Featured photographer Guillaume Borga is located in St-Nicolas de Véroce, a small village at the foot of Mt. Blanc in France. Common Climber shares some of his incredible climbing photos along with an interview about Guillaume's climbing and photography. You will see a particular focus on the climber's eyes. Guillaume captures some of the best facial intensity we have seen in climbing photos.
Olivier Broquet is on "L'arbre Jaune" (7b) at Bionnassay's cliff in St-Gervais, France. Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
Why do you enjoy photography and climbing?
I am currently 42 years old and have been climbing since I was a kid. Above all, I like to push myself, physically and mentally, to find the solution to a route. Whether it's on a big route, a cliff, a boulder or an indoor gym, the pleasure is always as intense.
Photography came a little later, as a teenager. I love to capture the action, in any sport. Climbing has this particularity that the climber is alone on the route, and the photographer is lucky enough to be able to share these moments with the climber. I love the intensity that comes out of these images, and then to be able to share them with all the friends who were unable to attend live.
When I photograph children, I find this intensity in their eyes. They don't worry about their image, but develop a crazy energy to succeed in their projects, each at their own level. Climbing is not just about the numbers, but allows everyone to surpass themselves.
I am currently 42 years old and have been climbing since I was a kid. Above all, I like to push myself, physically and mentally, to find the solution to a route. Whether it's on a big route, a cliff, a boulder or an indoor gym, the pleasure is always as intense.
Photography came a little later, as a teenager. I love to capture the action, in any sport. Climbing has this particularity that the climber is alone on the route, and the photographer is lucky enough to be able to share these moments with the climber. I love the intensity that comes out of these images, and then to be able to share them with all the friends who were unable to attend live.
When I photograph children, I find this intensity in their eyes. They don't worry about their image, but develop a crazy energy to succeed in their projects, each at their own level. Climbing is not just about the numbers, but allows everyone to surpass themselves.
Lilian Borga (Guillaume Borga's son) on an unnamed 6c in the Médonnet boulder forest (Combloux, France). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
What would be your best day out shooting?
For me, the satisfaction of a good day's shooting comes mainly from the motivation of the climber I'm going to photograph. I love to be on the route, to be forgotten, and to shoot during real trials. When the climber doesn't pose for the picture but focuses 200% on the climbing and doesn't pay attention to me. When I manage to capture the intensity in the climber's eye, the day is successful.
For me, the satisfaction of a good day's shooting comes mainly from the motivation of the climber I'm going to photograph. I love to be on the route, to be forgotten, and to shoot during real trials. When the climber doesn't pose for the picture but focuses 200% on the climbing and doesn't pay attention to me. When I manage to capture the intensity in the climber's eye, the day is successful.
Julien Buttin is on "Vegetal Sup" (8a) at Bionnassay's cliff in St. Gervais, France. Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
An unknown climber on "La Proue" (7a) in the Médonnet boulder forest (Combloux, France). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
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You have been in photography quite a while. Do you feel like you have developed a photographic style? How has your climbing photography changed over time?
I don't have the impression that I have developed a particular photographic style, like other photographers I admire whose images are recognisable at first view (Marc Daviet, Sam Bie, Heinz Zak, Jimmy Chin). However, I think that it has evolved from images that were meant to be "technical" to images where emotion takes more place. I'm looking more and more to be in the heart of the action, as close as possible to the climber to try to feel his or her emotions as much as possible. How does photo editing fit into your end products?
I limit myself to working with what is already present at the time of the shooting: framing, light, contrast, etc ... but not more - no complicated editing, layers, etc. I don't want to spend too much time on the computer, and I'm not very good at it :-) If a photo needs too much work in post-processing, then it wasn't a good photo from the beginning. |
How do you balance climbing with climbing photography? Do they support or interfere with one another?
It's impossible for me to do both at the same time: either I go climbing or I go shooting.
The two activities are obviously complementary, because the knowledge of climbing allows me to better understand the action, to know where to place myself, to anticipate the climber's placements and to better capture the movement. But when I go to shoot, I'm at 200% and I can't climb efficiently. So I prefer to concentrate on the photo. Other times, when I go climbing with friends, I just don't take my camera and focus on the climbing. It's a good balance.
It's impossible for me to do both at the same time: either I go climbing or I go shooting.
The two activities are obviously complementary, because the knowledge of climbing allows me to better understand the action, to know where to place myself, to anticipate the climber's placements and to better capture the movement. But when I go to shoot, I'm at 200% and I can't climb efficiently. So I prefer to concentrate on the photo. Other times, when I go climbing with friends, I just don't take my camera and focus on the climbing. It's a good balance.
Bernhard Fiedler (IG: @bernhardfiedler) is on "Digital Crack" (8a) located on Cosmique's ridge, which is at 3700m (just over 12,000 feet) in elevation in Chamonix, France. Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
Robin DuPont is on "La Directissime" (7b) at Bionnassay's cliff (St-Gervais - France). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
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Do you have any tips for the new or aspiring photographer?
If you want to photograph climbing, get to know the environment. Knowledge of the activity and its codes is a key to making good pictures. Get close to climbers and ask them to take some pictures. A climber is alone with his emotions when he climbs. He will be happy to be able to find them through a beautiful picture. For you, this will be the best way to progress. Do you photograph professionally? What do you do to pay the bills?
Photography is a secondary professional activity for me. I am in charge of communication in a small company that designs paragliding harnesses. This job allows me to reconcile work and passion, since I also manage product shootings, packshots, and all visual communication. Sometimes I do photographic work for other companies (Telemark or others), but I have the great privilege of being able to select the proposals that I really like. This is a real luxury, which allows me to keep the passion intact when I go to shoot for my own account. You said you started climbing as a child. Where are you currently in your climbing life?
I am an amateur climber, who simply enjoys himself without necessarily looking for performance. I like to touch different facets of climbing: cliff, bouldering, mountain... My children are also passionate about climbing, and I have to keep in shape to be able to follow them! |
You live in France. Do you have a favorite place to climb (locally and afar) and why?
I live in the Mont Blanc valley, and we have some very nice climbing sites nearby; But, I also like to discover new sites. I love the Céüse cliff (near Gap in the Hautes-Apes). It is a mythical cliff, full of hard routes and climbers from all over the world. I recently had the chance to photograph Dave Graham and Sean Bailey, just chatting with them at the foot of the cliff!
I live in the Mont Blanc valley, and we have some very nice climbing sites nearby; But, I also like to discover new sites. I love the Céüse cliff (near Gap in the Hautes-Apes). It is a mythical cliff, full of hard routes and climbers from all over the world. I recently had the chance to photograph Dave Graham and Sean Bailey, just chatting with them at the foot of the cliff!
Mountain shoes waiting for the climbers up on "Digital Crack" on Cosmique's ridge (Chamonix - France). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
Do you have a favorite place to photograph climbing and why?
There are some places I particularly like, like this boulder forest next to my house, or the cliff of Céüse, but I don't really have a favourite place. I think that the success of a photo lies above all in the feeling that unites the climber and the photographer, whatever the location.
There are some places I particularly like, like this boulder forest next to my house, or the cliff of Céüse, but I don't really have a favourite place. I think that the success of a photo lies above all in the feeling that unites the climber and the photographer, whatever the location.
Dave GRAHAM (IG: @dave_graham_) is on "Pornographie" (9a) on Céüse's cliff (Céüse, France). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
What's next for you?
Photography is my passion, I wish it could keep going for many years ... I would like to find more time to travel, discover new places, and meet climbers who would like to share this passion with me. I also have some original projects with friends. I hope we will be able to realize them soon.
Photography is my passion, I wish it could keep going for many years ... I would like to find more time to travel, discover new places, and meet climbers who would like to share this passion with me. I also have some original projects with friends. I hope we will be able to realize them soon.
Jean-Noël Karleskind is on an unknown route at Bionnassay's cliff in St-Gervais, France. Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
Any last words for our readers?
Whether it's climbing or photography, I think passion is the key. Take pleasure in what you do, and don't try to "be like the others". Be yourself!
Whether it's climbing or photography, I think passion is the key. Take pleasure in what you do, and don't try to "be like the others". Be yourself!
Antoine Lorton is on "Jeu de mot" (6a) at de Sormiou's calanque (Marseille, France - www.marseilleescalade.com). Photo Credit: Guillaume Borga
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Photographer Guillaume Borga
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