Common Climber interviews climber and photographer Helmut Schulze, who is from the city of Dresden located in the state of Saxony, Germany. Helmut shares his photos and some of his favorite areas to climb and photograph in the sandstone towers of the Elbe Valley of Germany. His partner Gerit Sophie Heidel assisted with translation. Thank you to both of you!
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Let's begin by sharing a little about your background.
I was born in Dresden, Saxony, and still live in the city. For over 40 years I have been climbing at the sandstone towers of the Elbe Valley - also called "Saxon Switzerland." But I have also climbed all over the world, such as Wadi Rum in Jordan, in the Hoggar Mountains in the Algerian Sahara, the Table Mountains of Venezuela, Kalymnos/Greek, and the Czech Adrspach, which is famous for its cracks. I am also a mountaineer and have summited the Cotopaxi and the Cimborazo in the Andes, as well as summits in the Tajik mountains in Tajikistan. A very challenging experience was the transit trough the Greenland Ice Sheet with a sled, which I had to pull by myself. I also cycled via a mountain bike through the Pamir Mountains of Tijikistan. Do you have another profession or are you fully invested in photography?
I run a small publishing house, producing books, postcards and other little gifts and products of interest for tourists in Saxon Switzerland (Germany). For this I use my own pictures, as well as photos from other photographers. In addition to taking climbing photos, I take photos of landscape, architecture, plants - and sometimes food ;). I am also the author of the climbing guidebook Elbsandstein Plaisir, which covers the climbing in the Elbe Valley. |
Julia Krause climbing "Melanin" (VIIIb, 5.10c/20) on Lilienstein in Saxon, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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What made you want to pursue climbing photography?
I could say I took climbing photos my whole lifetime, but it has come and gone in cycles. However, in 2000 I was asked by a Dresden publisher if I wanted to be featured in a regional climbing calendar with my photos, and I have been doing that ever since - we just recently published the 23rd edition! Because of this calendar, I am always on the "hunt" for a good shoots of climbers!
A few years ago the Panico publishing house asked me to be the photographer for a climbing guidebook for the Saxon Switzerland. But, they were unable to find an author, so I took this task and wrote the guidebook by myself because I know the Saxon Switzerland very well.
I could say I took climbing photos my whole lifetime, but it has come and gone in cycles. However, in 2000 I was asked by a Dresden publisher if I wanted to be featured in a regional climbing calendar with my photos, and I have been doing that ever since - we just recently published the 23rd edition! Because of this calendar, I am always on the "hunt" for a good shoots of climbers!
A few years ago the Panico publishing house asked me to be the photographer for a climbing guidebook for the Saxon Switzerland. But, they were unable to find an author, so I took this task and wrote the guidebook by myself because I know the Saxon Switzerland very well.
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What do you love most about photographing in the Elbe Valley?
The interaction between climber and landscape is what I like. I rarely take shoots of the climber in full format, but rather, he or she is part of the landscape and these amazing spires that shoot out of the ground. I try to capture what I think the climber is feeling when on these towers. An advantage is we live here near the climbing area, so we don't have to drive hours by car and I can get photos of different people at different times of day and year. What do you do to capture the climbing without interfering in the climber's flow?
When climbing at the upper end of the difficulty scale, I'm just a silent observer with the camera. For easier routes, like the ones we need for our climbing guidebook "Elbsandstein Plaisir," the climbers have to focus on positioning their body the light, or helping capture the mood or a pose in a nice, aesthetic move. Since I have been photographing in the Elbe sandstone for several decades, I know about the shooting locations and lighting situations. |
Thomas Hering climbing "Alter Weg" (V/5.6/13) on Tante in Schrammsteine, Saxon, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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What are some of the difficulties when shooting there at the towers of Elbe sandstone?
It is difficult to find a good perspective that puts the climber in the perfect limelight. Sometimes I need to climb the route itself to understand what the does relative to the landscape and how it might position the climber's body. Sometimes I have to place myself in very exposed positions to get a good angle that features the climber while allowing the viewer to see the surroundings.
It is actually becoming more and more difficult for me to get to the photo positions - especially when they are located on the rock face - because climbing ability naturally decreases with age and I'm facing that reality now. But, at least the camera equipment isn't as heavy now-a-days!
It is difficult to find a good perspective that puts the climber in the perfect limelight. Sometimes I need to climb the route itself to understand what the does relative to the landscape and how it might position the climber's body. Sometimes I have to place myself in very exposed positions to get a good angle that features the climber while allowing the viewer to see the surroundings.
It is actually becoming more and more difficult for me to get to the photo positions - especially when they are located on the rock face - because climbing ability naturally decreases with age and I'm facing that reality now. But, at least the camera equipment isn't as heavy now-a-days!
Tobias Wolf climbing "Maskenball" (Xc/5.12d/28) on Josepfskopf in Saxon, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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Robert Leistner climbing "Fliegende Windmühle" (XIb/5.13d/31) on Müllerstein in Schrammsteine, Saxon Switzerland. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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Can you describe a photo session or experience you are particularly proud of?
I had a vision for getting some unique shots of climbers on top of "Evil Tower" in the Region of Schmilka in Saxon Switzerland. I was there in the very early in the morning at the photo position, waiting for the perfect conditions. When the light and weather were right, my son and a friend started climbing in the middle of the night, so they would be at the top when first morning light arrived. The temperatures were just above freezing and the rocks were wrapped in a layer of fog. Then, as the sun rose higher, the light reflected off rock and fog, slowly dissipating the fog until it disappeared entirely. We were all excited about the continuously changing lighting and moods.
I had a vision for getting some unique shots of climbers on top of "Evil Tower" in the Region of Schmilka in Saxon Switzerland. I was there in the very early in the morning at the photo position, waiting for the perfect conditions. When the light and weather were right, my son and a friend started climbing in the middle of the night, so they would be at the top when first morning light arrived. The temperatures were just above freezing and the rocks were wrapped in a layer of fog. Then, as the sun rose higher, the light reflected off rock and fog, slowly dissipating the fog until it disappeared entirely. We were all excited about the continuously changing lighting and moods.
A foggy morning with climbers - Helmut's son and friend - on Evil Tower in Böser Turm, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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Are there any notable climbers he has worked with?
Years ago I took a series of photos with Bernd Arnold, who is a German rock climber and mountaineer who is known for climbing barefoot and climbing more than 900 first ascents in the 1970s and 80s. He established some of the hardest climbs in the East German Saxon Switzerland region. When climbers came to climb in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, I photographed them as well. This includes Kurt Albert, David Lama, Stefan Glowacz, and Kilian Fischhuber. I also traveled to Venezuela and Jordan with Bernd Arnold and Kurt Albert. Do you have any wisdom to share with other climbing photographers?
Everyone has to go out into nature by find their own visual language. It helps to get inspiration from other photographs, but don't copy them - find your own voice and photographic style. This takes time and experimentation. |
Bernd Arnold at Lokomotive, Südkante, VI, Saxon/Rathen (Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze)
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Gerit Sophie Heidel climbing "Alter Weg" (IV/5.5/12) on Kleine Herkulessäule in Bielatal, Saxon, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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Jürgen Daleiden climbing "Westkante" (VIIa/5.8/16) on Glatter Kegel in Bielatal, Saxon, Germany. Photo Credit: Helmut Schulze
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Any last words?
The Elbe sandstone mountains is the most beautiful climbing area in the world. I invite you to come here and see for yourself! And, of course, you can buy the right climbing guidebook from me ;)
The Elbe sandstone mountains is the most beautiful climbing area in the world. I invite you to come here and see for yourself! And, of course, you can buy the right climbing guidebook from me ;)