large scale photography for Movement rock Climbing gyms in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville

Chicago, IL 2021

In 2021, I was brought in to art direct and photograph for Movement's brand new Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville rock climbing gyms. This project challenged me both creatively and physically—I selected local climbers who embodied the brand's vision, developed mood boards with Movement's team, then traveled to Devil's Lake and Governor's Dodge State Parks for two intensive weekends of shooting. The technical demands were immense: creating wall-spanning images (up to 23ft x 10ft) sharp enough to view from inches away, while photographing from precarious positions 60 feet above ground with thousands of dollars of gear strapped to me. I anchored myself above climbers to capture their faces mid-climb, squatting against cliff faces at 45-degree angles while directing authentic action that would translate to the gym setting. Looking back, the real MVPs of that day (besides my quads) were Won and Mike, the climbers who educated me on techniques to accomplish those top rope photos. Using a 61MP Sony a7R IV system, I captured both landscape and lifestyle shots that speak to Chicago climbers' pride. After weeks of editing, reviews, and color testing, I delivered 9 stunning prints that transformed blank gym walls into inspiring environments celebrating the spirit of Chicago's climbing community.

While 9 prints were commissioned, I ended up creating a larger body of work. The full collection is below.

Climbers pictured:

Won Huh, Mike Phu, Josh Sheldon, Alex Park, Sahil Ahmed, Jean Kang, & Jackie Challoner.

Enjoy some behind the scenes pictures of my family visiting the prints in person. Not sure about you, but no matter what level of professionalism I reach, if my mom asks me to pose by something I made, I still will…and add a hand on my hip while I’m at it.