Alex Megos. Portrait, Céüse, France, 2022

Portrait of Alexander Megos taken in Céüse, France during his attempts to climb Ratstaman Vibrations (9b).

"I captured this portrait of Alex during his attempts on Ratstaman Vibrations. He was taking a brief rest, though calling it a nap would be an overstatement. He lay down on the relatively flat side of a nearby boulder, using a quickdraw as a makeshift pillow. When he woke up, I quickly snapped this photo. The slight blur, a result of my fast reaction and imperfect settings, lends the image a subtle, dreamy quality.

Ratstaman Vibrations, located in the Face de Rat sector at Céüse, France, was bolted by renowned climber Chris Sharma in 2012. The route remained an elusive project for over a decade, drawing attempts from top climbers including Sébastien Bouin, Charles Albert, and Sharma himself.

Calling Alex a friend is a privilege. His first ascent of Ratstaman Vibrations was one of the earliest significant rock climbs on which we collaborated. Filming and photographing that groundbreaking 9b ascent on the static line is a moment I will cherish for a long time. Alex achieved the first free ascent in July 2022, proposing a grade of 9b (5.15b), and described the route as one of the best he has ever attempted within the 9b range."

This print is for personal use only, intended for display in the home or other private spaces. For all other purposes, such as display in public spaces or institutions, publishing the image online or in print, or any other form of usage, permission must be granted by Jan Virt.

Please contact me with any questions.