Adventure Blog:
Mapping with Lady Lockoff
The first time I saw Irene Yee’s (@ladylockoff) photos on Instagram, it was the color and clarity that initially captivated me. But, instinctively, almost instantaneously, it was clear there was more to these images - the texture of rock, the tools of the trade, the placement of pro, unique emotional expressions, the movement of the climb. Irene didn’t just capture climbing, she captured ambience, angles, and even more powerfully, she captured the human spirit behind the climbing.
One day Irene posted photos of Harmony Calhoun (@harmonycalhoun). Harmony’s beauty was naturally attention-getting, but there was also something I had never seen so astutely in a climbing photo - serenity. A successful advertising campaign occurs when it grabs you somewhere – in your insecurities, in your desires – and makes you say “I want that.”
Yes, of course I wanted Harmony’s beauty, her grace, her serenity on the rock – so calm and effortless on an upper 5.10 something. But, eventually, there comes a time in one’s life when self-acceptance finally makes a consistent showing. Since I could never be Harmony, I wondered, what would Lady Lockoff's photos reveal about me? At that moment I resolved that, although the when or how was still unknown, Irene would photograph me climbing.
About a year ago I spawned an idea and shared it with my husband, Rick. So many times we have bemoaned, between ourselves and among climbing friends, about getting lost when approaching or walking off a climb. I wondered, what if we used his professional GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping skills to make maps of climbing areas? We discussed, explored, experimented, tested, and then quit our jobs. Climb-On Maps was born.
When the first list of areas we would map came to life and Red Rocks was identified as a location, I shared another idea with Rick. What if we professionally photographed our mapping process? With Lady Lockoff in mind, I shared her photos with him. He instantly got it (I think he wanted to be Harmony Calhoun too…).
We decided two photo sessions would capture what we do – mapping approach trails and climbing to map walk-offs.
One day Irene posted photos of Harmony Calhoun (@harmonycalhoun). Harmony’s beauty was naturally attention-getting, but there was also something I had never seen so astutely in a climbing photo - serenity. A successful advertising campaign occurs when it grabs you somewhere – in your insecurities, in your desires – and makes you say “I want that.”
Yes, of course I wanted Harmony’s beauty, her grace, her serenity on the rock – so calm and effortless on an upper 5.10 something. But, eventually, there comes a time in one’s life when self-acceptance finally makes a consistent showing. Since I could never be Harmony, I wondered, what would Lady Lockoff's photos reveal about me? At that moment I resolved that, although the when or how was still unknown, Irene would photograph me climbing.
About a year ago I spawned an idea and shared it with my husband, Rick. So many times we have bemoaned, between ourselves and among climbing friends, about getting lost when approaching or walking off a climb. I wondered, what if we used his professional GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping skills to make maps of climbing areas? We discussed, explored, experimented, tested, and then quit our jobs. Climb-On Maps was born.
When the first list of areas we would map came to life and Red Rocks was identified as a location, I shared another idea with Rick. What if we professionally photographed our mapping process? With Lady Lockoff in mind, I shared her photos with him. He instantly got it (I think he wanted to be Harmony Calhoun too…).
We decided two photo sessions would capture what we do – mapping approach trails and climbing to map walk-offs.
Mapping
Mapping approaches involves walking, looking, puzzling, getting lost, rerouting, going up, going down, following trails that dead-end, following good trails, following confusing braided trails, bushwhacking, messing with equipment, struggling, and getting our asses kicked. And, not just a little bit of all that, A LOT of it.
We also map in any weather. Precarious situations have been made even scarier by things like, water, ice, and snow. (Hover over or click on images to see captions - which tell more of the story.)
We also map in any weather. Precarious situations have been made even scarier by things like, water, ice, and snow. (Hover over or click on images to see captions - which tell more of the story.)
For our first photo session with Irene, she joined us to map part of Pine Creek Canyon. It ended up being a day of record-setting rains. Trails were already flooded and creek beds roaring from the all-night deluge. Later that day, the park was actually closed and evacuated. Rangers lead people to exit the park by reversing the drive around the one-way loop because of the impassable low-water crossing near the normal exit.
When the forecast predicted more, all-day rain, I certainly did not expect Irene to join us. But join us she did. She covered her precious camera with zip-lock baggies and got drenched right along side us.
When the forecast predicted more, all-day rain, I certainly did not expect Irene to join us. But join us she did. She covered her precious camera with zip-lock baggies and got drenched right along side us.
After the rainy-day session, my first hope was that her equipment was not damaged. My second hope was that the photos would turn out. When I looked at my snap shots, they seemed flat. Lighting was certainly not ideal. And, we were stuck in jackets with hoods. In addition, compared to climbing, we were doing something quite boring to capture on film - hiking around looking for stuff. But capture it she did. She found light, color, action, and expression and revealed it via her own unique manner and style. Here are the inspiring (and informative) results.
Climbing
The second photo session occurred on a sunny day, long after the delicate sandstone dried. Now it was time to photograph climbing!
I wish I could say a good proportion of our mapping time is spent climbing, but the truth is, it is not. We selectively identify climbs that have walk-offs and climb them only when we are uncertain of their top-out location and walk-off trajectory. Some climbs clearly exit one way and you can easily tell where the climb ends. In those circumstances it is much quicker (but far less sexy) to hike up then map the best way off.
Sometimes there are circumstances where multiple climbs on physically different walls top-out at the same or similar locations (e.g. Whisky Peak). In that situation, we select climbs at opposite ends of the walls. Then, via climbing, we can confirm the route exits and their endpoints relative to the other climbs on the walls in between. With this approach we get the entire walk off for multiple climbs/walls, with out having to climb every one.
There are occasions when we need to climb a single a route to obtain a walk-off for an area. In those situations we may not have the luxury of route choice. Sometimes we look at each other and say, "oh, shit, we have to climb that one?" Admittedly that uncertainly adds to the adventure. Sometimes we find a truly hidden gem or have a pure five-fun experience. Other times, however, we are met with non-ideal circumstances that can turn adventure into yuck. Irene was present to capture both ends of that spectrum. Here are the photographic results. The story continues in the photo captions.
I wish I could say a good proportion of our mapping time is spent climbing, but the truth is, it is not. We selectively identify climbs that have walk-offs and climb them only when we are uncertain of their top-out location and walk-off trajectory. Some climbs clearly exit one way and you can easily tell where the climb ends. In those circumstances it is much quicker (but far less sexy) to hike up then map the best way off.
Sometimes there are circumstances where multiple climbs on physically different walls top-out at the same or similar locations (e.g. Whisky Peak). In that situation, we select climbs at opposite ends of the walls. Then, via climbing, we can confirm the route exits and their endpoints relative to the other climbs on the walls in between. With this approach we get the entire walk off for multiple climbs/walls, with out having to climb every one.
There are occasions when we need to climb a single a route to obtain a walk-off for an area. In those situations we may not have the luxury of route choice. Sometimes we look at each other and say, "oh, shit, we have to climb that one?" Admittedly that uncertainly adds to the adventure. Sometimes we find a truly hidden gem or have a pure five-fun experience. Other times, however, we are met with non-ideal circumstances that can turn adventure into yuck. Irene was present to capture both ends of that spectrum. Here are the photographic results. The story continues in the photo captions.
I extend my deepest gratitude to Irene for helping us truly capture our work, our passions, our lives. Originally, I wondered what her photos would reveal. I wondered if I would cringe at seeing myself or whether her photos would show my own beauty. Her camera -- her eye -- genuinely captured us, in all our goofiness, joy, work, injury, and serenity. It even captured a moment when I was shaken to my core.
It is often through photography that our perceptions of beauty are shaped. Canned shots with photo-shopped-faces can skew us into an unrealistic alternative reality about beauty. Phone-snapshots of ourselves in bad lighting can skew us further into that reality, where we believe "I take crappy photos, therefore I am not beautiful."
Naturally, we each seek to define and find our own unique beauty, and we know, ultimately beauty comes from within us, from our attitudes and actions towards ourselves and the world outside of ourselves. That is the real truth. But, still, admittedly, I am prone to external influences and sometimes those deep and heady concepts feel like filler - like something I tell myself because I know I am not and will never be model-esque. These photos, however, showed me something important. They showed me myself in a way I rarely get to see, beyond quick phone snapshots, that, in their limited pixels and haste, do not tell the whole story.
These photos reveal my own unique beauty and Rick's unique beauty. Perhaps, more importantly, I feel they reveal my place in this world - which I, too, have struggled with. I can finally say, with satisfaction, that "Yes! This is me!" It is from this experience I recognize that sometimes we have to step outside of ourselves to see ourselves. I truly wish that gift for everyone and I'd highly recommend a photo session with Irene as one possible path to helping you see another side of yourself.
Thank you Irene - @ladylockoff. Lady Lockoff Photography website; Lady Lockoff Instagram.
It is often through photography that our perceptions of beauty are shaped. Canned shots with photo-shopped-faces can skew us into an unrealistic alternative reality about beauty. Phone-snapshots of ourselves in bad lighting can skew us further into that reality, where we believe "I take crappy photos, therefore I am not beautiful."
Naturally, we each seek to define and find our own unique beauty, and we know, ultimately beauty comes from within us, from our attitudes and actions towards ourselves and the world outside of ourselves. That is the real truth. But, still, admittedly, I am prone to external influences and sometimes those deep and heady concepts feel like filler - like something I tell myself because I know I am not and will never be model-esque. These photos, however, showed me something important. They showed me myself in a way I rarely get to see, beyond quick phone snapshots, that, in their limited pixels and haste, do not tell the whole story.
These photos reveal my own unique beauty and Rick's unique beauty. Perhaps, more importantly, I feel they reveal my place in this world - which I, too, have struggled with. I can finally say, with satisfaction, that "Yes! This is me!" It is from this experience I recognize that sometimes we have to step outside of ourselves to see ourselves. I truly wish that gift for everyone and I'd highly recommend a photo session with Irene as one possible path to helping you see another side of yourself.
Thank you Irene - @ladylockoff. Lady Lockoff Photography website; Lady Lockoff Instagram.
