To photograph some of the most talented rock climbers plying their craft amid stunning backdrops and light you not only need skill, experience and patience, but also a willingness to dangle from a rope for hours to find the perfect vantage point.
It's a rare form of making a living that Leura resident Simon Carter does particularly well.
He spent much of this year producing three Australian rock climbing guidebooks, including the 2015 edition of Blue Mountains Climbing, due for release at the end of November.
This guidebook's 392 pages feature hundreds of spectacular action snaps matched with maps, practical information and insightful descriptions of 3,200 climbing routes in 55 areas across the Blue Mountains.
Mr Carter said one of the most challenging shoots featured a climber halfway up a crag above the Grose Valley, in changing weather conditions.
"That one involved us hiking out into the valley, climbing and abseiling and we ended up going there on three different days just to get it right," he said.
"I was hoping to get there when there was a really good inversion layer and I also wanted bright sunlight, but clouds kept coming through.
"You'd set off with that in mind but you can't control the weather."
Mr Carter used two approaches when shooting for the guidebook - "a documentary one and a creative one, where I'd find a climb that I felt is really spectacular to shoot and then ask a climber to go there and be a subject".
"The guidebooks have become a way for me to use my skills to provide a really important resource for the climbing community."
Mr Carter said he used a writing team made up of a core of eight expert climbers plus a host of others passionate and knowledgeable about the Blue Mountains.
"Since the last [2010] edition of this guidebook, the Blue Mountains climbing scene has grown and a lot more people have moved into the area who are into climbing and wanting that lifestyle.
"Our region is definitely one of the top climbing areas in Australia and has thousands of routes for all abilities, from easy ones like The Soft Parade near Mt York to the two highest grade (35) in Australia, Schweinebaumeln at Elphinstone and Retired Extremely Dangerous at Diamond Falls.
"The really positive thing is many old, established routes are being rebolted by experienced volunteers."
To pre-order the 2015 edition of Blue Mountains Climbing, visit www.onsight.com.au.
