Welcome to Joe Puryear Images, a collection of Joe’s favorite images from climbing around the world. Joe started climbing mountains at age fifteen with his parents, who dragged him up Mt. Adams in the Washington Cascades. Wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes, and cotton everything, the family summited in 'style'. Joe’s passion for climbing continued to grow and was the driving force in his life. Joe climbed all over the world. From Asia to South America, Europe to Alaska, he loved to refer to his travels as, "see the world by climbing plan". Joe started documenting his trips for purely research purposes and discovered along the way that he had a natural eye for capturing stunning images.
Joe died while climbing in Tibet in October 2010. His images are his gift to the climbing community.
His goal with photography was to take the camera to places that most people simply cannot get to. He climbed in hard to reach places to seek cutting-edge photos, where spontaneity and quick judgment, rather than posed and set up situations, create better images. He documented the elations and struggles in the alpine environment and shot scenery that is remote and striking. Most importantly he loved doing it and sharing those experiences.
More of Joe’s photography and reports of his adventures can be found on various blogs. Go to http://www.joepuryear.blogspot.com to explore these. If you see a picture there that you don't see here, please let me know and I will post it up for you. Also, if you are looking for a different format or for a black and white image, please contact me as well.
Thank you very much for visiting. In order to support and sustain the places Joe loved 40% of net proceeds from image sales go directly to the Access Fund and allow Joe to continue to share inspiring images with you.

- Michelle Puryear