Dean
Fidelman
Fidelman
ARTIST / PHOTOGRAPHER / WRITER
About Me
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, California, and began Climbing in 1971, at 15 years old. Each afternoon after school let out I would peddle my bike 20 miles round trip to climb at Stoney Point. On the weekends my journey took me past street vendors selling their wares. I was fascinated by the velvet paintings displayed on the chain link fences along the sidewalks. Mostly it was the semi-nude paintings of reclining women, their form duplicated over the mountain landscapes that always comprised the background. I longed to make just such an image, only mine would be of a woman climbing nude.
Being 15, I felt like I knew a lot about climbing, a little about photography, and absolutely nothing about women. I was wrong about the first two and right about the third. But still those images were part of my teenage imagination. A fledgling vision.
In 1999 I was 42 and living in Joshua Tree, California. I had reached a stage as an artist where the need to make original work was strong. I wanted to be open, to look into my heart and express the love inside of me. Climbing had become my canvas, and the people my paint. Passion would become my brush. I had been making climbing photographs and nudes from the time I picked up the camera when I was 15. Combining the two seemed simple.
Being 15, I felt like I knew a lot about climbing, a little about photography, and absolutely nothing about women. I was wrong about the first two and right about the third. But still those images were part of my teenage imagination. A fledgling vision.
In 1999 I was 42 and living in Joshua Tree, California. I had reached a stage as an artist where the need to make original work was strong. I wanted to be open, to look into my heart and express the love inside of me. Climbing had become my canvas, and the people my paint. Passion would become my brush. I had been making climbing photographs and nudes from the time I picked up the camera when I was 15. Combining the two seemed simple.
About
Stone Nudes: an extract of the art of climbing. Intended to inspire and celebrate the human form. Over the last 19 years, a body of over two hundred photographs drawing from three generations of climbers has evolved.
Unlike current climbing media, these images do not seek to sell or promote anything beyond the experience. This approach has attracted climbers of all abilities to participate in a project designed to capture the essence of the climbing spirit.
Unlike current climbing media, these images do not seek to sell or promote anything beyond the experience. This approach has attracted climbers of all abilities to participate in a project designed to capture the essence of the climbing spirit.
StoneNudes
"I do not shoot nor capture photographs.
I create, express, extract and collaborate in the gathering of images.
To me, words are important, as is the path I navigate in the creation of art and the
people who share this experience.
In the 20 years of making these photographs, Stone Nudes became a path traveled by climbers who recognized the art of climbing was about collaboration based around a global community. The concept of model doesn't apply toStone Nudes. Skill is valued over farm animal looks. Strength, balance and courage allows these images the perfection they deserve."
I create, express, extract and collaborate in the gathering of images.
To me, words are important, as is the path I navigate in the creation of art and the
people who share this experience.
In the 20 years of making these photographs, Stone Nudes became a path traveled by climbers who recognized the art of climbing was about collaboration based around a global community. The concept of model doesn't apply toStone Nudes. Skill is valued over farm animal looks. Strength, balance and courage allows these images the perfection they deserve."
