Posted by Larry Fischer on December 11, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Watched a piece on NOVA last night about Denali and the dangers of climbing. This mountain is cold, and in general, deadly for climbers.
Long story short. Thermometers were swallowed to monitor climbers core temperatures with that parameter being studied as an indicator of success or failure, life or death.
Interesting of course, but I'm struck with the person who did the photo documentation.
He or she,I don't believe, was featured by photo or by name. Yet this person was ahead of the climbers who made the ascent. He/she took the photos of them reaching the summit and documented AMS and HAPE in others.
Of course, some photo documentatin could be staged but the mere fact the photographer was there is worthy of notice. Same goes for all photographers who go to other high peaks and other rough places.
Fisch, I saw this documentary also. Very interesting information with regards to high altitude illnesses overall. The use of the internal "pill" thermometers were apparently very helpful in determining why one climber faired better then another. The swing in "core temperature" seems to hold an important key to HAPE. I also personally learned a bit more about frostbite too. I thought it was the extremities getting cold that was the main cause of frostbite to hands, feet, ears, etc,. But, apparently it has more to do with core temperature drop and the body needing the blood for heart and brain function that it pulls the blood away from the extremities in an attempt to save the body.
I wish there were more shows like NOVA. I have learned so much over the years from watching.
I saw that episode a while back, and thought it was quite interesting. My thoughts were very similar to larry's. Being the curious fella that I am, whenever I watch shows like that, I think of all of the logistics just to make it happen. I too thought of the camera man and probably a few others who were on scene to make the episode a reality. They lieterally do suffer for their art. I just recently re-read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer and the way he describes the effort that it takes to function at high altitude makes me appreciate the job done by the camera man all the more.
Posted by David Senesac on December 12, 2008 at 11:04 PM
I saw that episode too a few months ago. Both still and movie cameras are decreasing in size and weight but battery issues still add a lot more for remote locations. For those that have the physical strength, backcountry knowledge, and toughness to face the exertions and effort to bring photography gear into remote places there is a vast amount of fresh subject material to be captured that can be a considerable advantage over those limited to roadsides and short day hikes.
Posted by Bret Edge on December 13, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I didn't see that program but I've long admired the great adventure photographers whose endurance and physical stamina are super-human. Jimmy Chin, Galen Rowell and Corey Rich are/were all phenomenal physical specimens who participated at the same level as all the athletes they photographed. These guys are STUDS!
On another note, I've been tossing around the idea of writing an article about fitness and photography. Might not be a bad idea...
Discussion
4 repliesLong story short. Thermometers were swallowed to monitor climbers core temperatures with that parameter being studied as an indicator of success or failure, life or death.
Interesting of course, but I'm struck with the person who did the photo documentation.
He or she,I don't believe, was featured by photo or by name. Yet this person was ahead of the climbers who made the ascent. He/she took the photos of them reaching the summit and documented AMS and HAPE in others.
Of course, some photo documentatin could be staged but the mere fact the photographer was there is worthy of notice. Same goes for all photographers who go to other high peaks and other rough places.
And I don't even like mosquitoes.
Some photographers are tough......!!!!!!!
the fisch
I saw that episode a while back, and thought it was quite interesting. My thoughts were very similar to larry's. Being the curious fella that I am, whenever I watch shows like that, I think of all of the logistics just to make it happen. I too thought of the camera man and probably a few others who were on scene to make the episode a reality. They lieterally do suffer for their art. I just recently re-read "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer and the way he describes the effort that it takes to function at high altitude makes me appreciate the job done by the camera man all the more.
On another note, I've been tossing around the idea of writing an article about fitness and photography. Might not be a bad idea...