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Home and Away: A Photographic Exhibition of Climbing and Scenic Images from the UK, Europe and Beyond…
Home and Away is therefore a collection of images portraying climbing action, landscapes and travel at locations I have visited in the last decade to climb and photographs, often whilst working on illustrated works for the specialist climbing press or for my rock climbing calendars. Holistically, Home and Away contains some of my personal favourite images, some of which I’ve featured in my climbing calendars. After some considerable effort, and a few late nights, Home and Away was duly selected, prepared, printed, hung, scrutinised and, so it seemed, appreciated by attendees at the Paul Nunn.
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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)…
Headlining guest speakers at the lecture were Louise Thomas,
a well-known mountain guide, and a former chief instructor
at Plas y Brenin, and Steve McClure, arguably Britain’s
current foremost sport climber. Louise was to talk about mountains
and motherhood and although I knew off her, I’d never
met her. Steve McClure, who was to talk about sport climbing,
I knew well having climbed with him many times and photographed
him on many of his hardest routes. The lecture was a fund-raiser
for the Paul Nunn Memorial Fund. Paul, who was tragically killed
in the 90’s whilst
on a climbing expedition in the Karakorum, was a well-know
climber/mountaineer in the UK, a joint proprietor of Mountain
magazine, a senior lecturer at the then Sheffield City Polytechnic
and a great guy to boot. I was privileged to have known Paul,
and knowing Steve as I did, and of Louise’s reputation,
I felt honour-bound to pull the stops out for the exhibition.
I wanted to celebrate the diversity of rock climbing and the
climbing landscape that I’ve been lucky enough to experienced
as a climber/photographer plying his trade both at home and
around the globe. The better weather and light which seemingly
pervades overseas climbing locations is often seen as giving
the resultant images a boost such that they are elevated
above images taken at home here in the UK. I simply don’t
believe that this is so. It is true that the UK suffers its
share of poor weather and in these conditions it is without
a doubt, drab and uninviting. But captured at its best, the
climbing on this isle that we call home, as well as the images
thereof, are every bit as good as the so-called hot-rock
overseas destinations. Travel does broaden the mind and climbing
abroad is frequently in locations of undeniable scenic splendour
but familiarity, I fear, breeds contempt of our homelands.
On the home front Home and Away included a duet of images
of Stanage; firstly an image of Katherine Schirrmacher
cruising up the headwall of Congo Corner (HVS 5b) and
secondly a landscape shot of the crag itself in the full glory
of autumn. Far from the traditional climbing at Stanage is
the sport climbing playground of Malham. Sport climbing
in the UK has been dominated by Steve McClure of late;
Home and Away features an image of Steve bearing down,
like only he can, high on the headwall of his 2003
Malham test-piece, Rainshadow (F9a). Finally, a landscape image
of the Kilrannan Sound, Scotland taken from the shores
of Aran completes the UK line-up.
European entries for Home and Away centred on France;
the awesome climbing and rustic scenery of hill-top villages
of Provence proving irresistible. By no means typical
of the climbing in Provence, the Grotte de l’Our
at Sugition in La Calanques on the south coast of France,
is an awesome venue for those in search of the ultimate
in roof-climbing. International rock-star, Yuji Hirayama
of Japan, is featured on Rastata (F8b). The hill-top
villages of Provence attract visitors in their thousands
yet despite this, still seem to offer a tranquil haven
that is simply intoxicating. Roussillon, famous for the
ochre colour of the local rocks, is just one such example.
The ‘rest of the world’ featured prominently in Home
and Away with no less than six images from the
US, Canada and Thailand. The US Mid-West is famous for its spectacular
cliffs and canyons and the great climbing and visuals it offers.
Red Rocks, located just a dozen or so miles west of Los Vegas,
are easily accessible from Vegas yet offer fantastic climbing in
stark but inspiring scenic splendour. Contrasting against a dark
blue sky, the red sandstone of Where the Down Boys Go (F7c) at
The Gallery just has to be climbed. Farther east, is Canyon de
Chelle (pronounced Shey). Home to the Navajo Indians, Canyon de
Chelly cuts an impressive gash through the Colorado Plateau. It
is though one of the quieter points on the Canyonlands tour. The
cliffs thereabouts are stunning and seemingly impregnable, the
later amplified now as climbing ceased here some time ago in deference
to the Navajo.
The Canadian Rockies are well-known as one of the
world’s
scenic jewels; the rock climbing there is also
emerging as a destination venue. Acephale (pronounced Assafell)
has been dubbed the Canadian Ceuse. That might be over-cooking
it a bit but given that it’s
a great limestone cliff, a hour walk-in and it
lies around 4000 feet there is more than a passing similarity
to Ceuse! Derek Gallaway is captured on Existence Mundane (F8b).
Less than an hour to the north is Moraine Lake and the Wenkchemna
Peaks. Also known as the Valley of The Ten Peaks, this is a
very definite, ‘must visit’ location
for anyone in the area. And yes, Moraine Lake
really is that colour!
Finally, Thailand is now firmly on the exotic
hot-rock destination trip list. The climbing
here is fantastic and often has a three-dimensional
quality by dint of the giant tufas which hang
from the cliffs. In addition, the environment
is very definitely holiday-friendly and the scenery
knocks your breath away. Take advantage of the
cooler temperatures of the morning to climb routes
like Gaeng Som Pla (F7c+) then soak up the sun après midi.
Ton Sai on the Prang Nang Peninsula (a.k.a. Railay) has both fantastic
climbing and great visuals. Sun-loving, rock-jocks are in paradise
here.
