Client Showcase: Minneapolis Bouldering Project
Minneapolis Bouldering Project
Client Showcase
A few weeks back I was invited to a local bouldering gym to document the behind-the-scenes of youth climbing camps. Needless to say, I hopped on the opportunity. These camps are specifically designed for elite climbers under 18-years-old. Every participant at this camp has competed at the national level and when I say that they’re ‘fearless’ it’s an understatement.
I was completely stunned to watch these kids scale the bouldering walls without a second thought. It’s like gravity didn’t affect them!
I spent most of the shoot on the ground, but towards the end of our time together, I climbed up— camera and all— to a couple of different spots to get some different vantage points.
While I have gone climbing there a few times with a girlfriend, I by no means, consider myself a skilled climber. I’m a ‘manage-to’ climber. I get up there… sometimes… and I kind of just make it work. I took a class once and had a couple of interesting takeaways the apply to climbing and life outside the gym.
The most important one to me goes something like this:
“Never attempt to solve a problem with anything less than 100% effort. If you attempt at 75% effort and fail, you won’t know if you failed due to your lack of effort or due to a bad strategy. Attempt every solve with 100% effort because if you fail, you’ll know immediately it was due to your strategy.”
Mind Blown
It makes total sense! I’ve applied this thought process to other aspects of my life and it has made a huge difference!
After that shoot, I was completely exhausted.
Not due to the climbing necessarily, but the sheer focus it took to maintain my level of effort throughout the multi-hour shoot. I felt like I couldn’t see or think straight and ended up on the couch immediately!
Do you experience a similar phenomenon in your work or daily life— physical exhaustion from mental exertion? I’d love to hear how you remedied yourself to spring back into action!
