After 30 years of reaching for the peak, Katoomba rock climbing photographer Simon Carter has taken a moment to share the view with the release of his new coffee table book, The Art of Climbing.
Spanning three decades of his very best snaps, the book is filled with stunning images of climbers tackling the most scenic and daunting cliffs imaginable.
As a Blue Mountains resident for around 27 years several of the photos included are also close to home, with showcases including Diamond Falls, Perrys Lookdown, Corroboree Walls and many more.
"You've got really incredible access to a huge range of climbing routes and styles," Mr Carter said.
"The quality and quantity of climbing we've got here, it really is world class."
A skilled climber himself, Mr Carter rigs in climbing rope to abseil and uses lock-off clamps to free up his hands, placing him in the heat of the moment as he captures climbers in action.
Featuring photos from yawning chasms to snow-capped spires and everything in between, Mr Carter's life's work is interspersed with meditative thoughts provided by some of the world's premier climbers.
"That's what I love, when you're out on a mission together with fellow climbers to go and create something beautiful, to show how wonderful a place or the sport is," he said.
"It's great to be able to help record that, to share the love of climbing."
The end result is a captivating mix of tension, serenity and awe at the vast beauty of the natural world and the fierceness of the human spirit.
"For me, some of the best climbing images capture authentic climbing action, but also show the setting and the environment. So trying to get a balance where they're both working in harmony," Mr Carter said.
Despite shooting climbs all over the world, Mr Carter said he still considers the Mountains a unique place for its range of climbing - from short casual routes, to 300 metre adventures in the Grose Valley, to abseils found minutes from Katoomba's centre.
"It's really cool, over the last 27 years that I've lived here, seeing how climbing has grown in the community," he said.
The Art of Climbing is a result of a mix of passions which began in Mr Carter's teen years, when he separately discovered his loves for climbing and photography.
It was in 1993 that he connected the two loves and began his business, after spending 8 months rock climbing while living in a tent at Mt Arapiles in Victoria and recording his friends' climbs.
While his book is now released Mr Carter isn't slowing his ascent, with plans to make more guidebooks, film and video projects, and generally get out to snap more breathtaking photos.
The Art of Climbing was released on April 18, and can be ordered online at https://thamesandhudson.com.au/product/the-art-of-climbing/. It can also be found in-stores at Blue Mountains book shops including The Turning Page, Megalong Books, and Gleebooks.
