[grimer]

Not sure about Neils shots of Johnny. He’s dressed exactly the same in every one - yellow T, tartan tights

[northern yob]

I was once an OTE cover boy….. not staged, authentic first ascent! I think it’s settled at E7.So it wasn’t always the case…. I have never been the subject of a staged photo in the uk( I don’t think)however I was never at the cutting edge…. I’m sure he will correct me if I’m wrong but Johnny brown never stages photo’s and he’s taken a few good ones…

[grimer]

Was this before or after Hard Grit, 1996/7?

[northern yob]

Was this before or after Hard Grit, 1996/7?

God knows…. Around then, could be just before or just after.

[grimer]

I’d love to hear Neils accounts of taking those pics. The best of the era

[Johnny Brown]

I’m sure he will correct me if I’m wrong but Johnny brown never stages photo’s and he’s taken a few good ones…

All post Hard Grit tbf…

I’ve staged one, at the climber’s request. But we stuck to the sequence used and I did make sure that the shadow of the top rope was visible in the ones that were published.

Also sort of staged some shots of El Mocho on Perplexity, where he just soloed up and down with a harness and rope just for show 

I’d love to hear Neils accounts of taking those pics. The best of the era

Me too. Think the Cowperstone ones we a different day at least, and if they were all posed they don’t appear to have hidden top ropes. If only we knew someone who could do some sort of publicly available interview?

[northern yob]

Long time contributor Duncan!

I was 87…… May 1999

[SamT]

What about the Kaluza Klein photo of Johnny.. I've always just assumed that it was staged as he's just hanging from the finishing flutings. (Unlike the Si Jones frontispiece). And also appears to be wearing exactly the same clothes in all of those photos too.

[Duma]

This thread is making me sad. All those inspirational photos from my youth ruined

[spidermonkey09]

https://mountainproject.com/assets/photos/climb/121933002_large_1643840686.jpg?cache=1682000275

The best ever?

[spidermonkey09]

This thread is making me sad. All those inspirational photos from my youth ruined

I remember being vaguely gutted when I was a student climber that all the reel rock films footage was (obviously) staged and not the real "send" footage. A crushing blow after the realisation that father Christmas didn't exist either.

[Neil F]

This thread is making me sad. All those inspirational photos from my youth ruined

Hang on! None of my photos of Johnny were posed. None.

The Kaluza Klein photo is of Johnny topping out on the actual first ascent.

The Black Rocks photos feature the same wardrobe because they were all shot on the same day.

Satisfied?

Neil

[Duma]

That's more like it

[Duma]

Always loved that KK shot

[Teaboy]

Phew!

[Will Hunt]

Where can we find these genuine Johnny shots?

[cheque]

Most if not all are in the Peak Rock coffee table book.

[SamT]

Hang on! None of my photos of Johnny were posed. None.
The Kaluza Klein photo is of Johnny topping out on the actual first ascent.
The Black Rocks photos feature the same wardrobe because they were all shot on the same day.

Yay...  So, I'm guessing it was always a case of a phonecall.. "Neil.. heading out to Black Rocks/Cratcliffe/Stanage tomorrow, new route, bring your camera".. meanwhile Johnny rummages through his wardrobe for his lucky first ascent pants and t shirt.

Satisfied? Neil

Absolutely.. 

[Johnny Brown]

Grimer you bad man, spreading the seed of doubt among the gritstone faithful!

You should prostrate yourself before the crag and recite three Our Fawcetts and three Hail Johnnys.

[remus]

I just got a lovely email from a friend of Richard Broomhead's, a prolific contributor to climbing in the south west in the 70s and 80s with many first ascents to his name and frequent partner to Littlejohn et. al. More recently he helped develop Fairy Cave Quarry.

I was wondering if anyone knows what he's up to these days? I'd write a little more of a bio about him, but there seems to be very little info available online.

[Fultonius]

The wardrobe theory was always a dud. Cubby (not totally unknown for staging some shots), regularly turns up on the day of notable first scents and foists upon the intrepid would be first ascentionist a set of rock contrasting, but highly inappropriate clothes. I was be belaying Iain Small on an E7 in Glencoe, and by the time I'd retrieved all the gear and taken a million rests he was shaking violently from Cubbys imposes shorts and cotton tee in a cold, blowey, typically Scottish day.

One day all these photos might appear... But when?

[andy popp]

meanwhile Johnny rummages through his wardrobe for his lucky first ascent pants and t shirt.

Probably the most important questions are: 1. Did Johnny have an extensive wardrobe? 2. Was a daily change of wardrobe an important consideration?

Zooming forward to the 90s, in my experience Jez Portman didn't stage pictures (though he may have done with others I suppose).

[webbo]

I just got a lovely email from a friend of Richard Broomhead's, a prolific contributor to climbing in the south west in the 70s and 80s with many first ascents to his name and frequent partner to Littlejohn et. al. More recently he helped develop Fairy Cave Quarry.

I was wondering if anyone knows what he's up to these days? I'd write a little more of a bio about him, but there seems to be very little info available online.

He had a picture in Mountain magazine in late 1970’s with the caption Dick Broomhead local expert. From then on in both the Peak and Yorkshire anyone expressing any knowledge about a route was referred to as a bit of Dick Broomhead.

[Johnny Brown]

 

[galpinos]

I was once an OTE cover boy….. not staged, authentic first ascent! I think it’s settled at E7.So it wasn’t always the case…. I have never been the subject of a staged photo in the uk( I don’t think)however I was never at the cutting edge…. I’m sure he will correct me if I’m wrong but Johnny brown never stages photo’s and he’s taken a few good ones…

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B1nGLLXGLGQ21OY

Though only E6 according to the blurb inside!