JIM POPE x ARCTERYX
Tidal Flows pairs field-recorded soundscapes with photographic images, inviting the viewer into a layered sensory encounter. The images provide visual focus and spatial detail, while ambient sound introduces subtle disruptions, evoking memory, emotion, and temporal awareness. By combining sight and sound, the work transforms perception into a multi-sensory journey, exploring themes of time, space, memory, and the delicate, fleeting nature of experience.
The material for this work was gathered along the Pembrokeshire coastline, where Jim Pope and a group of friends undertook a trad-climbing trip in summer 2025. All ascents were attempted flash or on-sight - tackling routes without rehearsal of any kind. Though the area is relatively accessible, the environment retains a raw, untamed character: tidal rhythms dictate the plan of each climbing day, and the acoustics of narrow inlets produce natural reverberations that heighten both the visual and sonic experience of the place.
Presented as fine-art prints accompanied by immersive sound, the installation premiered at the 2nd Exposure Photography Festival in Sheffield, encouraging personal interpretation, and allowing each visitor to navigate the intersection of seeing and listening.
Shoot on location in Pembroke, Wales (UK).
SACHI AMMA x REEL ROCK
Wrote, directed and produced a short documentary about elusive, non-convential Japanese professional rock climber Sachi Amma.
Follow his philosophical journey, as he evolves from three-time world champion to traditional climbing purist, culminating in a visionary first ascent on a massive feature on the mythical Mt. Mizugaki.
On tour worldwide from spring ‘24 with Reel Rock 18.
Shoot on location in Yamanashi Prefecture and Tokyo (JP).
3-part series
JACOPO LARCHER X THE NORTH FACE
In this new 3-part series, we follow Jacopo as he travels from Europe, to America and the UK to gain a deeper understanding of trad-climbing as an art-form, it’s diverse community, culture, ethics and history - exploring what ‘hard-trad’ actually means and whether, when push comes to shove, the grades actually matter.
Shoot on location in Yosemite National Park (US), the Peak District National Park (UK) and the European Alps.
3-part series
CHAPTER TWO, PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE UK
In our second instalment for The Traditionalist film project, Jacopo journeys to the birthplace of Trad. In the UK, he finds another culture steeped in tradition, ethics and a rich history. On his short visit, Jacopo tries to soak up as much variety as he can, by climbing on different types of rock and different styles of routes. Far from the powerful, but relatively safe climbing of the Yosemite cracks, Jacopo faced with the notoriously tricky weather conditions, the awkwardess of the E-grade system and the psychological challenge of some of the Peak District’s classics.
“The climbing in the UK is completely different. It’s really cool that they basically tried not to bolt anything. So, you really have to adapt yourself to what the rock offers you.”
Shoot on location in the Peak District National Park (UK).
JAMES PEARSON x MELLOW
Blasted into existence by quarrying in the early 2000s, this line was shaped by human intervention—but its beauty was pure chance. When the late Adriano Trombetta and Marzio Nardi bolted it, they couldn’t have predicted that the rock fractures from mining would create something so striking.Pioneers of the Torino climbing scene and its surrounding valleys since the early ’90s, Adriano and especially Marzio have left a deep mark on Italian climbing development. Yet this route—right beside the road in one of Italy’s top climbing areas—remained unclimbed for over two decades, despite attempts by some of the country’s strongest.Drawn to the unusual, James Pearson sets out to unlock the “Diamante Grezzo” — and discovers why it means so much to Marzio.
Shoot on location in Valle Orco, Italy.
➝ WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
STEFANO RAGAZZO x ETERNAL FLAME
Winner of the Audience Choice Award for Best Alpinism Film at the 73rd Trento Film Festival, Eternal Solo tells the story of Stefano Ragazzo - a very little known Italian climber, with an unconventional background for an athlete of his caliber - who last summer completed the first solo ascent of the legendary Eternal Flame route on the Trango Towers in Pakistan.
Stefano comes from the lowlands and discovered the mountains relatively late in life, at a point when his path seemed destined to follow a routine office job in a random Italian city — the classic “italiano medio destiny.”
But his encounter with alpinism changed everything. Stefano soon found himself forging a unique identity in the climbing world - that of a soloist tackling some of the biggest walls on the planet.
Shoot on location in Pakistan & Italy.
NAOKI ISHIKAWA X GOLDWIN
Naoki Ishikawa is a world class alpinist and photographer - certainly the only man to have ever brought a medium format film camera to every 8k meters peaks on earth.
In this short film, Naoki tells about the origins of his passion and the drive to look for what sparks his interest.
Original score by Daniele Mana (Hyperdubs Records).
Shoot on location in Tokyo and on the remote Shiretoko peninsula of Hokkaido, Japan.
➝ GO TO NAOKI’S WEBSITE
SIEBE VANHEE X WILD COUNTRY
Belgian climber Siebe Vanhee explores the climbing ethics and traditions of the famous Peak District, a paradise for rock climbers - with interviews to local OGs and young guns, Siebe also showcase his talent by climbing various Gritstone's test pieces, including some potentially deadly one.
“Many years ago I told myself, I will make a big tradclimbing trip to the UK. I dreamed of climbing the most classic and historical lines and get a taste of this strong British tradclimbing culture.
An ambitious project I’ve cut down together with the help of Indie Sports Managment and Onsen productions to just the Gritstone climbing, resulting in a filming project called #friendsofthegrit”.
--Siebe Vanhee
Shoot on location in the Peak District National Park (UK).
➝ SELECTED AS PART OF SHAFF.CO.UK
NIKY CERIA X ADIDAS | FIVE TEN
“One of the most fascinating facts about the particular boulders featured in the film”, Ceria said, “is that both their quality and difficulty is influenced by their distance from the river”.
“The ideal line [is located] not too far from the water but also not too close to it,” he told Climbing. The rock should get “enough water to be smooth and solid, but not so much that it’s polished.”
“When you’re looking only for boulders in this sweet spot”, he adds, “it reduces your chances of finding a king line. But when it does happen, everything is magical. The rock has a very good and balanced texture.”
Naturally “The Riversider” is full of king lines.
Shoot on location in the Italy’s North West.
➝ WATCH FULL FILM HERE
➝ READ ARTICLE ON CLIMBING.COM
Please enjoy this rather old edit of stories I’ve shot through time and space, which still represents my work quite well though.
Also, when will I ever get to edit a new reel?!
Shoot on location around the globe.
➝ WATCH FULL REEL HERE