Stills — martyblumen

Stills.

Light at the Edge of the World.

Artist statement:

Marty Blumen on a trail of mani stones inscribed with Om Mani Padme Hum. Solukhumbu, Nepal (2010)

I have been chasing light for over two decades, and I hope you enjoy this selection of images.

In 1990s Brisbane, a small group of misfit school friends and I sought escape from the flat, uninspiring city. With pocket change and borrowed climbing ropes, we spent nights exploring Kangaroo Point, a floodlit quarry above the humid river. It became our first climbing sanctuary and the spark for a lifelong obsession with exploration.

We quickly moved beyond the city, scrambling over overgrown rocks, scaling sandstone bridge pylons, and hopping trains to the Glasshouse Mountains, a wild playground just 60 kilometers north. Those early adventures shaped everything that followed.

Since then, I have biked through Yangshuo’s karst landscapes, climbed Europe’s limestone walls and Yosemite Valley, and crawled through Tasmania’s underground caves. The world’s wild places continue to inspire me. Camera phones are convenient, but nothing captures light at the edge of the world like a DSLR.

Influences include Paul Pritchard, Galen Rowell, Wade Davis, Richard Feynman, Yvon Chouinard, and Nick Nichols.

Marty Blumen, March 2022

Gallery

Morning camp, Main Range of the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park

Anchor duties, Whungee Wheengee near Mt Wilson, Blue Mountains.

A canyoner pauses in a beam of light, Arethusa Canyon, Blue Mountains.

Canyoner coiling rope, on top of a rock, in Claustral Canyon, Blue Mountains, NSW.

CRS training day at Lost Pillar, Dalpura Head, Blue Mountains.

Into the looking glass. Two canyoners reflecting in a pool of water, beneath a crack in the earth, Claustral Canyon, Blue Mountains, NSW.

A canyoneer jumars up a rope, into the daylight, in a canyon, Grand Canyon, Blue Mountians, NSW.

Slimey rock ledges greet canyoners in Arethusa Canyon, Blue Mountains, NSW.

First snows on Main Range, Kosciusko National Park

Red Ceder Falls, Dorrigo National Park, NSW

Moss encrusted walls of a canyon, with drift wood, Able Tasman National Park, New Zealand

Waterfall in Hat Hill Canyon, Blue Mountains

Warwick Chate catching the light, Ranon and Claustral junction, Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Canon 5DMkIII. (2021)

Where waterfalls fall, Danae Brook Canyon, Kanangra-Boyd National Park.

Shiva Nami under a beam of light, Claustral Canyon, Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Canon 5DMkIII. (2021).

Last light on the Australian Alps, Kosciuszko National Park. Canon EOS 5D MkIII. 2022

Alex Motyka dwarfed under Khan, a 18m stalagmite, Xanadu Chamber, Khubla Khan Cave, Tasmania. 2022

Stalactites hang from the ceiling in Renovation Cave, Kosciuszko National park. NSW.

Channelling the Sierra Nevada with alpine glow and autumn colours, Kosciuszko National park. NSW. (2022)

David Mason descents the triple waterfalls of Dione Dell, Kanangara-Boyd National Park, NSW. (2022)

Standing room only. Alex Motyka coils a rope in Arethusa Canyon, Blue Mountains, NSW. Canon 5DMkIII.(2022)

Jesse Bayles strikes an impromptu pose in the Pleasure Dome, Khubla Khan Cave. A restricted access cave in Tasmania. Canon 5DMkIII. (2022)

Rim Lit Climber. Céüse, Hautes-Alpes département, France. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Climbing into the night, The Nose, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

David Stuckey observing calcite features of Croesus Cave, Mole Creek, Tasmania. 2022

Elemental. A waterfall in Kanangra-Boyd National Park, NSW.

Alpine glow on Mt Sefton, 3151m, Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2005).

Shiva Nami works the ropes on a tensioned guided abseil in-front of a hidden waterfall, Butterbox Canyon, Blue Mountains. 5DMkIII (2022).

Shiva Nami in contemplation above Kanagara Main Canyon, Kanagara-Boyd National Park, 2021.

A canyoner enjoys a baths in a natural pothole, Arethusa Canyon, Blue Mountains, NSW.

The endless waterfalls of Kalang and Kanangra Main, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. 5DMkIII. (2021).

Local climbers crank on Moonhill, Yangshou County, Guangxi, China. 2004.

Shiva Nami and Owen Lee navigating the Dr Seuss towers of The Pinncles, Mt Ruahpehu. Porta 100 negative film. (2006)

Climbing into a constellation of lights, Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym. 5DMkIII. (2018)

Misty morning at Pierces Pass, Blue Mountains National Park, New South Wales. 5DMkIII. (2019)

Tasman Valley, Mt Cook National Park. EOS40D. (2009)

Overlooking Clarke Gorge, Koscuiszko National Park, New South Wales. 5DMkIII. (2019)

Aerial view of bush fires, Gulf of Carpenteria, Queensland. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Rock climbing rope and gear. Ontario, Canada. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Overlapping cliff layers, Verdon Gorge, France. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Lee Cujes not taking the easy road at Céüse, Hautes-Alpes département, France. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Neil Monteith taking a victory whipper, Céüse, Hautes-Alpes département, France. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Dawn over Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia, Velvia slide film. (2005)

Nighttime sidewalk barbeque with Wangu Tower in the distance, Lijian Old Town, Velvia slide film. (2004)

A rock climber finds purchase on the sea cliff of Tasmania, Australia. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Silhouetted hikers on their way to the Grossglockner, 3770 m, the tallest peak in Austria. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Overlooking the Tasman Valley, Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2003)

River valley, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Traditional architecture of Lijiang Old Town, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Edwin Sheppard overlooking an advection cloud, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Carved mani stones, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Tyrolean traverse to The Moi, Fortescue Bay, Tasmania. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Owen Lee sticks his head out of the snow, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. Porta negative film. (2006)

Charlotte Mason leads the team, Warwick Chate and David Mason, down the final waterfall of Kanangra Main, Kanangra-Boyd National Park, New South Wales. 5DMkIII. (2021).

Three alpinists descend a snow slope from the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, Mont Blanc, French Alps. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Clouds over camping ground pine trees, Germany, Velvia slide film. (2004)

Usnea hangs from a tree, also known as old man’s beard, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film.

Sunrise over Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Velvia slide film (2004)

A photographer looks over the French Alps, Mont Blanc. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Jantar Mantar, world’s largest sundial, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Marty Blumen boulders at Hollow Mountain Cave, Grampians, Victoria. Velvia slide film. (2001)

Toronto city under storm clouds. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Newtown terrace and crescent moon, Sydney. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Sunrise over a surfer, Gold Coast, Queensland. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Ammonite fossil in limestone at the base of Céüse, Hautes-Alpes département, France. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Natural crack climbing at a verdant cliff, Ontario, Canada. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Sunset clouds over Hartley, Central Tablelands, New South Wales. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Overlooking the Indian Himalayan, Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India. Velvia slide film. (2006)

The colourful town of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Climbers on Lurking Fear, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Birds over Buddhist temple, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Bouldering in the Austrian Alps, Austria. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Alpine clouds over silhouetted mountains, Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Climbing Lurking Fear, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Dawn over Mt Doom, Mount Ngauruhoe, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Double rainbow over the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland. Velvia slide film. (2005)

The alpine turquoise-coloured Garibaldi Lake, British Columbia, Canada. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Two dogs having a lunch time nap in the colourful city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Curious children, Zhaoqing, Guangzhou, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Star trails over Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park. Velvia slide film. (2005)

Abseiling the weetbix gully, Pinnacles, Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park. Porta negative film. (2006)

Local people of rural Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Farmland and mountains of New Zealand, Velvia slide film. (2006)

Village houses, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Neil Monteith contemplates the descent, through avalanche debris, from Middle Cathedral, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Rolling clouds over Cragieburn Range, Southern Alps, New Zealand’s South Island. Velvia slide film. (2003)

The shapes and forms of Castle Hill’s limestone boulders, Southern Alps, New Zealand’s South Island. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Star trails and climbers headlamps, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Tiger Leaping Gorge, Yangstze River, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Neil Monteith reaches high for a climbing hold, Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Lost Arrow Spire, Tyrolean Traverse, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Tools of the trade, etriers and ropes, Lurking Fear, El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Alpine glow over the Cragieburn Range, Southern Alps, New Zealand’s South Island. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Abseiling with Yosemite Falls in the distance, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Mount Whitney (4,421 m), highest mountain in the contiguous United States, Sierra Nevada Range, Owens Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Road workers in the back of a truck, Manali Highway, Himachal Pradesh, India. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Marcel Geelen contemplating the walk down carrying big wall gear, Washington Column, Yosemite Valley, California. Velvia slide film. (2003)

Reflection of canyon light, Wolgan Valley, New South Wales. iPhone 12 (2021)

Touring bicycle under stupa, Yunnan Province, China. Velvia slide film. (2004)

Morning cycling trip, Sydney. iPhone (2021)

Alpine mountain hut, Mt Ruapehu, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2006)

Clouds flowing off Nun’s Veil, Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand. Velvia slide film. (2005)

Circumambulation of a Buddhist stupa under the milky way, Bombay Hills, Auckland.
Canon 400D. (2012)

Aerial of Sydney city through clouds , Velvia slide film. (2003)

Dawn on Sydney city, Canon 5DMkIII.(2020)