Above: Photo of Kylie Cullen taken by photographer Michelle Ranaee Johnson
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How did you get into climbing?
Back in 1994, I read about Lynn Hill’s incredible feat of free-climbing the Nose on El Capitan in a day (being the first person, male or female, to accomplish this achievement). I was 13 or 14 at the time and didn’t know anyone who climbed, and there were no climbing gyms in Fresno at the time, so it became a dream up in the sky for me. During grad school, my mom got me a pass to the climbing gym in Fresno as she knew it would be a good outlet for me and knew I was very interested in the sport. Little did my mom know that it would be the pathway of where I could mesh three loves I have together (climbing, photography and geology). |
Michelle Ranee Johnson leading one of her projects (Lizard Run - 5.12a in Danland, CA). This was my first 5.12a Iead.​
Photo taken by Lauren Luketic
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Who taught you the ropes?
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I’ve been fortunate to learn from excellent climbers, and I learn from everyone I meet, regardless of experience (sometimes the newer climbers teach you stoke).
1. My first mentor was Karl Runde, who took me up Royal Arches in Yosemite NP for my first multi-pitch (and second time ever climbing outside). Afterward, we went down the North Dome Gully descent at night with our friends Ivy Mendoza and Court Bartholomew. I was also taught a great deal by the incredible IFMGA guide Doug Nidever (who is like a cat with nine lives). 2. For technique, three incredible climbers: Hayley Brown Robinson, Gara Villalba and Gara’s husband Pep Soldevilla. All three have taught me so much about how moving beautifully up the wall helps with getting up the climb easier and more efficiently. And every climber I’ve photographed has helped me with this as well, as watching is learning. Emilie Pellerin gave me wonderful advice as well. |
3. For being consistent and wonderful partners who always are supportive of me and my dreams and whom I know I can trust fully - my great friends Lauren Fahrenkrug, Thad Robeck, and Kory Riddle. Part of climbing is always knowing who always has your back, who supports you unconditionally, and always is stoked!
4. For photography rigging, I have been fortunate to learn from the amazing Marcus Garcia and Emilie Pellerin. 5. For climbing photography – all the instructors and editors at the 2018 Rock and Ice Photo Camp: John Evans, Jeff Rueppel, Marcus Garcia, Christopher Beauchamp, Jon Cardwell, Michael Levy, Francis Sanzaro, Alison Osius and even got great tips from Rita Young Shin. |
What does climbing and the mountains mean to you?
Climbing means freedom and peace to me: Freedom to be yourself, freedom to not think about life’s problems, freedom to tackle a problem and figure it out for yourself, peace to be at one with nature.
The mountains mean the world to me. I am at the most peace when I’m up in the mountains. I grew up going to Mineral King in Sequoia NP. There, I learned about geology (I have my Master’s in geology now), high alpine lakes and peaks, fascinating animals (like marmots who like to eat radiator hoses and electrical wiring), and the tranquility that only being in nature can bring you.
Climbing means freedom and peace to me: Freedom to be yourself, freedom to not think about life’s problems, freedom to tackle a problem and figure it out for yourself, peace to be at one with nature.
The mountains mean the world to me. I am at the most peace when I’m up in the mountains. I grew up going to Mineral King in Sequoia NP. There, I learned about geology (I have my Master’s in geology now), high alpine lakes and peaks, fascinating animals (like marmots who like to eat radiator hoses and electrical wiring), and the tranquility that only being in nature can bring you.
What climb has been the most memorable to you and why?
That is difficult. There are so many great lines to choose from (basically my favorite climb is whatever I’m climbing at the time!). I’m going to break it up:
That is difficult. There are so many great lines to choose from (basically my favorite climb is whatever I’m climbing at the time!). I’m going to break it up:
- Multi-pitch: Even though Royal Arches means the world to me, the South Face of North Dome (5.8, 900’) is my ultimate favorite multi-pitch I’ve done up to now. True adventure climbing. Four miles hike in and out, 23 hour day (includes driving to it and back), a boulder problem, low-angle liebacks, two chimneys, slab, etc.
- Sport lead: Most memorable and fun happened to this past month! Munsterlander (5.11c, 85’, Tensleep, WY). Munsterlander happens to be the name of my dog’s breed (at least we think that is what he is mostly). Pumpy, and so much fun! Additionally, I almost onsighted it (fell three bolts from the top).
- First Ascent: Fire in the Hole (5.9 on gear, 45’) at a small local crag my friend Thad Robeck and I have been developing. My first trad lead as well, so it’s a memorable climb.
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How did you get into climbing and outdoor photography?
For climbing, it’s the story about Lynn Hill that first inspired my love for climbing. For outdoor photography, I’ve been taking photos ever since I was a kid in Mineral King. Started with my mom’s Canon DSLR, then eventually getting my first DSLR (Nikon D7100) back in 2013 after having point and shoots (I still miss my Pentax point and shoot -it was stolen in Australia), and just last year got my first full-frame DSLR (Nikon D850). I already was photographing a ton of landscape and nature shots, so it was natural to start photographing climbers. This natural transition has been exceptionally fun for me as I get to mix two passions together! |
Michelle, you work really hard at what you do. Explain a day on a shoot:
My day photographing depends on the problem/route the climber is doing. Bouldering is naturally easier (for the most part), as I rarely have to rig a line. However, routes are an entirely different story, but they are a ton of fun to photograph. I have a lot of gear I need to bring to and from the crag. That can be interesting since I’m pretty tiny.
Once I get there, I look to see where and how I want to rig my static line. If there’s no way for me to rig the line myself (climb a route next to it or walk up from on top of the crag), my climber will climb his/her route, drop a line to pick up my static line that already has pre-made bunny ears with locking carabiners for the anchor (if it’s a sport anchor). Then I ascend using a jumar and a GriGri and get myself into a place of where I want to photograph the climber.
The most memorable so far was at The Cathedral in Welcome Springs, UT. A storm blew in, and I was being blown around horizontally (as I said before, I’m a tiny person) even with me using one of my personal anchors (I tend to have two) on a bolt to steady me (and one hand on the PAS to try to stop any movement), rain was coming down (thank goodness for weatherproof gear), holding my camera in place with the other hand (my camera is huge), while Delaney Miller was climbing up Solid Gold (5.14c). It was very memorable (and luckily I got some great shots)!
Are climbers difficult like the other rockstars to photograph?
So far, the climbers I’ve photographed are wonderful to work with and photograph. No one has been a “diva,” and everyone has been super stoked. I have found that climbers tend to calm down when someone is up there with them. I also ask climbers what they need from me to succeed – do I need to remind them to breathe? Cheer them on? Etc. Everyone has a different vibe that makes them try harder. The key as a climbing photographer is to help them succeed in whatever way works best for that particular climber.
How best do you capture an image?
That’s difficult to say. Every shoot is different; every climb is different. Of course, the best images are always taken during the best light (so definitely not in the middle of the day unless it’s a cave). It’s good to know beforehand where the sunlight is, and if it would be better in the early morning or later on in the day for the climber to climb the route for the image.
My day photographing depends on the problem/route the climber is doing. Bouldering is naturally easier (for the most part), as I rarely have to rig a line. However, routes are an entirely different story, but they are a ton of fun to photograph. I have a lot of gear I need to bring to and from the crag. That can be interesting since I’m pretty tiny.
Once I get there, I look to see where and how I want to rig my static line. If there’s no way for me to rig the line myself (climb a route next to it or walk up from on top of the crag), my climber will climb his/her route, drop a line to pick up my static line that already has pre-made bunny ears with locking carabiners for the anchor (if it’s a sport anchor). Then I ascend using a jumar and a GriGri and get myself into a place of where I want to photograph the climber.
The most memorable so far was at The Cathedral in Welcome Springs, UT. A storm blew in, and I was being blown around horizontally (as I said before, I’m a tiny person) even with me using one of my personal anchors (I tend to have two) on a bolt to steady me (and one hand on the PAS to try to stop any movement), rain was coming down (thank goodness for weatherproof gear), holding my camera in place with the other hand (my camera is huge), while Delaney Miller was climbing up Solid Gold (5.14c). It was very memorable (and luckily I got some great shots)!
Are climbers difficult like the other rockstars to photograph?
So far, the climbers I’ve photographed are wonderful to work with and photograph. No one has been a “diva,” and everyone has been super stoked. I have found that climbers tend to calm down when someone is up there with them. I also ask climbers what they need from me to succeed – do I need to remind them to breathe? Cheer them on? Etc. Everyone has a different vibe that makes them try harder. The key as a climbing photographer is to help them succeed in whatever way works best for that particular climber.
How best do you capture an image?
That’s difficult to say. Every shoot is different; every climb is different. Of course, the best images are always taken during the best light (so definitely not in the middle of the day unless it’s a cave). It’s good to know beforehand where the sunlight is, and if it would be better in the early morning or later on in the day for the climber to climb the route for the image.
What are some of your favorite images? Show us and explain what it means to you.
I love quite a few of my photos for various reasons. You asked me for four photos that I’ve taken of numerous climbers (and since it’s a woman’s edition, I am choosing female climbers), so I will pick four of my favorite images:
I love quite a few of my photos for various reasons. You asked me for four photos that I’ve taken of numerous climbers (and since it’s a woman’s edition, I am choosing female climbers), so I will pick four of my favorite images:
Kylie Cullen (Xavier's Roof, V11) taken by Michelle Ranee Johnson.
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Delaney Miller (Solid Gold, 5.14c) taken by Michelle Ranee Johnson.
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Heather Weidner (Chi Chi get the Yayo, 5.14a) taken by Michelle Ranee Johnson.
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Emilie Pellerin (Sayonara Bitch, 5.13d) taken by Michelle Ranee Johnson.
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Are there any climbing dreams you have yet as a climber or as a climbing photographer?
So many dreams – in both realms.
The list is endless.
Priority #1: to always have fun and enjoy every moment. Icing on the cake: to someday climb the Salathé Wall on El Capitan; climb Ecstasy (5.13b) in Pine Creek, CA; to climb and photograph around the world (from the Needles to the Bugaboos, to China and Laos, to Bhutan, South Africa, and Slovenia (to name a few).
Photography dreams: I would love to work for National Geographic at some point as I grew up reading and looking at their magazines and fell in love with their photography (I think that is every photographer’s dream though so it’s pretty cliche).
Another dream: I’ve also helped with high school climbing programs (with Duncan High School in Fresno), and would love to get my guiding license so I could take these awesome kids outside to climb!
The list is endless.
Priority #1: to always have fun and enjoy every moment. Icing on the cake: to someday climb the Salathé Wall on El Capitan; climb Ecstasy (5.13b) in Pine Creek, CA; to climb and photograph around the world (from the Needles to the Bugaboos, to China and Laos, to Bhutan, South Africa, and Slovenia (to name a few).
Photography dreams: I would love to work for National Geographic at some point as I grew up reading and looking at their magazines and fell in love with their photography (I think that is every photographer’s dream though so it’s pretty cliche).
Another dream: I’ve also helped with high school climbing programs (with Duncan High School in Fresno), and would love to get my guiding license so I could take these awesome kids outside to climb!
CONTACT MICHELLE:
Website: https://www.michelleraneejohnson.com/adventure
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellerjohnsonphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelleraneejohnsonphotography
Website: https://www.michelleraneejohnson.com/adventure
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellerjohnsonphotography
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelleraneejohnsonphotography