Parkour in very much an in-vogue activity at the moment, amongst certain groups that is. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to check-out the local scene and photo some young guns down in one of Sheffield’s city Park. It was nearly dusk when we kicked-off and time was limited but enthusiasm and energy was seriously high…   more »

Climbing:2012 was rolling off the press this week and all being well it’ll only be days now before I’ll be able to start shipping – well over a month ahead of last year shipping date. Get-in… as they say…   more »

Cue drum roll… Folks, please give it up for Craig Bailey, the winner of this year’s UKClimbing ‘Be in my Calendar’ Competition…   more »

“Final Proofs? Sure, they’re over there on the table”. Music to the ears of anyone involved in print media projects. Within minutes they were signed-off and Climbing:2012 was committed to the press…   more »

I’ve been in calendar mode for a good month now and a couple of weekends back I dragged Steve Mac and Mark Busby up to the Lakes for some pixs. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Lakes and Steve has too it seems. We had two days and figured two venues in different valleys would be cool. The weather wasn’t awesome as we went past Kendal so we figured that a low lying, easy access crag would be a good choice. I suggested Raven Crag, Langdale and Steve agreed; the question was would Steve fancy the ripe plums on offer?...   more »

Climbing into thermals, thick oversuit and wellies in the middle of the flippin’ hottest day for ages was more than a mare! Thankfully, the short walk over to the cave entrance was quick and as soon as we got there we lit-up and dived straight in. The cold blast that blew our way was real sweet – heaven in fact…   more »

A little kid walking through the green and leafy west end suburb/parklands of Sheffield asks his mum “Hey mum, what’s that big red tent doing there – is it a circus”? Mum, sage that she is, answers, “That’s the World Cup son – it’s here in Sheffield this coming weekend”. “No way, you mean the bouldering world cup - right mum”? “Right!” says mum. Kids are smart these days…   more »

It’s time for the ‘Be in my Calendar Competition’ again as UKClimbing are sponsoring a page in Climbing:2012. We want YOU to feature in your finest kit and cut a lean, mean figure on the UKClimbing page. You should know the score by now; answer a few simple questions and then stand by and wait for Keith to call you to arrange the calendar shoot...   more »

Peak Cavern in Castleton proudly proclaims itself to be the Devil’s Arse. Last Sunday, as ongoing prep for our forthcoming wee caving trip, we duly entered said Devil’s Arse with a clutch of sacs of camera kit with the specific intention of testing some new electronic wizardry and filling a card full of images…   more »

For the last few weeks of so I’ve been prepping-up ready for a wee trip underground. Obviously, I’ll be dragging my cameras along as well – just to make life more ‘interesting’ - so I’ve been wrestling with a whole sack-full of how-to questions..   more »

Woke yesterday to find an inch of wet snow covering the ground; winter, it appeared, was back. Today was no better either; Stanage area was covered in around 2 inches of the white stuff – very wet, white stuff it was too. Inside was the only way forward - for (another) training session…   more »

Amidst the grim winter weather here in the Peak we get an occasional burst of brilliance – a shaft of sunlight blasting through the clear air it’s looks nothing if not magical. The trick, as ever, is to be in the right place at the right time and this weekend the right place was Stanage and the right time was the evening ‘golden hour’.   more »

At the last minute I turned the car out to the Peak rather than heading inside for a wall session and I’m glad I did. The days that are laden full of expectancy can so often fail to deliver. Conversely, days that are ‘obviously’ going to be rubbish turn out to be totally the opposite. Today was a case in point…   more »

After a twelve month gestation period, Climbing 2011, my rock climbing calendar for 2011 is back from the printers and is now shipping! Initial feedback suggests that others think it’s a cracker too. Positive feedback is a real blast for any producer – so I’m pretty happy at the mo…   more »

If you go down to the woods today, You’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today, You’d better take your digicam...   more »

The piece and tranquillity of Derwent Dam on a calm and sunny day belies its history; scholars of which would be able to recite the story of the famous 617 Dambuster Squadron and the practice bombing raids which were held at Derwent.   more »

(Sadly, as I now realise...) I came late in life to skiing but to be honest I reckon you can’t have much fun with your clothes on doing anything else! And those that know me, and my dedication to climbing, will recognise the enormity of what I’m saying...   more »

In what is reckoned to be the worst (or best depending upon you viewpoint...) winter for thirty years, the opportunities to ‘get out’ on rock have been pretty rare of late. Slowly though, there are signs that winter is coming to an end – even if it is that the snow, when it comes, doesn’t last for long – Scotland excepted that is!   more »

I have to admit to a near-obsession with the Burbage Valley, especially Burbage North. I first pulled onto Burbage North’s ramparts nearly forty years ago as a fresh-faced, snotty youth. I distinctly recall getting mauled on that occasion by Wednesday Climb. Not much has changed really over the intervening years except that there’s a lot more miles on the clock nowadays. I’m still getting mauled – albeit by slightly harder stuff!   more »

In the week that Wrossie (a.k.a. Jonathan Ross) jacks, Keith Sharples Photography hits the beeb (again)...   more »

In what might prove to be one of the few outside climbing opportunities this week Paul and myself headed out to Burbage North on Monday night. We figured it would probably be a dump-ass thing to do but that unless you try you don’t know what might be possible...   more »

We’re only into 2010 by a few days but I’m lovin’ it big time! In superb style, the clock rolled-over into a New Year and a new decade but the same sub-arctic conditions stayed with us and as a photographer I’m glad they did. It’s been time to get out and get snapping - I’ve added nearly 5gig of image files to the network drive already this year...   more »

When tales of no snow in some Euro ski resorts are set against the tales of snow across our fair isle, you start to scratch your head a bit. Then along comes a white Xmas, the first for some considerable time, and you really sit up and take note.    more »

So did you catch Keith Sharples Photography on BBC1 on Monday? I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t! Not to worry, a few clicks of the mouse and bbciplayer is up and running and wadda you know – KSP is on the telli…   more »

Do the years just seem to roll by to you? Yeah, same for me – especially since I’ve been in the calendar business; man they seem to zip bye! Anyway back at the point, I heard today that Climbing:2010, my sixth rock climbing calendar, is now rolling off the printing press at Printworks in Sheffield. Next up is collating, trimming, binding, shrink-wrapping and then... bingo – it’s time to start shipping! ETA is, at the moment, a (known) unknown – but it’s pretty darned soon so watch this space…   more »

Now that the 9th day of the 9th month of the 2009 has passed without the merest hint of an apocalyptical horseman and all the doomsayers are having a two-week summer vacation, it’s obviously time to get on with life and back into the business of blogging ...   more »

And the winner, scooping top prize in this year’s ‘Be in my calendar’ competition, is Alastair Smith from Chester. The competition on top UK climbing website, www.ukclimbing.com, was to find a willing victim to feature alongside the good and the great in climbing:10, next year’s climbing calendar.   more »

Steve McClure’s summer mission continues, at a pace, with a rare repeat of Ben Moon’s Raven Tor test-piece, Hubble (F8c+). Steve sent Hubble on one of the hottest days last week when humidity was well high and most people were reduced to thrashing around and complaining about the shocking conditions!   more »

Acting on a half-decent forecast, Steve McClure was keen to head into the (Welsh) mountains last Saturday on a mission to boldly go where (few) had been before. But straining under rucksacks bulging with climbing and camera kit we weren’t travelling light nor fast. Chances were that the walk-in would kill us never mind the climbing!   more »

It’s calendar competition time again where YOU get the opportunity to appear in climbing:10, my climbing calendar for next year. UKC, www.ukclimbing.com, are sponsoring a page in climbing:10 and the comp winner will be photographed specially for the occasion.   more »

Just days after climbing onto the podium at the British Bouldering Championships at Cliffhanger to claim a very credible third place, Gaz Parry got his harness on and rope out and nailed a rare repeat of the Kilnsey North Buttress classic, True North (F8c).   more »