Cover photo of April Davidson on Prodigal Son (5.10b) by Eric Fallecker.
Eric, thank you so much for sharing your work with the Common Climber audience! In your Instagram posts you feature a lot of great shots of moderate climbs. Can you tell about how your photography connects with the Common Climber philosophy?
First of all thank you for having me, I am beyond grateful to share my story and images with you. I love the Common Climber philosophy because my whole circle of friends and myself live it. I love to tell stories and take images of the vertical world, and to be honest, this world is full of people from all backgrounds and we are not all crushing 5.15. Taking photos is capturing a story or a feeling and it is easier for me to connect to the feeling of someone climbing that beautiful flowy 5.11 and clipping the anchors than it is to absolutely crushing everyday.
First of all thank you for having me, I am beyond grateful to share my story and images with you. I love the Common Climber philosophy because my whole circle of friends and myself live it. I love to tell stories and take images of the vertical world, and to be honest, this world is full of people from all backgrounds and we are not all crushing 5.15. Taking photos is capturing a story or a feeling and it is easier for me to connect to the feeling of someone climbing that beautiful flowy 5.11 and clipping the anchors than it is to absolutely crushing everyday.
You shared a lot of wonderful photographs of women. As a female climber I can appreciate the representation and the variety of styles, looks, expressions, and strengths you show in the images - they range from soft to intense. Do you have a preference to photograph women or are women who you primarily climb with?
I do prefer to shoot women on climbs because I feel they tend to have a lot of style when they are on the wall with movement and intuitiveness. Also, I do mostly climb with women. I was lucky enough to have April Davidson (who is in several of these photos) not only as my partner but my climbing partner. She showed me that it is a lot more fun to leave the ego at home. She surrounds herself with a great group of supportive women that like to have fun over chasing grades.
I do prefer to shoot women on climbs because I feel they tend to have a lot of style when they are on the wall with movement and intuitiveness. Also, I do mostly climb with women. I was lucky enough to have April Davidson (who is in several of these photos) not only as my partner but my climbing partner. She showed me that it is a lot more fun to leave the ego at home. She surrounds herself with a great group of supportive women that like to have fun over chasing grades.
April Davidson on Delicious (5.10d) at Malibu Creek, California
You are based out of the Los Angeles, California area. Is this where you grew up? Tell us about where you consider to be home and why.
Yes, I currently live in Los Angeles and have been here for 14 years. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. The desert southwest is where I began to fall in love with the outdoors and exploring. Home is a funny thing to me, when both of my parents passed away I realized home was always a word associated with whatever I attached to it. Right now home is just a feeling which I mostly connect with outside or with friends.
Davina Joy on Coyotes at Sunset (5.8) at Holcomb Valley, California
You are a climber yourself. How long have you been climbing and do you have a favorite place to climb and why?
I Started climbing as a young kid in Tucson on random boulders strewn out in the canyons, but did not fall in love with it until I rediscovered climbing with my partner April about 5 years ago. My favorite place I have climbed so far is Maple Canyon, Utah. Maple is beautiful and the rock is soo unique. There are tons of moderates to climb there and as a photographer the texture of the walls lends itself well to the photos.
April Davidson at Maple Canyon Utah (climb name is unkown, 5.10d)
How about a favorite place to photograph climbing and why?
If I had to pick one place that is my all time favorite to photograph it would be my local crags, Echo Cliffs and Malibu Creek. I feel connected to these two places and the people that climb there. I also have climbed most of these routes, so I know the sweet spots to shoot from and where the best crux angle will be for my static line.
Zoey Grinstyead on Crash and Burn 5.12d at Echo Cliffs, California.
You do other types of photography as well. Tell us about that.
Yes, I started photography with portrait work, mostly taking headshots for actors in Los Angeles. From there I moved into fine art landscape photography (prints are for sale on my site), and, naturally, I moved into more commercial photography with outdoor brands. I also started my own film series called Vertical Presence which tells more conscious stories in the climbing community that we can connect to on a deeper level.
Dominique Barry on Narcissist (5.13a) at Frustration Creek, California.
What has life been like for you since the whole COVID pandemic? How have things changed for you?
Well Life has changed completely. To say things have been great would be a lie. Like many of us, I lost my salaried job working for a outdoor beer company. But, it is also a blessing because now I have the time to refocus my energy into my passion and purpose. This pandemic has also provided the time to check in with myself and learn more about my beliefs, triggers, and stories. The sweet silver linings, but I do miss being able to hang out with all my friends on climbing trips.
Angeline Loustau on Keep Your Powder Dry (5.12b) at Red Rock Canyon, Nevada
Your Instagram posts are often very introspective and thoughtful. Where are you in this journey called life?
Thank you, I am trying to be more mindful of how I share on social platforms. The writings in my posts are as much for myself as they are for anyone reading them. If I can't learn anything from what I am writing then why share it at all? I am currently just trying to flow on this journey with compassion and love, all while still having no idea where I am going and even stumbling a lot along the way. As long as I can be aware of how I am living this experience that's all that really matters.
Is there a photo you are most proud of and why?
Yes this photo of my partner April Davidson on Prodigal Son 5.10b in the Santa Monica Mountains. There are a several reasons why. One, it was the first time I was invited to shoot for a guidebook. Second, I was able to express my artsy side instead of the usual guidebook shots. Thirst, the light immediately takes me into the feeling of that moment and the feeling climbing gives me - MAGIC.
April Davidson on Prodigal Son (5.10b) at Hueco Wall in the Santa Monica mountains of California.
Do you have a specific style or approach to your photography or climbing photography?
Yes, for climbing shots I want to transport people into a feeling - whether it be from the climbers expression, the ambiance, or the texture of the rock. My style is pretty consistent between my commercial, climbing, and landscapes. I try to keep everything as close to real as possible. I don't do photographic manipulations other than adjusting s-curves, contrast, and saturation. I always tend to shoot against the grain of what I learned in photography as well - I strongly believe that's where the magic happens.
Tia Stark on Geezer (5.12a) at Echo Cliffs, California
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What's something fun for us to know about you? Hmmm, I guess people always find it funny and interesting that I grew up gold prospecting with my father. I still love to go out and set up my sluice box and dig for buried treasure sometimes. Any final words for our Common Climber audience? Thank you all so much for having me here and for reading. If you are shooting, or climbing, or just living life, I say, be authentically you. Climbing is fun and gives us an opportunity to tap in and tune out. Please follow, check out, and support Eric's Work at:
WEBSITE: www.efalleckerphotography.com INSTAGRAM: @eric_fallecker YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/efallecker01 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ericfalleckerphotography/ |
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