photos in an area that many people will be able to view beyond the blog. In addition to the photos being posted on the Adventure Rock website, I will also being doing a Flickr upload in the near future to help create a more up to date photostream. So check out the Adventure Rock website and spread the word that the competition photos are posted. Enjoy!

Quick on The Draw Preview

Alex Nimmer sticks the jump start to Men's Open finals.

The last week in January is quickly coming to an end and that means I've been busy busy busy! The 12th annual Quick on The Draw climbing competition at Adventure Rock climbing was last night and I spent the better portion of my week helping to prepare routes for the gym's largest competition of the year. Beyond route setting and gym preparation I also was working on making my mustache as manly and prominent as possible in consideration of this year's mustache theme. Luckily for me this meant realizing a life-long dream of sporting a mustache worth noticing. This also brought some additional fun in the month of "Manuary" when the boys and men of Adventure Rock decided to go to Stag barbershop in Bay view to get our stache's tamed and/or enhanced before the big event. But with little distraction, let the teaser photos continue...

Women's Open Finals

All the finals routes were a big success, take note of the mustache holds made custom by Figure Four Climbing Holds.

Lindsey Gram cool, calm and collected on the Women's Advanced final route.

Heel hooks a plenty!

Loved seeing people get on this boulder problem!

A completely packed house as usual.

But wait! There's more!

Check back soon for complete photo posts on Quick on The Draw 2011

and the events that lead up to it.... I will also be updating my Flickr photostream

with all of the photos as soon as the editing and selection is complete.

Two Show Updates

I am glad to announce the installation of seven prints at Adventure Rock Climbing Gym in Pewaukee Wisconsin. The prints consist of six ice climbing prints from Wisconsin, as well as one rock climbing print from the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. These prints will be installed until January 31st, 2011. These prints are available for purchase in sizes 11x16, 16x24, and 24x36 and are available framed or unframed, prices range based on size and materials.

I am also excited to announce that I will be displaying these ice climbing prints at the 2011 Ice Pit climbing festival in De Pere WI. The prints will be on display the night of the 15th during the events gear swap, raffle, and free beer gathering at the Ramada Inn. I will have a small table set up with more information about my photographic work, as well as slide show displaying more of my work for those who are curious. The prints will be available for purchase, and a percentage of the sales will be donated to The Ice Pit directly, so why resist!

Beginning to shoot Adventure Rock Photos

I've started working on some photos for Adventure Rock Climbing Gym, which I've been eagerly awaiting to start after the arrival of my new camera. The projects have a handful of different applications and purposes so some are for safety, some are for promotion, and some just for updating the website and Facebook page. The first project I started working on is specifically for several vertical banners which are to be located and moved around the gym. The purpose of the banners is to promote common sense and safety while using the gym's very popular auto-belay systems. My current personal favorite is an image of human chalk outline on the ground next to the climbing wall with an autobelay. The poster will read something like "Check Yourself ... Before You Wreck Yourself." For the shot I used a Tilt/Shift lens to help ad (literal) focus to the auto-belay, while creating a overall more dramatic depth of field to the scene. This banner, although being very serious in its content, is presented in a way that will moderately entertaining, and thus making it easy to remember and potentially very successful. I'm excited to share this shot, but I am going to hold off posting a photo until it's been finalized, and sent off to be printed.

The second project I've been working on is getting photos of the staff setting routes, as well as actual shots of individuals climbing the new routes. I'm hoping to use these images on the website as a way of creating excitement about new and fun routes to help excite even the most couch glued of climbing bums. So far I've been enjoying how quickly it is to envision these shots, as well as actually achieve them. With 17 different auto-belays and over 25 pre-hung top ropes in the main gym alone, getting into the right position is considerably easier than when shooting in the great outdoors.

I'll be continuing work on these two initial projects in the next few weeks as I start to become more familiar with my new camera and the lighting in the gym itself. The next project in the immediate future will be to shoot portraits of the core staff to be included on the website as well. As always more photos and updates to come...

Photo Contest Voting

I have recently entered a photo contest through Adventure Rock Climbing Gym. This is the second year they have hosted the contest, and this years winners will be compiled into a calender, which I can only imagine will be on sale at the gym. My submissions this year are all from my most recent trip to the Red, and I am happy to submit them. To help determine the winners, vote for your favorites HERE. I have uploaded some more images from that trip in this post as well. It has been very refreshing to spend so much time thinking about these images. I have also started to work on some "final" prints of a few of these, and they are great to see large, although some are unable to be enlarged much because of cropping . Look for those prints at MIAD if you're around, I will be rotating the prints hanging as I work on them.

Unknown Climber at The Motherload, RRG

Emily Harrington on "White Man's Overbite" 5.13c

The Motherload, RRG.

Zak Romuald on "8 Ball" 5.12d, The Motherload, RRG.

Andy Hansen on the 5.11 warm up wall at The Motherload, RRG.

Andy Miers taking it slow on "8 Ball" 5.12d

The Motherload, RRG.