Vertical Format

One Shot. No Margin. A documentary series exploring Canada's climbing culture through large-format photography.

The Misson

Vertical Format is a documentary-series which follows photographer Mark Scherle through the diverse climbing landscapes of Canada. This is not a project of convenience, it is an exercise in extreme intentionality.

One Frame No Margins

In an era of disposable digital volume, we are stripping the process back to its roots. Following in the footsteps of Ansel Adams, using a traditional 4x5 field camera in an environment it wasn't intended to be used. The stakes are absolute: the logistics are gruelling, the film is limited, and there are no second chances.

Every Image Begins Here

In the vertical environments, every gram is a burden and every movement is a risk. To capture Vertical Format, we utilize a specialized arsenal of equipment adapted for the rigours of the Canadian Cordillera.The heart of the project is a lightweight, large-format field camera. Handmade from beautiful olive wood, and aluminium by Stenopeika. This system provides the mechanical movements—tilt, shift, and swing—necessary to correct perspective and manage depth of field in complex mountain geometry.Every image in Vertical Format is made on individual
4×5 sheets of film. No continuous shooting. No instant review. One opportunity to get it right.

Director | Principal Cinematographer

Shawn Robertson

Responsible for documenting the physical and mental friction of the large-format process. Our cinematography lead utilizes high-dynamic-range cinema systems to capture the BTS narrative for our 2026/2027 network pilot.

Lead Photographer | Creative Director

Mark Scherle

Directing the visual narrative and technical execution of the 4x5 negatives. Mark oversees the "One Shot" workflow, from initial scouting to final scanning.

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