Simon Carter was born on June 20, 1966, in Canberra. At college he discovers that he has an interest in photography and also climbing, but climbing proves to be his first love.
After college Carter works in the darkroom of the Australian National University in Canberra during the day and studies photography at night. Two years later he realises that spending so much time in the darkroom is the wrong approach to the realm of photography and quits his job. He then undertakes a long climbing trip through Europe and returns to Australia to study Outdoor Education at the La Trobe University at Bendigo. After acquiring his Bachelor of Arts in 1990 Simon Carter spends six months climbing and photographing in Australia's premier climbing area, Mount Arapiles. He publishes the first photos in climbing magazines and decides to blend his two passions into a profession.
In 1993 Simon Carter sets up «Onsight Photography», a professional photography and publishing business. He lives in the Blue Mountains West of Sydney, one of Australia’s best climbing areas. The Blue Mountains acquired its name, so the legend says, on account of the millions of tiny eucalyptus droplets that hang in the air, giving the mountains their blue hue. The rock of the mountains is, however, of a dark orangey colour.
In Carter’s view a good photographer must capture the full emotion and the special meaning of the moment. It is simply not enough to be just technically good. At the same time Carter also tries to incorporate the landscape along with the action. The composition, background, colours and the texture of the rock give each image a quality of its own.
For his book Rock Climbing in Australia Simon Carter worked for over a year throughout Australia and the Tasman Island. He convinced not only the best Australian climbers to participate in this production but also stars from Europe and the USA such as Catherine Destivelle, Bobby Bensman and Lynn Hill.
Climbing is as pivotal to Carter's life as photography. He does not want to be just an observer of the climbing scene but a part of it. Is he a climber who takes photographs or a photographer who climbs? His answer is simple: "Both. I enjoy photography for its own sake in the same way that I enjoy climbing for its own sake". Photography and climbing give Carter "passion and purpose".
Publications
Works for leading climbing magazines all over the world: Alpinisme et Randonnée, Climbing, Climber Magazine, Grimper, Klettern, On the Edge, Rock & Ice, Rotpunkt, Vertical.
Publishes The Australian Climbing Calendar (each year since 1995).
Produces three wall posters and a range of greeting cards and postcards.
Rock Climbing in Australia (New Holland, 1998).
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Climbing Chronology:
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| 1984 |
Introduced to rock climbing on the granite around Canberra.
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| 1987 |
First ascent of High Fives (24), Booroomba Rocks, South of Canberra. (Australia's climbers have their own grading system: 24 equals French 7a and German 8, 29 is 8a or 10- respectively).
Two months full-time climbing in France at Buoux and Verdon Gorge.
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| 1989 |
Second place in the Woollongong Climbing Competition. First ascent of Billy Muggins (26) on Mount Stapylton, Grampians, west of Melbourne.
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| 1990 |
First ascent of Static Cling (26), Booroomba Rocks.
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| 1991 |
Repeated Slinkin Leopard (28) at Mount Arapiles. Finished 9th in the Australian Open Climbing Competition in Canberra.
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| 1992 |
Finished equal 2nd in Blue Mountains Bouldering Competition. At The Gallery in the Grampians he made the first ascent of Evil Dick (29).
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| 1993 |
Spent one month climbing at Paynes Ford in New Zealand. Repeated Serpentine (29) in the Grampians.
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| 1994 |
Finished 1st in the Hardrock Bouldering Competition, Melbourne.
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| 1995 |
First ascent of Not Too Bad (28), Taipan Wall, The Grampians.
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| 1996-2000 |
Climbs regularly in the Blue Mountains, Mount Arapiles, Grampians, and many other locations around Australia.
Redpoints to grade 28, onsight to grade 26.
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