R.I.P. Tom Frost, climber and photographer

dourbalistar

dourbalistar

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I don't know how many members on the forum are also climbers, but Tom Frost, an early pioneer in American climbing, passed away yesterday August 24, 2018. He used a Leica IIc screwmount camera and collapsible 50mm Elmar to document some of the most iconic climbing images.
https://vimeo.com/13010852
https://pfmagazine.com/2018/magazine/tom-frost-reliving-the-golden-age/
https://www.planetmountain.com/en/n...l-to-yosemite-golden-age-climbing-legend.html

A search on Aurora Photos for "Tom Frost" and "Yosemite" returns some stunning images.
 
Tom Frost was a force. While he never was in the limelight like Royal Robbins & Yvon Chouinard, his climbing photographs taken in the midst of major first ascent were awe-inspiring to those of us who started climbing in the '70s. He had the eye for the most beautiful compositions. RIP
 
Lots of the old Camp 4 guys are gone.

People forget about Galen Rowell. Galen was a good photographer.
http://www.mountainlight.com/

Doug Tompkins moved to SA and was rarely heard from. Hap Klopp, his North Face inc partner is still in the SF Bay area. I spoke with Hap recently. The last time I spoke with Doug was on the cycling trail in Mill Valley in the mid 80s. Doug passed away in 2015, in Chile.

Tom Frost was a friend to all those folks.
https://flatlanderfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PFMagazine_FrostArticle_Web.pdf

http://chimeralighting.com/

In 1980, advertising and album cover photographer Gary Regester and noted climber, photographer and engineer/designer Tom Frost joined forces to create Chimera’s the first of a long line of light modifiers. Regester, who often photographed musicians on location, was looking for an alternative solution to creating the beautiful light he wanted for his portraits—one that created broader and softer illumination than umbrellas and a set-up that was more practical and portable than bulky lightboxes constructed from foam core and gaffer’s tape. Regester, inspired by the design of high altitude tents, sketched out some rough ideas for a collapsible modifier, which generated overwhelming interest from his photographer friends.

http://chimeralighting.com/about/
 
Deardorff38 said:
Tom Frost was a force. While he never was in the limelight like Royal Robbins & Yvon Chouinard, his climbing photographs taken in the midst of major first ascent were awe-inspiring to those of us who started climbing in the '70s. He had the eye for the most beautiful compositions. RIP
Click to expand...

He did have a great eye, yet he calls himself a climber who happened to carry a camera.
 
PKR said:
Lots of the old Camp 4 guys are gone.

People forget about Galen Rowell. Galen was a good photographer.
http://www.mountainlight.com/

Doug Tompkins moved to SA and was rarely heard from. Hap Klopp, his North Face inc partner is still in the SF Bay area. I spoke with Happ recently. The last time I spoke with Doug was on the cycling trail in Mill Valley in the mid 80s. Doug passed away in 2015, in Chile.

Tom Frost was a friend to all those folks.
https://flatlanderfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PFMagazine_FrostArticle_Web.pdf

http://chimeralighting.com/

In 1980, advertising and album cover photographer Gary Regester and noted climber, photographer and engineer/designer Tom Frost joined forces to create Chimera’s the first of a long line of light modifiers. Regester, who often photographed musicians on location, was looking for an alternative solution to creating the beautiful light he wanted for his portraits—one that created broader and softer illumination than umbrellas and a set-up that was more practical and portable than bulky lightboxes constructed from foam core and gaffer’s tape. Regester, inspired by the design of high altitude tents, sketched out some rough ideas for a collapsible modifier, which generated overwhelming interest from his photographer friends.

http://chimeralighting.com/about/
Click to expand...

What's amazing to me is that many of these Camp 4 folks went on to other highly successful ventures. Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia, Doug Tompkins founded The North Face, and of course PKR mentioned Frost's Chimera Lighting.
 
Galen Rowell was definitely of the next era. Lots of writing and promotion.
I always admired TomFrost’s low key approach and demeanour. He had a tremendous eye for composition....and there was no photographic self- promotion. Back in the late ‘70 I saw some photos of the ascents in the Cirque of the Unclimbables. I sent him a letter asking him about buying a print. I never did hear from him. In retrospect I have an even higher regard for him as a photographer. RIP
 
Thanks for sharing the links.
My brother is a climber, but I never had the chance to get into it. I wasn't aware of Tom Frost until this thread. Lots of respect. I can't imagine climbing that stuff and carrying a camera and film.
 
dourbalistar said:
What's amazing to me is that many of these Camp 4 folks went on to other highly successful ventures. Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia, Doug Tompkins founded The North Face, and of course PKR mentioned Frost's Chimera Lighting.
Click to expand...

Yep. Royal Robbins passed away in March of 2017.
https://www.royalrobbins.com/timeline/

https://www.royalrobbins.com/

Those guys all had lots of stories. The story of Yvon Chouinard being drafted, and then honorably discharged just after a week or so in boot camp, is my all time favorite.
 
dourbalistar.... I remember seeing photos of Tom with a iiig as well.
 
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