Daniel Gajda – Fresh perspectives, familiar locations

We talk to Red Bull Illume Semi-Finalist Daniel Gajda about what it takes to capture fascinating rock climbing like his.

Known for capturing the raw beauty of rock climbing and skiing, Daniel has photographed athletes pushing their limits in some of the most breathtaking locations, including his iconic shot of a climber – Ross Fulkerson on the legendary Blue Steel Boulder in Little Cottonwood Canyon, USA. We dive into Daniel’s creative process, the story behind his Red Bull Illume submission, and how he continues to find fresh perspectives even in familiar locations.
How did you get into photography and climbing, what drew you to combine them and how do the two complement each other?

Daniel Gajda: I fell in love with photography when I was pretty young and found climbing as a freshman in college. As I started spending more time outside climbing, I started bringing my camera along to capture all of the new adventures I was going on! Those first few years snowballed into doing it full-time and making a living off of both of the things I’m most passionate about in life.

You have already explained the story behind this shot, but could you share what went through your mind that day? Were there any unexpected challenges during the shoot, or were there moments of inspiration that helped you capture the shot just as you envisioned it?

Daniel Gajda: That day was quite a blur. It was a difficult challenge to capture that boulder from so far away while still being able to communicate with the athlete, as well as trying to time it with the best light. Thankfully working with high level athletes has its perks and Ross was strong enough and psyched to run a few laps on the boulder to make sure we got exactly what I was hoping for. Right as he pulled onto his second lap the sun came out from behind the clouds and illuminated the fall colors, creating exactly the light I was hoping for.

The shot you submitted to Red Bull Illume has an interesting backstory. How did you know or decide where and when exactly to capture that moment?

Daniel Gajda: I actually stumbled upon the location for this photo while helping on another shoot in the same canyon. I looked down from where I was standing and shooting that day, and boom, there was the shot. That was about 6–8 months before the photo ended up coming together! I knew I wanted fall colors, so we ended up waiting for October, and it lined up perfectly with the colors.

You mentioned that the location of the photo is one of the most photographed boulders in the area. How do you push yourself creatively when photographing familiar locations like that one?

Daniel Gajda: Blue Steel is one of the most beautiful and easily photographed boulders in Little Cottonwood Canyon. I find it extremely fun to push myself by trying to find angles of boulders that people haven’t seen before. I think the key is to step back and discover new ways to capture the location in a way that sparks your interest. I love finding angles of boulders from super far away – it’s a unique perspective that not many people think of!

Can you share with us what is still on your photography bucket list? Is there a specific location, person or moment that you dream of capturing?

Daniel Gajda: I have so many things left on my photography bucket list. One of the dreams is to shoot on a couple of the free routes that go up El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. I am also super excited to try and push my ski photography to new heights as well! There are so many athletes I want to work with in the future.

We can’t wait to see how Daniel captures his upcoming bucket list adventures as he continues to push his creative boundaries. Check out images from other projects of Daniel below. See more of Daniel’s work on his website and follow him on Instagram.
Even more climbing photography
Climbing photography is always well represented at Red Bull Illume and in the past editions has been remarkably successful. Check out the stories we did on some of the top submissions showcasing this mentally and physically challenging sport.

Written by Red Bull Illume