Photographing Environmental Portraits of a Rock Climber

How do you create contextual portraits when your subject’s environment is precarious positions at the top of high places? Watch as Michael Muller takes us on a behind the scenes tour of a photo shoot with climber, Alex Honnold. The shoot was for a feature on Honnold for the December 2013 issue of Outside magazine. Along with the help of his assistants and wardrobe, Muller pulled the shoot off without a hitch:

Honnold, a well known rock climber who frequently undertakes death-defying climbs, appears to be enjoying the photo shoot, as the photographer puts him on a multitude of creative props. Aside from tackling a 1,500 foot climb up a vertical rock wall with no safety equipment, he also enjoys urban climbing—or free climbing—up building fronts.

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As reflected in the finished portraits, which are rich in context, Muller played on Honnold’s urban climbing adventures for the photo shoot.

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