Carl Ryan by Ian
Parnell
Carl
Ryan has one of the UK's rarest occupations; a professional climbing photographer.
A former detective sergeant in the Police Force, Carl has now been a freelance
climbing photographer for over 15 years.
His work is highly specialised in two fields; he works between capturing pure action shots of extreme rock climbers as well as undertaking assignments and commission work in crime scene photography for the legal profession and private security industry.
A life-long active climber, mountain walker and caver, Carl has probably photographed more first ascent and new route climbing action 'as it happens' than most other climbing photographers around. His images of climbers in extreme situations, both in colour and monochrome, appear regularly in climbing guides, magazines, books and newspapers. He maintains exhibitions of his work at the famous climber's pub, 'The St. Govan's Inn' in Bosherston, South Pembrokeshire, at the Bristol Climbing Wall and at the Welsh International Climbing Centre, near Cardiff.
Although he has travelled to most of the UK's major climbing areas to shoot photos, Carl's favoured 'hunting grounds' are the wild and rugged sea cliffs of South and West Wales. This area continues to be the major forcing ground for top climbers at the extreme end of the sport.
To obtain the type of shots he favours, Carl has to climb himself. He constantly places himself in very risky 'extreme' situations suspended from ropes in mid air or over cliffs edges. This willingness to engage with his subjects at the very edge, has earned him the respect of the elite climbers and entry into their exclusive secretive and dangerous world. When you see his images, you know that Carl has been there..has 'pushed the envelope'...has captured the essence, the thrill and spirit of.. being on the edge. This is a very very small club.
When not photographing climbers and undertaking commission work for the legal profession, he unwinds by 'losing himself', wandering the remote upland moors of his beloved and less populated (Mynydd Du) Western Black Mountains, shooting landscapes. Carl says that although seemingly featureless and uninspiring to the average 'happy snapper', serious photographers will recognise it's inherent photo challenges and revel in the land's shape and form when the clear light breaks through mist shrouded gullies or craggy tops. 'That's the time to start shooting', he says.
He claims the Welsh hills are every bit as magical and mysterious to him as the world famous Alpine ridges he has also climbed during his travels abroad.
Based mainly in South Wales, Carl continues to seek new photographic challenges in demanding situations on the sea cliffs of Pembrokeshire and in the hills of Mid Wales. If you happen to see Carl, when out walking in Wales, then you will know you are in the right place, in the very heart of the beautiful Welsh landscape! Don't worry, he won't arrest you!
Note: All images depicted here are copyright of Carl Ryan. Please understand that the images shown here have been much reduced in quality, size and resolution in order to download quickly over the internet and cannot match the detail, colour and quality of the original. The original photographs are of superb museum quality.