The Art of Climbing

The Art of Climbing takes readers on a fascinating journey through time in the world of climbing. It is also the life's work of Simon Carter, one of the world's leading climbing photographers. The outstanding pictures in this book provide a vision for why we climb. Simply put, climbing is sport, adventure, and the joy of life - all at the same time.

Simon Carter's photography captures his love for the sport, showcasing why climbing is among the most awe-inspiring activities on Earth. This dramatic collection of photographs reveals the world's most beautiful climbing locations, from Tsaranoro in Madagascar and Teplice in the Czech Republic to Mount Huashan in China.

The popularity of rock climbing is burgeoning across the globe, with dedicated communities practising everything from bouldering to sport climbing, top-roping to free soloing, in beautiful locations worldwide. This stunning collection of climbing photography reveals the sport's beauty from behind the lens, where patterned rock faces, vertical spires, honeycomb holds, and sweeping landscapes of ochre, slate, and snow all provide breathtaking visual drama.

Capturing the beauty, theatre, and emotions of a climb in a single shuttered moment invites the viewer to reflect. Meditative texts, written by the world's premier climbers and focusing on themes from intensity to environment and lines to roofs, trace the experience of being out on the rock face. A reference section includes practical details such as a glossary, grading table, and a list of selected routes.

From the beauty of movement to the bounds of human endeavour, the splendour of landscapes and the allure of otherworldly formations, the art of rock climbing is shown in all its glories.