PROJECT SERIES: ON A STILL STANDING ROCK…

The project related to highlighting the importance of preserving the Lebanese nature continues with this series of photographs: On a still standing rock…

The location was chosen for a reason: Tannourine, Lebanon. Nowadays, the lands are being sold to individuals without any restrictions related to construction, while the rock formation in this area is quite beautiful, it will be destroyed following this residential invasion.

Since these rocks will be removed sooner or later, we decided to contact the Lebanese Climbing Association (LCA) and later on we got introduced to Trapèze by Elias Chaaya, to coordinate a meeting where professional climbers join us on field to check if it is feasible to technically mount anchors and test the hardness of the chosen rock, so the photographs’ composition can be completed as desired taken into consideration the position of the Milky Way.

The meeting took place with Elias Chaaya on Sunday April 28, 2019. The climber confirmed the technical feasibility to prepare the rock to get climbed a week after.

Preparations were completed prior to the shooting dates: Saturday May 4, and Sunday May 5, 2019.

To cover this project from A to Z, a team of friends and photographers join me this weekend: Sary Asmar, videographer and film editor; Tarek Wazzi, photographer and videographer (for this project); Rita Mikhael, photographer and videographer (for this project); and Jessica Rahhal, photographer and project coordinator.

Elias Chaaya was on field starting Saturday May 4, 2019, morning. The rock was being prepared and the process filmed by our team. (You can watch the video behind the scenes below).
Later on, Elias fellow climbers Chloé and Marc, joined and started testing all what has been mounted, even though the photographs series were only possible starting midnight, with test shots, and afterward waiting for the rise of the Milky Way.

After adjusting my frames on 2 different cameras, and 2 different lenses (85mm and a wide one 15mm), the test shots worked out pretty well, also lights were set as planned; in coincidence, the 3 climbers have lit a camp fire behind the rocks as the temperature was going down, so I took the advantage of this unexpected light hitting the facing rock, which enriched the photographs in colors. Headlamps were provided to the climbers in order to highlight the climbers themselves, and to lit the rock properly.

When I started the test shots, the sky was cloudy so I had to wait for it to clear, knowing exposure will be changing for both cameras. Why 2 cameras you might wonder? The first one, the 85mm, is to highlight the climber on the rock; and the second one, the 15mm wide lens, is to show the beauty of these rocks.

It was not that simple and easy to compose with the camera having the 85mm lens: the shapes of the rocks and the climber should be included in the photographs with the sky in the background without compromising the composition. After many attempts, I wasn’t sure of the composition, so I asked for a second opinion, and Jessica Rahhal was called, and the final frame was set.

The second camera with the wide-angle lens located near the rock, was used to illustrate the majestic form of it, and for this particular photograph I wanted to have the Milky Way behind the climber.

The sky cleared out and the series of photographs started with the camera having the 85mm lens, then switched to the one with the wide-angle lens.

While we mentioned 3 professional climbers for this project, only 2 of them are in my photographs and this is for a technical reason: While a climber is on the rope, another one remained at the bottom of the rope, special thanks to Marc for keeping Elias and Chloé safe!

This project organization started 3 months prior to the execution: From communication to scouting locations where mountains where already by the climbers, visiting other rocks to select which one can be safely prepared and which satisfies the photographs’ composition and objectives. A permission from the land owner was required as well.

This project couldn’t be done without the efforts of all the team:
Land owner, Hanna Rizk.
Lebanese Climbing Association, Chloé Comati and Marc.
Trapèze Climbing Rings, Elias Chaaya.
Videographers, Rita Mikhael, Sary Asmar, Tarek Wazzi.
Project coordinator, Jessica Rahhal.