My name is Diego Perez, I live in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. I'm a chef and hobby photographer and generally spend most of my weekends heading into the outdoors with my mates

Climber: James Stuart on “97% McDougall Free” at Bluebell Crag

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Q: You take photos of climbers, do you climb as well? Tell us about your climbing history.

A. I give it a good go I guess! I did my first outdoor lead just over a year ago and since then have ticked a decent number of routes and am happy with my progress. I'm currently mentally occupied with two routes which I’ll send soon. It's always nice to keep yourself busy with little projects here and there.

​I got into climbing (and photography) naturally through my love of the outdoors. I always enjoyed the sport (indoors) but never really had anyone that was keen on getting on it. ​

Photographer Diego Perez climbing at Point Perpendicular Crag “Lobster Legs." Photo taken By Patty Dyball

Luckily a few of my hiking buddies turned out to be real fiends for the sport and it all pretty much snowballed after we started investing in some ropes and harnesses. 

​I mostly climb sport and have in the last 6 months or so really gotten into trad climbing. I have never bouldered outdoors but I'm sure I'll get amongst it. Apart from walking around with a giant sponge on your back it seems like good fun too!

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Climber Barclay Rabbidge on “Trembling” at Mount Keira Crag

Q: Tell us about rock climbing in Australia. Where is your favorite place to climb and why?
 
One of my favorite places is definitely Mt Keira. It has a great mix of Sport, Trad and some small multipitch routes. The scenery is awesome and its reasonably close to where I live. Big bonus that it has a café at the summit. As for shooting, anything coastal is always gorgeous in my opinion!

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Q: What’s your philosophy on life and climbing?
 
I don’t think I'm that deep about it. I'm a big live and let live kind of person, I’m also of the firm belief that laughter is the best medicine. I thoroughly enjoy climbing and use it to keep myself (relatively) in shape, and I enjoy the mental challenges and rewards that come with it. It also helps when you do it with great people.

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Climber Bradley Agius on “Warm It Up” at Earlwood Crag

Q: How do you approach photography? What’s your style?
 
 I try to capture great memories for myself and my friends so we have something to look at in the future. I try to keep my photography as natural as possible, I’m not a big fan of overdeveloped, over edited photos. For me it's about capturing someone's personal achievement.

I'm lucky enough to have awesome scenery to capture. It makes it easier, after all you can’t polish a turd.

Q: Tell us about how you got started with photography and how you have learned and are learning the craft.
 
As I kid I used to enjoy looking through family photos and hearing the stories that were attached to the photos, I took photography as an elective in high school and began learning more about it. In 2015 I took a trip to New Zealand and pulled the trigger on my buying my first decent camera. I started taking it on hikes and began to learn how to use the damned thing, happily still learning!​

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Q: Do you have a favorite climbing story?
 
Probably heading up a gorgeous multi-pitch route in the blue mountains called “Tom Thumb” with one of my climbing mates. Did a lot of good learning that day, It was my first “big” multipitch, first route using trad gear, first time using double ropes, and first climb on carrots (these little pesky bolts you have to put together with a bolt plate to clip your quickdraw onto - you only find these in Australia. Google them if you're not familiar with them). We were lucky enough to have perfect conditions! Nothing quite like a great day out in the outdoors!

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You can follow Diego at his Instagram account  @__.diegoperez

email: [email protected]
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Climber Graham Skilleter on “NFM” at Bangor West Crag