Photos

Well, while I usually try to post photographs of nature and places, this time 's different. I have probably missed rock climbing too much, thus I will post a photo from this activity.

I spent much time pondering on the term "activity". The issue is rock climbing is an increasingly popular sports. However, it is also an action, something very ancient and very clear of the typical sports and competitions character. During climbing it is you and the rock, you don't have to score any goals, break your opponent's serve, win a tie break or anything. It is a primitive situation very pure in terms of sensations and forces, very much centered on your own arms and legs and grips and pushes, your true opponent being yourself (hence the title of the photo), as is the case in running or jumping that have produced sports but are very clearly not just sports.

Thus, perhaps climbing is a situation that, despite its dangers (or partly because of them), could even be described as purifying in the end.

This photograph is from the First All-Cretan Rock Climbing Meeting in the location of Gre Dafni (the name of the gorge where the climbing event took place) in Rethymno at the edge of Kedros Mountain (for a view of the place see my photo entitled: "Colour layers").

The climber on the photo is unknown to me and I hope he doesn't mind me posting an image containing him. I tried to give a dynamique to the photograph by putting him on one side and leaving the barren (not so barren, amazing what can find space and soil to grow its roots on) rock prevail the scenery. I also like the moment, his posture is very expressive...