Jim Thomsen (Yosemite Climbing Association) - Facebook post 1/2/2025
Special New Year's Gift. Mike White sent me a signed poster of maybe the most iconic photo of Yosemite climbing. I've seen it since the 1970s, but until this year didn't think about who took it or the story behind it. Then I met Mike White, heard the story of his photo being published and used without his permission, or even giving him credit, much less some money. That needed to be corrected.
Chris Van Leuven wrote a story about the photo that we published in the Yosemite Climbing Association newsletter. Here is an excerpt:
"To learn more about this historic image, I called Mike White. He picked up, and we dove into the story.
The Interview
“I remember Bridwell saying, ‘You still got that camera, White?’ and I go, ‘Yeah, I got it.’ He goes, ‘Is there any film in it?’” White recalls.
Bridwell gathered Long and Westbay, then came back to White. They all hopped into a car and drove from Camp 4 to El Cap Meadow. Bridwell rummaged through his collection of outfits and handed them out. White shared that Bridwell avoided wearing the same outfit on multiple routes to keep track of climbs in photos.
Lying on his back, White framed the climbers perfectly against the towering backdrop of El Capitan, capturing their strut in proportion to the granite monolith. “I kind of got them positioned,” White says. “In the original photo, you can see my legs in it because I’m lying down on my back to get them and El Cap in the shot.”
Looking at the image on my computer, you can spot White’s blue short shorts with white trim, his left thigh, and both knees. Behind his legs, tall green grass and bright trees frame the climbers, with El Cap towering in the distance. (The cropped version is displayed on the poster.)
The trio struck an unforgettable pose. Westbay rested his arm on Bridwell’s shoulder, Bridwell rested his on Long’s, and all three gazed beyond the camera like rockstars. Bridwell, in particular, looked directly into the lens like a boss.
“I told Bridwell and Long, ‘I don’t know if both of you should have a cigarette in your mouth,’” White recalls. “But if one’s good, two’s better. Westbay didn’t smoke, or he probably would’ve had one too.”
“The outfits, the pose, the vibe—it captured not just the climb but the whole spirit of the era,” White says.
The Image Eventually Got a Copyright
White gave the film roll to Westbay, who had it developed. He didn’t see the photo again until it appeared in George Meyers’s book Yosemite Climber, published in 1979—but the image credit was incorrect. The issue persisted across other publications, prompting White to confront Bridwell.
“‘Okay, man, you’re right,’” White recalls Bridwell saying. “‘I’ll take care of it.’” The next time it was published, White finally received proper credit in Rock and Ice magazine. After that, White secured copyright to the image, ensuring proper recognition moving forward.
“That photo’s got a lot of mileage—it’s in Valley Uprising, Free Solo, and all over YouTube,” White says. “It’s amazing how something we did just for fun has become such a cultural touchstone in climbing.”
With the image now copyrighted, White owns its legal rights and was happy to sign several copies for the YCA museum.
“This wasn’t just a photo,” he says. “It became part of climbing history.”
Want one?:
Special New Year's Gift. Mike White sent me a signed poster of maybe the most iconic photo of Yosemite climbing. I've seen it since the 1970s, but until this year didn't think about who took it or the story behind it. Then I met Mike White, heard the story of his photo being published and used without his permission, or even giving him credit, much less some money. That needed to be corrected.
Chris Van Leuven wrote a story about the photo that we published in the Yosemite Climbing Association newsletter. Here is an excerpt:
"To learn more about this historic image, I called Mike White. He picked up, and we dove into the story.
The Interview
“I remember Bridwell saying, ‘You still got that camera, White?’ and I go, ‘Yeah, I got it.’ He goes, ‘Is there any film in it?’” White recalls.
Bridwell gathered Long and Westbay, then came back to White. They all hopped into a car and drove from Camp 4 to El Cap Meadow. Bridwell rummaged through his collection of outfits and handed them out. White shared that Bridwell avoided wearing the same outfit on multiple routes to keep track of climbs in photos.
Lying on his back, White framed the climbers perfectly against the towering backdrop of El Capitan, capturing their strut in proportion to the granite monolith. “I kind of got them positioned,” White says. “In the original photo, you can see my legs in it because I’m lying down on my back to get them and El Cap in the shot.”
Looking at the image on my computer, you can spot White’s blue short shorts with white trim, his left thigh, and both knees. Behind his legs, tall green grass and bright trees frame the climbers, with El Cap towering in the distance. (The cropped version is displayed on the poster.)
The trio struck an unforgettable pose. Westbay rested his arm on Bridwell’s shoulder, Bridwell rested his on Long’s, and all three gazed beyond the camera like rockstars. Bridwell, in particular, looked directly into the lens like a boss.
“I told Bridwell and Long, ‘I don’t know if both of you should have a cigarette in your mouth,’” White recalls. “But if one’s good, two’s better. Westbay didn’t smoke, or he probably would’ve had one too.”
“The outfits, the pose, the vibe—it captured not just the climb but the whole spirit of the era,” White says.
The Image Eventually Got a Copyright
White gave the film roll to Westbay, who had it developed. He didn’t see the photo again until it appeared in George Meyers’s book Yosemite Climber, published in 1979—but the image credit was incorrect. The issue persisted across other publications, prompting White to confront Bridwell.
“‘Okay, man, you’re right,’” White recalls Bridwell saying. “‘I’ll take care of it.’” The next time it was published, White finally received proper credit in Rock and Ice magazine. After that, White secured copyright to the image, ensuring proper recognition moving forward.
“That photo’s got a lot of mileage—it’s in Valley Uprising, Free Solo, and all over YouTube,” White says. “It’s amazing how something we did just for fun has become such a cultural touchstone in climbing.”
With the image now copyrighted, White owns its legal rights and was happy to sign several copies for the YCA museum.
“This wasn’t just a photo,” he says. “It became part of climbing history.”
Want one?:
MK - To me, This Nose in a Day photo is one of the Greatest photos taken that reflects historic rock climbing in the USA. Ever since this photo was taken, other climbers also had a photo taken of them in the same position standing in front of El Capitan after their amazing Nose climbing accomplishments.
You can see here: Photo credit: Billy Westbay collection
(two of three - signed) |
Warren Harding (signed)
Climbing magazine, photo by: ............ |
Peter Croft and Dave Schultz - (one signed)
......... magazine, Photo by: ........... |
Lynn Hill - (signed)
Climbing magazine feb/march 1995 Photo by: John McDonald |
And still more and more amazing climbers push to beat the speed record climbing the Nose route.
(signed) - Photo by: John Dickey
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Photo by: Florine archive
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Photo by: ...................
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(signed) - Photo by: ....................
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(signed) - Photo by: ......................
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Whats this? Even Marty Karabin needed to be in that photo! Photos by: David ..............
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