Dillon Behing
My work explores the intersection of movement and landscape, capturing authentic stories and raw moments where rock meets water, rigidity meets flow, and people connect with place. Through unfiltered film photography, I document these relationships with honesty and intention. I believe the stories we tell have immense power, and as keepers of sight, we have a duty to witness truth. My mission is to use photography as a catalyst for change—advancing social and environmental justice while honoring the indigenous stories embedded in the landscapes where we recreate. Each frame carries both artistic vision and ethical responsibility, preserving moments that speak to our deeper connections with land and community.
The camera found me during a period of transition—when climbing had become more than just recreation and the stories of the land I moved through demanded recognition. With a background in engineering justice and ecology and years immersed in climbing culture, I approach photography as both documentation and advocacy.
Film has become my medium of choice not just from nostalgia, but because it demands presence. When each frame comes at a cost, both financial and temporal, I find myself fully immersed in moments rather than distracted by endless digital possibilities. There is no immediate review, no deletion of imperfect captures—just the commitment to seeing truly and waiting for stories to reveal themselves.
My work has taken me from remote crags to urban climbing communities, always with the same question in mind: How do we move through these spaces with intention? How do we honor the histories written into the landscapes we love? And how might the intimate relationship climbers develop with natural environments become a catalyst for deeper understanding and protection?
The photographs I create are unedited testimonies—grainy, imperfect, and honest. They speak to both the artistry of movement and the complex relationships we cultivate with land and community. Through this work, I hope to inspire not just appreciation for outdoor adventure, but meaningful dialogue about our collective responsibility to the places that hold our stories.
When not behind the camera, you'll find me seeking out new climbing projects, engaging with indigenous land protection initiatives, or teaching workshops that combine photography skills with conversations about ethical outdoor recreation.
