Photographer captures adventures at great heights

Not only is he a photographer, but also an outdoor adventurer. However, Wang Zhen does not venture into the wilderness for himself; rather, he loves capturing the adventurous journeys of others. Known as "Rocker" due to his expertise in rock climbing, Wang has built a career documenting extreme outdoor activities.

Why climb mountains? This question was raised by Wang Zhen during the preface of the exhibition Through the Snow to the Peak at the 10th edition of the Jimei × Arles International Photo Festival in Xiamen, currently ongoing. Fascinated by this question, Wang has followed mountaineers to high altitudes, continually pushing the boundaries of altitude records.

"What attracts me are the stories of mountaineers," Wang Zhen told China Daily. "I'm not interested in simply capturing the scenic beauty of high mountains; I believe that people are the focus of my photography. I may not want to climb the mountain myself, but I climb only when I'm drawn to the person and want to capture their journey with my camera."

Wang, whose work frequently centers around other people, was featured in a documentary series titled Crazy Photographers, produced by China Central Television. One episode highlighted his experience filming renowned rock climber He Chuan as he climbed the south peak of Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi province.

He Chuan completed a 600-meter ascent alone, without support, making it one of the most challenging solo climbs on a big wall. Wang, on the other hand, faced his own set of challenges. Carrying heavy photographic equipment while climbing up and down on a rope beside the climber, he documented the entire process.

Filming large rock wall climbs is no easy feat. Wang Zhen is one of the few photographers in China with the expertise to capture such climbs. "As of now, I have the most experience in filming rock wall climbs in China," Wang said.