Stone Nudes by Dean Fidelman

Stone Nudes by Dean Fidelman Stone Nudes is a photographic project dedicated to the art of climbing using beautiful forms in beau

Yosemite Valley, July 2010, The Lost Arrow Spire, the afternoon wind had found the line making it vibrate and sing into ...
16/05/2026

Yosemite Valley, July 2010, The Lost Arrow Spire, the afternoon wind had found the line making it vibrate and sing into the void signaling the sessions end. Dean had been walking for a few hours getting footage and practicing his fall and grab. I was down at the anchors rolling video when we called it. Dean slid back across the line to me, he was still in the zone, eyes wild, the updraft flinging his hair into a tangled mess.

"Winkie do you think I'll always catch the line?

 I involuntary flinched at Dean's question, we had been up here for 10 days, rigging and working the line, 120' of beautiful insanity  stretched over the abyss. It was an epic experience watching as the Dark Wizard worked on his performance,  days were spent practicing his dance with a leash, everything was leading up to the solo/leashless crossing. Dean's inner thighs were swollen from deep bruises after being pummeled by the super tight webbing. 

We had allowed ourselves to be blinded to the realities of what was in front of us, Dean was at his limit. His fear became ours, his mastery pulled everyone into the, Zone. The Dark Wizard thrived on conflict,  his, ours, and theirs, he picked us because we all carried that chip, and we could get the job done.

Like flys on the wall watching him transcend his limits, to walk through fear, to embrace the void.

Naw I said, you'll always catch the line.  Fly Free. . .df

Yosemite Village, Ansel Adams darkroom, 2019 11:59pm, it was almost time for the ghosts to appear, my film was in the cl...
23/09/2025

Yosemite Village, Ansel Adams darkroom, 2019 11:59pm, it was almost time for the ghosts to appear, my film was in the clearing solution and I'm feeling anxious. I want to see them now! My patrons at the Adams gallery (Kate, Evan, Ian) had granted me access to what was left of his darkroom for late night processing, a long wooden sink with filtered water and a heavy black curtain, it was everything I ever wanted. A portrait of Mr Adams on the wall glares at me though the gloom, he knows I'm about to pull my film.early to look at it, and he's not, pleased. 

I had just returned from my final StoneNudes roadtrip and needed to get my fix, that feeling I get when I finally see what I've gathered, the ghosts that appear when you go though the ritual of Silver, your hands conjuring, bathing, and caressing the film. 

My path to this moment was something I'd never imagined but had always wanted, and now those ghosts were about to become real. I unspooled the film as chemistry ran down my arms and held it up to the light, my eyes greedily searching the images, the roll was thin (underexposed) and difficult to understand. But then the light passed through the film at a slight angle and the Ghost appeared, the negative flashes into a positive for a split second, immaculate perfection. I glanced at the portrait of Mr Adams, was that a smile playing on his lips?

I've always held my dreams close, one of those was to have my work at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Valley. Please join me at the Gallery this Saturday September 27th from 2pm until 5pm for a signing of my Book, Fidelman, a Body of Work. . . DF

I'll have a few StoneMasters and StoneNudes books too! Saturday September 27th from 2pm until 5pm at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. . .

Joshua Tree, 2019, I've always put everything that's me into my Art, creating work is what I do, leveling up year after ...
03/02/2025

Joshua Tree, 2019, I've always put everything that's me into my Art, creating work is what I do, leveling up year after year, decade after decade, but still, I pickup my camera and play my music, always embracing the struggle to make, to express, to extract, to grow.
Nadya wanted to make a photograph, she'd expressed this for a few months via random emails but our paths weren't crossing and I had just finished working on the 2nd StoneNudes book. Creatively I needed a break, or so I thought.
I was preparing to give a sideshow at the fabulous Sethpool when Nadya walked through the wall of pot smoke and introduced herself. She got straight to the point “I would love to make a photograph with you tomorrow, what time works for you? Oh, and where should I meet you?
Naday's van rumbled down the dusty road and ground to a halt, pinging a few random stones into the desert. The previous night she mentioned the pole and wanted to incorporate this passion into our collaboration.
The promise of filling the canvas in my mind was making me smile, it was then that i understood something. Creativity, is my break, my escape. Every opportunity is that new canvass, that chance to level up. We unloaded the pole and found our spot, as I looked though the viewfinder i could feel the music, the universe, and everything it. . .we made the photograph. . .df

Yosemite Valley November 2024, ELCap Meadow; the morning sunlight sliced through cool blue shadows, warming everything i...
25/01/2025

Yosemite Valley November 2024, ELCap Meadow; the morning sunlight sliced through cool blue shadows, warming everything in its path. Stevie was sitting on the tailgate of her truck, cooking breakfast for us, she offered me a starter, i gladly took the 50/50 and a few hits then sipped my coffee and took it all in. The crowds were gravitating toward the warm sun, breakfast was almost done, we decided to walk to the far meadow to get away from everyone, as we strolled along the river a thought crossed my mind. Today we should use the Zen Method of Photography (aka Douglas Adams) “You don't always make the photograph you set out to make, but you always make the photograph that you need to make” We arrived at the location and quickly setup a Lyra, a slight breeze slowly caressing the leaves as light filtered past the branches, the fiery orb in the sky was just going behind Higher Spire casting the meadow back into deep shadow.

Stevie and I talked about life and everything else while waiting for the Sun to return, she mentioned her training in the Circus Arts. I've always enjoyed the collaboration between other artists with different disciplines, they bring everything to the table, a feast of possibilities. The Sun never made its return so we made some photographs, packed up and headed back to the car. Along the trail Stevie spied an interesting tree. Its texture and shape was intriguing, a few photographs later we walked down to the river, that's when it happened! a simultaneous flash of inspiration! I looked up and could see heaven, Stevie looked down and said "I can do a handstand right there, on that spit of sand" I reached into my pack for the camera, how long can you hold it for? "Three minutes, maybe more" I sat down on the cold wet sand, flicked the on button and peered through the camera, EL Cap was Glowing in the Sunset above, the River was fading into the still blue shade below, Stevie shed her clothes, placed her hands into the sand then with a deft kick of her heels, turned Yosemite on her, head. We made the photograph. . . that we needed. . .df

October 2014 4:00am, Rolling up on EL Cap Meadow I killed the lights and costed in next to Deans van. Sean Leary was squ...
17/10/2024

October 2014 4:00am, Rolling up on EL Cap Meadow I killed the lights and costed in next to Deans van. Sean Leary was squatting down stuffing gear into a pack, they were going for a speed run on the Nose. Dean picked up his load looked my way, then slammed the van door closed and bellowed “Winky don’t slow us down! he quickly disappeared down the trail into the predawn darkness. Stanley shook his head, “he’s psyched, don’t let him focus on you” I grabbed the tripod and camera, Sender films was paying me to roll footage of the lift-off. Sean shouldered his burden and we walked single file toward the wall, his headlamp quietly illuminating the path.

It was still dark at the base of the scramble leading to the first belay, my shoes wet and squeaky from the dewey meadow grass. I put down the tripod and peered around the corner into the dark scouting the approach, this seemed to anger the Dark Wizard! “Damnit Winky, you’re slowing us down, Sean let’s go, don’t you help him! Stanley whispered “f**k you” smiled at me and picked up the tripod “ follow me Winky” My face felt hot, glad that it was dark I tightened up my pack and started off after him. Sean never got to far away from me, I was moving slowly, the Raven in the dark above us squawked “get your asses up here!
Stanley stopped reached down and took the camera pack off my back, “I got this Wink” Christ I thought, do I really need the fifty bucks American they’re paying me to do this? The answer was, unfortunately, yes. Arriving at the climb I could feel Sween staring at me in the gathering light, “I’ve got to take a s**t, back in a minute” Sean starting laughing, looked at me and said “f**k, I have to take one too! A few minutes later, two birds of a feather were flying free, up, into a brightening sky. Sender got their footage. . . .df

It's been 10 long years my brother, I still walk in a mismatched pair of your old, shoes. . .

Yosemite Valley, the river 2024 The heat wave showed no sign of letting up and the need to create was surrounding me lik...
07/10/2024

Yosemite Valley, the river 2024 The heat wave showed no sign of letting up and the need to create was surrounding me like the hot air. Adventure i thought, that's what I need, every StoneNude is just that, an Adventure. What! had revealed itself, Who! was the answer, Where was obvious, the river, and When! was now. I had been eyeballing a boulder in the Merced for decades, I could see it from the road, all proud, steep and kinda, scary looking. Currently the river runs dry, now is the time a crew was needed, lots of pads and the stoke that comes with a mission, you know, that wonderful cacophony of friends who, get things done. I knew that B would be up for it so I gave him a bell and set things up. El Cap Meadow was hot and crowded, Brian's buddy Noah rolled up on a stylish Harley, ( a knockoff Honda 125cc)its exhaust thundering off the Valley walls, his helmet sporting an odd pair of furry ears, i knew instantly this guy's perfect! Off we went down Valley to the boulder, wadding across the cool water brought the stoke back, there was a small sandbar we could inspect the boulder from. That's when we found a splitter on the side facing away from the road! The boys quickly built a driftwood bridge to the problem then got naked, I sat down on the sand, toes digging into the cool riverbank and drew the camera to my eye, Noah walked the plank and stepped onto the boulder, a couple of women driving by catcalled, Brian let out a laugh, we made the photograph. . .df

I've decided to begin the multi year project of gathering StoneNudes for yet another Book, if you or your crew are interested in being included in the adventure, the dude abides. . .

Sometimes I can hear the Mermaids singing The Mermaids sing each to each, but I think they will not sing for me. . . (pa...
28/09/2024

Sometimes I can hear the Mermaids singing

The Mermaids sing each to each, but I think they will not sing for me. . . (paraphrased from a poem by T.S. Elliot)

If you’re in the Valley this beautiful Fall and want to create some Art, the Dude abides. . .df

Yosemite Valley, Camp 4, June 2024, I rolled into BushGardens desperately seeking to get high. The Gardens are what I ca...
08/07/2024

Yosemite Valley, Camp 4, June 2024, I rolled into BushGardens desperately seeking to get high. The Gardens are what I call a reality seam, they exist in plain sight but most people can't see them because they don't know what they're looking at. Midnight Lightning is very much the same way, it's been there for millions of years but nobody actually could see the boulder problem until Yabo, stoned on acid imagined it into existence. My relationship with the Lightning goes back many decades, not only is it the world's most famous boulder problem, she's amongst the most beautiful. I'd only made photographs of her a few times in the past, and had always wanted to make a StoneNude. My friend Brian had pinged me a few days before saying he has something for me and that we should meet at the Gardens. He was waiting for me when I arrived, "Hey man I wanted to give you something, I don't use it anymore, and I know that, well, you do" Today was going to be a great day I thought as he handed me a paper bag full of, daydreams. Brian smiled, there was an awkward silence "can I ask you a favor? He went on without my answer "would you consider making some photographs of me on Midnight Lightning? It's my favorite Muse"
When the universe gives you a gift, the only thing anyone can really say is, F**k Yes! Let's go. We trundled off to Camp 4, a small group of friends greeted our arrival. B had his dance moves dialed to perfection and easily floated the boulder. After a few burns I could feel the timing between us and made some good images. He took a break and that's when I asked him, so, do you want to make a StoneNude? B smiled and looked up at the boulder then peered at his audience, everyone had expected the question, he gave a nervous giggle and said "When the Universe gives you a gift" we made the photograph. . .df

Yosemite Valley June, 2024 it was hot in the Valley, a hot wind carried the roar of the Falls over the river, a 50/50 c...
14/06/2024

Yosemite Valley June, 2024 it was hot in the Valley, a hot wind carried the roar of the Falls over the river, a 50/50 causally dangled from my lips threatening to set the meadow ablaze. My mind felt like 6 fireflys trapped in a jar, randomly beeping and smacking against the glass. My body was in the world but my mind wasn't, the perfect moment to create art. I'm addicted to the flow state, that passionate moment of forgetting everything but what's in front of you. So many line, I could feel symmetry but not the flow. Marisol turned her body toward the light, I could feel the possibility of perfection when she suddenly covered up and began to, laugh and point behind me. Twisting my head around I could see an open air tram (aka Green Dragon) giving a couple of dozen tourists an incredible photo opportunity. The bus slowly groaned down the road out of view, Marisol smiled and relaxed into her pose, the Sun was just getting cut off by the Valley Walls, a warm breeze pushed a pinch of smoke from my 50/50 into my eyes, i could feel the flow, we made the photograph. . .df

2004, I was in Boulder staying on Micah’s couch when I ran out of money, he had a job moving piles of wood from one side...
08/06/2024

2004, I was in Boulder staying on Micah’s couch when I ran out of money, he had a job moving piles of wood from one side of a building to the other. It seemed like the perfect metaphor for my life in this moment. We used to cruise the Whole Foods at lunchtime for free samples, Micah was a genius when it came to finding and sharing food. On the weekends Amelia, Micah and I would go to art museums and hangout at funky coffee houses, it felt like a monkey renaissance.

His path to Climbing was about Redemption and the passion of someone who’s found their true calling in this life. Sometimes he would chat me up in the dead of winter shouting the weather in Boulder was perfect and there was a line of girls waiting to make a StoneNude, by the time I would arrive so would the snow and so went the girls. I think he just didn’t want the couch to be lonely and just maybe he liked listening to, an old mans stories, we made the photograph. . .df

15 years ago, your light still, shines my brother. . .🖤

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