It’s crazy how much work can go into one of these things. My first cut was around 3.5 mins and after many critiques and comments I was able to cut it down to just over 2 mins. It was a fun process trying to piece together who I am as a videographer and create a style and brand for myself. It was also interesting going thru basically ALL the video I shot in the last year. Let me tell ya, for not being a full production company and or a vlogger I shot A LOT. For the Bishop Classics video I shot close to 90 gigs in 16 days! Granted I was editing lightly in the field. You just never know when a shot you think is junk is actually gold for something random.

The great part of putting this reel together was being able to show a few clips that I hadn’t used in other projects. Also, there are a few shots from the Tahoe video that is almost done that weren’t in the trailer. Mostly clips from the trailer however. But a few sneak peaks.

I’m still waiting to hear about a few potential projects but a few others that weren’t apart of the original thought process have come up. I’m very excited to start pursuing videography and film a lot more. I have a million ideas going through my head and am honestly having a hard time sorting thru them all and trying to figuring out what is possible right now. But I will say my thoughts about video and photo are about 95-5 right now. Which is a huge shift for me. But I couldn’t be more stoked about it.

I’m really looking forward to 2012. I see a lot of potential in my skills and my strong motivation to just seize the day. I have a ton of projects, video and non-video related lined up and I expect to be ridiculously busy pretty soon. A lot of big things are happening this year and I’m STOKED to be a part of them.

So here’s to 2012!

-Alton

Half of that was truly the amount that we filmed, but throw in the steep as the East Side of the Captain learning curve and was a huge project. I truly have gotten to where I’m at with video editing and camera operation because of this video. A lot of stuff I’m doing know I figured out while editing this film and a lot of mental innovations where reached along the way.

I had many set backs through the process. When I started shooting this I was still using iMovie. Now I have made the jump to Premier Pro. And along with that came a whole new start to the editing process. I had a computer’s logic keyboard die. That set it back a few months. Then there was the whole Boulder thing. When I went to Colorado I didnt have the computer I could work on back yet. More months of waiting.

And there was the exporting problems. Not sure what all happened there but I think it was a combination of iMovie moving files and changing there names and such and different video parameters and frame rates.

But alas, it is finished and live. The first 3 days saw over 3,000 views and now, 13 days in were nearing 4.5 thousand. I’m psyched. I have gotten a lot of GREAT feedback. Most people have nothing but good things to say which gets me psyched. And the fact that people are actually watching this thing is awesome. I think these more recent films I have been working on look so much better. But thats the whole process right? Learning from your mistakes then making the next one better.

Anyways, enough of that. Here is the film. Enjoy!!

-CREDITS-

Alton Richardson and The Ground Up Collective would like to present a collection of classic boulder problems from the Spring 2011 Bishop bouldering season.

Bishop Classics is a short film created in the Spring of 2011. It features many well know and sought after 5 star lines as well as the 3rd ascent footage of Half Shark Alligator, Half Man.

Starring, in order of appearance:

Alton Richardson
Eric Sanchez
Fabian Dior Siwajian

Featured climbs:
Rave (V7) – Happy Boulders
Disco Diva (V8) – Happy Boulders
Red Rum Sit (V10) – Happy Boulders
Bowling Pin Sit (V6) – Buttermilks
Fly Boy Sit (V8, Flash) – Buttermilks
Saigon (V6) – Buttermilks
Secrets of the Beehive (V5) -Buttermilks
Strength in Numbers (V5) – Sad Boulders
Half Shark Alligator, Half Man (V11, 3rd Ascent) – Sad Boulders
Evilution to the lip (V10) – Buttermilks
Xavier’s Roof (V11) – Buttermilks

Video:
Alton Richardson
Eric Sanchez
Justin Ancira

Edit:
Alton Richardson

Music:
DeadMou5 – “Strobe” remix
Adele – “Rolling in the Deep” UNI remix
Twista + Kanye – “Overnight Celebrity” TaifunBeats remix
Passion Pit – “Sleepyhead” Borgore remix
Little Dragon – “Twice” Izzles remix

Directed by:
Alton Richardson

Produced by:
Alton Richardson & The Ground Up Collective

Executive Producers:
Justin Ancira
Vitaly Volberg

2011 All Rights Reserved

Please download and distribute EVERYWHERE!!

The last month saw some crazy good weather in Southern Colorado. The conditions at Shelf Road were mostly perfect save for a few days. Even so, climbing was still to be had on the worst of them.

I spent 6 days in total over 3 weeks and got in a lot of pitches and actuation’s. One of the trips was a Climbing Magazine staff trip to perform some gear testing and get some much needed R&R in between production cycles. 

I was able to put together a small gallery of my best images from these trips and have it shared by Climbing.com.

Climbers include:

Gary Sorcher, Hale Melnick, Kent Coghill, Julie Ellison, Amanda Fox, Dougald McDonald and Andrew Tower.

Here is the link to the gallery.

http://www.climbing.com/photo-video/gallery/climbing_staff_trip_shelf_road_colorado/index.html

Below are a few of my favs from the set. I still have a lot more lifestyle images to sort thru. Lots of good stuff. Psyched to soon have the time to share up!

Gary Sorcher sending the relentlessly pumpy Muscle Beach (5.11a) on his first go.

Andrew Tower cruises Dereliction Affliction (5.11b) on a warm afternoon during the staff trip. 

Julie Ellison nears the crux during her second go redpoint of Gen X (5.11a)

Hale Melnick getting established low on Hurricane (5.12a/b)

Hale Melnick fighting the pump and nearing the anchors on Hurricane (5.12a/b)

Cold evenings at Shelf are best near the fire with PBR.

Stay warm and enjoy the weather. It’s starting to look very much like winter here on the Front Range. Snow is on the ground and more is on the way. I will be heading back to the Bay Area soon for the holidays and a few weeks of route setting for Valley Rock Gym. Then back to the Rado!

-Alton

This last weekend was filled with lots of climbing as usual. Saturday I hit up the Lower Satelittes with Eric Schuler and Nicol Todd. 2 Boulder/Eldo Springs locals. It was a relaxing session and more meant as “rest” day amongst the boulders. We lapped the classic warm-up Ak-7, which provided ample time for me to take a few pictures of the line. It’s a great rail hand traverse and right leg heel hook thing with some long moves at the end. Super fun.

Nicol Todd lapping AK-7

From there we fussed around with great V4 roof called Original Grapple or O.G. The landing is a bit sketch but protectable. Starts matched in a big jug, big move left to another sinker jug. Then you work intermediate crimps to the finish jug then top it out. Super classic and soon to be on my solo no pads circuit.

We were taking it easy Saturday because Sunday we headed to Lincoln Lake!!! Also known as Wolvo Land. What an area this is. Thousands of boulders sitting in a GINORNORMOUS talus field at bout 12,000 feet. ALPINE! The hike in has you descend roughly a 1,000 ft (save a Red Bull for the hike out and extra water at the car) towards a lake into the talus. Last summer saw insane amounts of development and put Lincoln on the map for hard bouldering. Something along the lines of having the highest concentration of V13 and harder problems.

We warmed up slow then walked over to a great problem FAed by Luke Parody called “Chalk on Rock.” Its a crimpy V8 testpeice with a dynamic move to a jug followed by a slopeyish topout. Classic. I watched a few people work it for a bit then gave it my all for the flash. I cruised the first few moves then hit the jug barely holding on and ended up pulling thru. And with no dab. This is sort of a low ball problem but still not to be missed.

Eric Schuler working the opening moves of Chalk on Rock, V8.

Sarah ? on the same moves. She had previously sent this problem.

Sarah locking off and going for the finger lock on Chalk on Rock, V8.

From there we headed up the talus to Unshackled, V10. This problem is DOPE!!! It’s also basically the Iron Man of Lincoln Lake. Though just a tad harder. Or a lot harder actually.

Most of the group shoed up and gave the opening moves a few burns with super solid effort from Sarah and Eric Schultz. They have been working this problem for a while and were looking super strong. Again, I waited for a bit to watch others suss out the beta. Then I gave it a flash attempt. Having no expectations, I pulled on, made the first big move and then crimped my way along the rail finally falling on the exit moves. I seriously came within 2 or 3 moves of flashing this thing. I was super psyched and extremely impressed with the quality of the rock.

I then chilled for a bit (achy fingers) then tried to send it 2nd go but did worse then my first attempt. For the next hour I took solid rests in between redpoint burns but seemed to not be making anymore progress. On the 6th or 7th go I came very close but managed to pump off. By this point the rest of the group was about over it and it was just me left working this beast. We pulled some pads but left just enough were I was safe in the talus pit. After a brief walk I came back with a clear head and enough energy for 2 solid burns. The 1st got my to the lip, I toe hooked and twisted my hips but couldnt hold the swing. I thought for sure that was it and I had no more left. But, I wanted this thing and badly. At this point, some of the group had moved on and few straglers were debating on where to go next. I didnt waste anymore time resting and quickly chalked up and pulled on. Big move left to the first crimp, bare down, relax on the shoulders, toe in hard with the left and cross right under to the next crimp. Smear the top of the right foot as the right hand bares down and the left comes thru to not so good crimp. Shuffle feet, right hand bumps in to a good crimp and left reaches out to a finger jug. Walk feet thru then get a toe hook with the left foot way out on the lip. Twist hips, lock off HARD with the right hand and pull left to a good pinch. I’ve been here before I thought. But I’m still on! Squeeze everything, get the right foot up and bring the right hand to the lip. Traverse up a bit then mantle and BOOM!!! I had done it!!! My first V10 in a day and the ONE problem that I really wanted to do while I was here but was convinced that I wouldnt get to.

I let out way to many yells of joy and fist pumped like a gym tanned guido. But I didnt care, I was completely elated and out of breath. Psyched.

After this the group moved on and I packed up my video and photo gear. We hit up this great sharp and crimpy V3/4 which I dont know the name of. After a short while the weather folded. We hid in caves and ate the last of our food to lighten the loads for the grueling hike out.

This was the last day of the season and the roads were closed to the Mt Evans area that night. Wolvoland, I will be back.

Eric Schultz on the first move and crux of Unshcakled, V10.

LINCOLN LAKE!!

The Great War for Civilization, V13

Timelapse shooting.

Shooting video at Unshackled, V10.

Terrible drive by shot of the talus field of Lincoln Lake.

The last few weeks have been intense! From pure joy and excitement to complete discouragement. In the last 2 weeks I have gone from not knowing anyone and being a loner to having a few new friends and people to climb with. All in all, I’m in the “bubble” now and Living the Dream.

I have fully settled into my internship with Climbing and Urban Climber. It’s been great. I have been sifting through hundreds of archived images, scanning things, shooting shoes and even people climbing!
Last week we sent out the 300th issue of Climbing. What a treat it was to work on this issue. So much awesome history. I had to shoot various old spreads for use as retrospectives and gather old Greg Epperson covers to be scanned. The time I spent looking through old back issues was not taken lightly as I will not really have that same kind of opportunity.

At the end of the issue I also got to be a part of and learn the professional pre-flight/proof process. That was very interesting to see and the differences from my experience back at the Express Newspaper and Naked Magazine are huge. The pre-flight process is relatively the same. Except that we do it through Adobe Acrobat instead of out of inDesign. For proofing, we print our own proofs in office and then ship them out. But instead of cheesy fax proofs they are nice Epson printer proofs full on with color bars. Pretty cool.

The magazine hung up so we can start the proof process. And so walker bys can gawk at our dopeness.

Printing very expensive proofs.

The final stack of proofs ready to be shipped.

In continuation of my “learning,” I have had a few chances to get out and shoot for Urban Climber. The first was shooting finger cracks for some technique based writing. Second was some product photography. Which I absolutely love. I got to shoot the newish Evolv shoe, The Shaman. There is a fairly well equipped photo studio here at the office and I sure made full use of it for this shoot.

Here’s the shoe suspended in space. I did a 5 light set up. 2 lights crossed and snooted, another from the ground up with a 20 degree grid and a fourth backlight and highlighting the heel cup with a 30 degree grid. The 5th light was a ring light on camera for some mellow fill and a litte ommpff. Stay tuned for the November issue of Urban Climber for the final images.

Annnd now the fun schtuff! CLIMBING!!

I have had a few chances lately to get out on some real rock and it has KICKED ASS! 2 weeks ago my super good friend Tamara came out to visit. She had just started climbing again after breaking her wrist. She spent a little bit of time at Valley Rock in Livermore training and it paid off. On her last full day here, we racked up and headed for the 3rd Flatiron.

3rd Flatiron as seen from the summit of the 1st.

This was her first multi-pitch and being as Yvon Chounaird once called the Direct East Face the “best beginers route in the country” I thought it would be well suited. After an odd 1st pitch (went off route doohh!) we were cruising. The climbing was classic and the position fantastic. I had always dreamed of a multi pitch face route and this was just that. After 7 pitches, 3 raps and 2 PBR’s we were walking back to the car with just enough light to not strap on the headlamp. Such a good day!

Last week saw me clipping a few bolts out at Boulder Canyon with my co-worker Julie. Psyched to check out this place more and maybe even place some gear next to bolts. Lol.

And lastly I finally got out to Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP, The Park) last weekend for some classic alpine bouldering. Super rad day! A whole new group of friends with LOTS of psyche!! I cant wait to get out and pull down with this crew again.

We headed out to Emerald Lake for quiet and pristine climbing amongst the blocks and the walls. Situated below Chaos Canyon, the approach is super casual and just long enough for a solid cardio warm up.
After the climbing warm-up, we hit up this great block called The Cube, situated on the edge of a mid sized pond. I proceeded to flash the V5 arete and onsight the V6 sloper to crimper face. This got my really psyched as I had now done 4 problems in the park and hadn’t fallen yet!

From there we hoped over to a HUGE wave overhang where this classic V5 called The Kind sat. Perfect big moves up large edges with heelhooks. I was psyched. I found out the sit start went at V7 and had a pinch with a long reach to a sloper. I thought to myself, hmm, lets keep the flash train going. After watching others work the top moves I turned on my camera (thanks Nicole for loaning me your battery) set up and fired! BOOM! I almost came off at the top but beared down and pulled the lip. What a great start to my RMNP tick list!

A few of our crew left shortly after and those of us that remained went and set up on Whispers of Wisdom (V10). Upon first site I fell in love. Upon reading online after blood started gushing from underneath my fingernails I became more in love. And then! I realized Urban Climber listed it as #8 in the top 100 problems in North America. Guess I have good taste.

Anyways, I felt solid enough in the 15 mins of working it to want to go back. Hopefully this weekend. We’ll see. For now, I’m out!!

Talus Fields!


The Kind.

Hallet Peak

Nature! Everywhere!

The last 7 days have been a whirlwind of acclimating, integrating and establishing myself in this new scene. The Boulder “bubble.” Which I have yet to really tap into nor see per se. I have missed flights, taken busses, skipped busses and blown threw a tire on my bike. Been social and anti-social. Explored and ventured into the Flatirons. Attempted to onsight solo the 1st Flatiron only to downclimb about 300ft of perfect sandstone. Bouldered without pads by myself and gone to movie premiers. I’ve flashed 5 spots at The Spot and enjoyed lunch at Moe’s Bagels. I’ve done more here in the last week then I would in a few weeks back home in Livermore.

But above all, I’m living the dream. I’m in BOULDER! What else would I rather be doing? We’ll maybe actually climbing.

When I left California, I left my safety net. I had friends, I had family and I had a steady job. Though I have found actual employment out here (unpaid intern) I have none of the previous. But this is alright. Because I now have something that I didn’t have back home. Freedom. To me having freedom is what life is about. Naturally one must be “tied down” by something. How else are we going to survive? But this new found freedom is something that I have never really experienced back home. It is different out here. It’s comforting yet scary at the same time. My days aren’t set in stone and I never know what will be happening in the next few hours.

I came here feeling strong and confident. Both about who I am and in my climbing abilities. I still feel pretty much the same but I will say that I also feel like I’m learning how to climb all over again. I’m sure after a while that will change too as I settle into this new life. It is still to soon to say if I like this town better then Bay. But it is growing on me. My heart will ALWAYS be in California. In the Sierra’s amongst the Jeffrey Pines. But, like I’ve already said, this place is growing on me.

Here’s to the next 3 months of totally new experiences and friendships. To say that I’m psyched is an understatement. Being psyched is a momentary feeling. Here, I feel it all the time. For everything is new and wild and crazy and fun and scary. Now I just need to get on real stone and a go A Muerte!

However, it needs to stop raining. So tonight I will go to the gym and climb. Where new friends await.

Have a look at what I uploaded here: http://500px.com/agrphoto

Enjoy!

I did however manage to grab a few stills every now and then. I didn’t always bring out the strobes which is what I usually do and instead shot mostly by “natural” light. This forced me to break out of my comfort shell a little. Which is rather hilarious given its much more complicated to shoot with strobes. Especially climbing. But I find it very easy to hide behind flashes and burn the crap out of people’s retinas so a little “sun” is good for me.

Here are 3 images from a trip in March and April.

Eric Sanchez cruising the crux of Secrets of the Beehive (V5).

Eric runs a quick lap on The Hunk (V2) late in the day.

Eric snatches the lip on the 3rd Ascent of Half Shark Alligator, Half Man (V11).

This climb (to my knowledge) was originally called Sun Catcher. Dan Mills did the FA about 2 months ago. On that first send he dabbed pretty big time. However he went back and did a proper ascent with no dab then changing the name. Word has it that Charlie Barrett did the 2nd ascent about a week before Eric did. This line is really amazing. Super hard pocket pulling with an aggressive low percentage crux move. This problem will be included in a soon to be released Bishop short film.

-Alton