@shepherdmans wife went over this rocky edge, with a sheer drop, in the interests of her art. I noticed these ropes, spotted a helmeted head bobbing up from behind the rock, and pointed this out to @shepherdmanswife – there were climbers ascending the rock face from the valley below. No opportunity is to be missed, and so she clambered over the fence, camera and tripod in hand, and disappeared behind the rock, only to re-appear a minute later and then exit stage left – apparently the chap at the top of the rocks, holding the safety rope, had suggested a better vantage point to photograph his mate who was clawing his way up the rock face from below. I don’t think that the climber had much choice in the matter. And so @shepherdmanswife got her shot from a rather crumbly rocky outcrop hanging over the valley. I must check our insurance.
I tried climbing a few times, in this part of Derbyshire, with mates who enjoyed the sport and persuaded me to try it. I hated it. Their idea of a handhold was significantly different to mine, and I generally got hauled up on the safety rope, and subsequently dragged trembling, sweating and cursing over edge at the top and back onto terra firma.
Neat shot - the heather is gorgeous. A nice contrast of lines - the barbed wire and the ropes going opposing directions add an interesting dimension to the shot.
I would have gone in closer to the fence to crop it out, but then I would have made a bad choice. The fence makes a story, one about a barrier holding us back from adventure or something greater.
