From Climbing · Maya Silver · · 2m
Dean Fidelman's 60-Year Yosemite Climbing Photo Journey
Dean Fidelman, who started photographing Yosemite climbers in 1971, continues his work after 60 years.
In brief
Dean Fidelman, who started photographing Yosemite climbers in 1971, continues his work after 60 years. Dean Fidelman has photographed climbers in Yosemite for 60 years, focusing on the Stone Nudes series and climbing culture. Originally reported by Climbing.
Dean Fidelman's Yosemite Start
Dean Fidelman arrived in Yosemite Valley in 1971 as a teenager and has lived there ever since.
1970s: Early Climbing Photos
Fidelman began photographing climbers in his high school photography class with mentor Warren Shelton.
1980s: Fashion Photography Shift
Fidelman worked as a fashion photographer in New York and Los Angeles during the 1980s.
Lynn Hill's Call
Lynn Hill called Fidelman in 1988 to restart his climbing photography career.
Stone Nudes Series
Fidelman started the Stone Nudes series in 1999 with 300+ images of climbers bouldering or free soloing.
Darkroom Work
Fidelman processed his own film in Ansel Adams's darkroom until 2018.
Digital Transition
Fidelman switched to digital photography with a Sony a7R II camera in the 2010s.
Stone Monkeys Connection
Fidelman met Dean Potter in 1988 through Charles Cole at Five Ten and John Bachar at Boreal.
Free Soloing Ethics
Fidelman has photographed free soloing since the 1970s without changing his ethical stance.
The Dark Wizard Film
Fidelman revisited his relationship with Dean Potter for The Dark Wizard film project.
Stone Nudes Subjects
Fidelman photographed climbers like Steph Davis free soloing Outer Limits (5.10c) in 2004.
Stone Nudes Challenges
Fidelman once had a Stone Nude subject fall while trying to climb White Rastafarian (V2).
Current Projects
Fidelman is working on a history of the Nose book and a Stone Monkeys book with James Lucas.
Future Plans
Fidelman plans to shoot Stone Nudes in Patagonia, Venezuela, and Mallorca by 2025.
Holding Energy Close
Fidelman describes holding energy close as respecting unspoken boundaries with vulnerable subjects.
60 Years of Climbing
Fidelman has photographed climbers in Yosemite for 60 years, continuing his work into the future.
At a glance
Dean Fidelman has photographed climbers in Yosemite for 60 years, focusing on the Stone Nudes series and climbing culture.
