Joshua Tree " An Old Friend"

For Thanksgiving everyone seemed to be making their way to Bishop, so a few of us decided to head south to Joshua Tree. I used to climb in the area when I lived in the central valley, but I have not been back since. I really do miss this area and do not understand its lack of visitors, so a trip was in order.

During this trip I was able to meetup with a great crew of climbers including Ben Polanco, Matus Sobolic, and Michelle Yi was actually able to make it out to the park. We spent the entire day out on Geology Tour Road and enjoyed some great classics including Mirage, Pinched Loaf, and Slashface. Next,we made our way to Iron Resolution so Ben could begin to work out the moves...damn thing looks hard.

Right now, due to the high winds we are held up in a cheap motel, that is right, two beds and six people...you do the math. Tomorrow, we will be making our way out to the Rosetta Stone hopefully we can actually find it this time to attempt on old Rob Mulligan line. Hope everyone enjoyed a fun Thanksgiving.

Mad Rock On-Sight

A few weeks ago I went to Santa Barbara to meet Mad Rock athlete Piper Michelle to shoot some promo videos. We met at Santa Barbara's Brickyard and Piper ran laps on Walk the Dog for the next 2 hours. Ya, sometimes being an athlete is not all fun and games. Climbing is actually work and having to pull the same moves, lose skin, and then repeat for a shoot is very tiring. However, the end result is great!

Check out the promo video at Mad Rock for the new 2011 On-Sight or simply scroll down. Videos with athletes Steven Jeffery, Piper Michelle, and Grace Kane are coming soon...look for the clips!

Something Other Than Climbing

I have a friend who has been training for her first half-marathon. During a recent trip to Bishop she felt the need to run before we climbed at the Buttermilks. Trail running has always been really interesting to me, and although she was only training I felt that it would be a great chance to snap some photos. Check out a morning run on the Eastside. I really do not know much about the sport but this seems visually like something that I would like to pursue.

Weekend in Bishop

I have not been back to Bishop in 3 seasons. I finally decided to make the trip, and as usual it was epic. We got in at 1:ooam in the morning and the excitement was in the air. You couldn't ask for a more serene location. We camped at the Buttermilks under a full moon and in the morning we caught up with a great group of friends to climb.


Sometimes I feel carrying my camera around is a burden, I simply forget to climb. However, this trip, I am glad I had it. Here are some fun shots that were taken along the way.

Pine Mountain Pulldown

This last weekend I went down and shot some photos at the Pine Mountain Pulldown. This is a great outdoor comp put on by All Out Events and it is in its 3rd year. This year I was lucky enough to talk Ben Polanco from Evolv into joining me. I toured him around the crag and watched as he basically crushed everything out there. While we were climbing we ran into Dan Beal and Ian Dory from the Asana crew and they joined Ben and basically polished off every double-digit at the crag. I shot some amazing photos for an article I am working on. Some of the shots are of Pine Mountain and a few are from the next day at Santa Barbara's Brickyard. Here are the outtakes. I had to throw out some, but they were all my favorites. Please let me know what you think.

Joes Valley

Got out to Joes Valley this weekend with Rocco and Jacinda. The area is amazing to say the least and I was able to do a few classics. Jacinda was also able to quickly dispatch her nemesis Wills of Fire. The line climbs incuts and pockets to a five-star finish. After working out the beta for the top out she finally sent in good form!!

Prana's New Website

It is always nice to see your images used, especially by a company who I have loved for such a long time. The athlete is Tiffany Hensley, the girl is like my little sister. Tiffany is an amazing climber, always filled with psych, and is the perfect ambassador to showcase the Prana lifestyle. The girl is always climbing! Tiffany recently moved to Colorado to go to school and has been pullin hard after class...check out her blog at http://www.mocieka.blogspot.com/ to follow the craziness that is her life. On a closing note I have finished my website and will be launching it within the next week with all new videos and some new pubslished work! P.S. Yes, the photo used was a shot as a portrait but they fit it to a landscape.

To Each Their Own

There is a saying, "opinions are like assholes...everyone has one." When you begin to shoot photos you learn that quickly! Everyone sees something differently and we all pick and choose our favorites. I have been submitting photos and article queries to editors for about two years now. I have met several closed doors and some that have opened up for me...you have to be persistent! You also have to learn to take criticism and grow from it and as such I am always welcome to whatever anyone thinks of something I have created. I have learned so much just from scattered commentary, I am always grateful to hear what people think. But, I decided to post two photos I know would not make it past into an issue, but I love them for their own qualities! Enjoy!


Ben Polanco working Ghetto Blaster 513.b

Natasha working on an unnamed V7 in Bridalveil Falls area

The Tradeshow

I was able to enojy some free time during the tradeshow to shoot some great shots at the UBC competition ontop of the Shiloh Inn. Enjoy some of the shots and check back for more. If you are wondering about the shots where the holds occupy the entire wall, you need to check out Steven Jeffery's training wall..

Tuolumne Meadows

I spent the last weekend shooting in Tuolumne. The are has some of the most amazing views for anyone looking to beat the summer heat and enjoy mid-level bouldering in an alpine setting. Below are some of the outtakes from the weekend shoot...watch for "keepers" to appear later with an article about alpine bouldering.

Tiny Dancer

Walkin downtown with my favorite b-girl and well we took some photos. Check Lilly out she is amazingly talented.

Bodega Bay

So I have been slacking on the blog posts. I have no time! But, here is what a day at the beach will get you. I got to shoot some fun photos (these are the outtakes). Damn, sun was not cooperating and I brought nothing for camera gear. I hope you enjoy. I am building a website soon enough.

Sonora Bouldering Guide

For over 3 years the residents of Columbia, Ca have been working diligently to clean, send, and document some of the most amazing bouldering California has to offer. The rock is a tacky limestone with a beautiful setting (however, watch out for poison oak). The first edition of their guide book just came out and I contributed some shots for the guide book, and one of my favorite shots made the back cover! Super Psyched! Check out this book and contact Dean and Dan for a copy of the guide book.

Setting the Record straight

I have been setting for about 5 years now and have encountered a wide range of setters, owners, and climbers who all look at this art differently. Setting like any "art" is constantly misunderstood and its "value" is not always completely fiscally equatable. However, it is setters who move climbing gyms forwards not new walls, holds, or better facilities. If you want to see any variable impact your members more hire on young inexperienced setters and watch your credibility as a "climbing gym" fall. To find the entire article please check out http://www.deadpointmag.com/ and click on the current issue. The beginning of the article can be found on page 36.

Indoor Shooting

The weather has forced everyone inside. This can actually be a good thing. I got to work with my friend Marcus and shoot some pictures for his gym advertisements. Shooting inside of a gym has its pluses and minuses. Here are the pluses:

1.) The route can be read perfectly and is set to force the climber into more prestine stances
( if you have a good setter setting).

2.) Super easy to jug a wall while the gym is closed

3.) You don't have to worry about heavy shadows

Minuses:

1.) You're in a gym

We picked a route, and I tossed him a green shirt (it fit his skin tone and was a good contrast), and he was forced to on-sight the route which helps add to the urgency in his face...it makes the climber look far more emotional compared to them running laps on an easy route. Here is one of my favorite shots that did not make the cut...

AscenDance

This last weekend I was invited to watch the final dress rehearsal of the Ascendance Crew. Their routine is unique utilizing a bouldering wall, these dancers have created movement that can not be called simple dancing, it is choreographed climbing. Check out some intimate shots from their last dress rehearsal and be sure to catch their show this weekend. For more information and a beautiful video of last years show go to http://www.ascendanceproject.com/ Enjoy some of the images below:

Dead Point Magazine December 09/January 10

The latest issue of Dead Point Magazine just hit the stands and I am very excited to see that I have a 4 page spread in the latest edition. The article on Yosemite, although brief was a project I had been working on for sometime now and was very excited to see it make the winter bouldering issue. Pick up a copy at your local gym or guideshop and read about the latest ascents that are occuring on the valley floor.