If documenting rock climbing were on a sliding scale, and the gripping, high-octane film Free Solo represented the sport at its most extreme—mentally and physically—Nat Carson’s photography encapsulates the other end of the scale: people who seem to do it just for the love of the sport.

“I’ve long found the culture around climbing interesting. In some little moments of my life, I’ve felt lucky enough to be in places and with people who felt like special parts of the culture. It felt like my privilege and responsibility to capture that,” Carson says.

Like many of us, Carson enjoyed climbing trees when he was young. That favoured pastime turned into taking up rock climbing (which was introduced to him during university) and participating in outdoor adventures, camera in hand. “It has a lot to do with observation and patience,” he says of his approach.

Mountainous landscapes can be seen as an opportunity for a snapshot, or challenges, if one can make the climb. Through striking photography, Carson offers us a glimpse of a climbing journey and the possible views from the top.

SHARE