Melvin Redeker was born in Amsterdam in 1969. He was introduced to the mountains by his parents at the age of 14, when they accidentally visited Chamonix on their way to a beach resort in Southern France. Melvin studied business economics but spent more time in the mountains than in college. He is a freelance writer and photographer–preferring subjects like traveling, nature and the mountains–and also works part-time at the Johan Cruyff College in Amsterdam, where he coaches top-class athletes in the development of their business acumen.
With his climbing mates Mike van Berkel and Cas van de Gevel, Melvin climbed Thalay Sagar (Alpinist published several of Melvin’s photographs of this ascent in Alpinist 6). Melvin’s work also has appeared in Vertical (France), Klettern (Germany), Mountain (South Korea), High Mountain Sports (UK), American Alpine Journal (USA) and Dutch Magazines like Op Pad and Grasduinen. Black Diamond has published Melvin’s photographs in their catalogs and on their website.
Melvin has climbed peaks in the Alps, the Karakoram and the Himalayas. His first visit to the greater ranges was Ama Dablam, where he attempted to make the first ascent of its beautiful west ridge. He climbed the Bhrigupanth in 2001 and reached the summit of Thalay Sagar by a new route–the northeast face to the southeast ridge–in 2003. He made an attempt on Changabang’s mighty north face in 2005.
Other first ascents include the route Voie Hollandaise on the Aiguille d’Argentiere’s north face in Chamonix and two new routes on Shani Peak (5887m)–one on the 1600-meter southeast face–in the Karakoram. Because of its beauty, raw nature and a huge source of untapped steep faces, his favorite mountain range is the Garhwal Himalayas in India.
Closer to home he loves to climb in the Italian Dolomites where a good ascent, a nice beer and a pizza can easily be enjoyed on the same day.
Melvin and his colleague, Menno Boermans, have just finished a luxurious picture book. Vertical Vision captures the all-embracing experience that climbing–from below sea level to the highest of peaks–can represent for humankind. Their book contains 208 pages of stellar mountain photography. See the Vertical Vision website for a preview.
Download Melvin’s high-resolution desktop backgrounds at his website, www.melvinredeker.com. (The “fotografie” section is in English!).
And be sure to download Melvin’s high-res images in our Wallpaper Section.