Products You've Viewed
We'll track the last 7 products you've viewed.
Articles You've Viewed
We'll track the last 7 articles you've viewed so you can quickly return to them.

Aerial Ballet

© Corey Rich Loading...

© Corey Rich

D700; AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED;1/160 sec. at f/4.0; Focal length 14mm; 3D Color Matrix Metering II; No flash; ISO 400

Download now Read More
Turn on
Want to see words and definitions without going to a separate glossary? Turn on the in-page glossary to find out.

El Capitan rises 3,000 feet in Yosemite National Park. Rock climbers call it "El Cap," and its sheer granite face is an irresistible challenge to their skills and dedication. The dozens of named routes to the top are long and tough.

This spring, Tommy Caldwell, considered the world's greatest rock climber, and his climbing partner, Chris McNamara, spent four days on the rock, with Tommy exploring, testing routes and working through specific moves in what amounts to an aerial ballet. Capturing their efforts for a documentary film were Big Up Productions' cinematographer, Cooper Roberts, and extreme sports still photographer and cinematographer Corey Rich, who'd brought along his D90. "I had a traditional HD video camera as well," Corey says, "but I ended up shooting most of my video footage with the D90."

To get in position to capture Tommy's moves, Corey rappelled from the top. "As a photographer and cinematographer, I don't need to make the climb," he says. "My job is to be in position. Tommy was essentially looking things over, studying the options, trying different moves in preparation for a free climb of the rock. It was essentially a reconnaissance mission. I was always trying to anticipate where I wanted to be to tell that story, and it's not enough to lock the camera in a static position and allow the motion to work through the frame. I want the camera to move, to follow the action, to pan with it."

Nikon USA
©2010 Nikon Inc.