The Ghosts Above: The extreme danger of Everest filmed on a Sony A7III

Climbing mountains always contains an element of risk. Even on relatively small peaks it only takes a change in the weather to bring serious potential trouble. But on a mountain like Everest the risks are multiplied a thousand fold. The Ghosts Above is a documentary with multiple dimensions, stunning in its beauty, but it also showcases in raw terms an incredibly risky endeavour.

The film was directed by Renan Ozturk, Taylor Rees, and Jay MacMillan. Ozturk also served as director of photography alongside Matt Irving, and was primarily supported by Sony / Alpha Films, National Geographic, and The North Face amongst others. Filming in this type of environment requires compact gear, and its a testament to both the filmmakers and the quality that is now possible on a small mirrorless camera that a documentary like this looks so good.

But although The Ghosts Above is stunning to watch, it is also a film of depth. Taking place against the background of conflict with the local sherpas, who were fed up with both the commercialism of the mountain and the danger they put themselves in on a daily basis vs the pay and compensation received, it tracks one group as they strive to find out what happened to Sandy Irvine, George Mallory’s companion on the fateful 1924 expedition to be the first to summit the mountain.

Irvine is rumoured to have had a camera that may still contain a photograph which would prove who made the summit first. Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, and it established that the two had in fact made the summit of the mountain, something that had previously been the subject of debate ever since their passing.

The Ghost Above is a film fraught with real life danger, as the group battles both the elements, altitude sickness, and the risk of embolism, which had affected one of the group previously. At these altitudes it is difficult to think or move effectively. So high up in altitude are the climbers that the human body literally starts to gradually die. It is only possible to stay at the top for short periods.

As someone who lives for the outdoors and for who the idea of calculating risk forms a regular part of my time outside of RedShark, the resolve of anyone who tackles a mountain like Everest still amazes me, let alone people who undertake to make a documentary on its slopes. Everest has become somewhat commercialised, and with the many people who attempt to summit each year the impression is sometimes given that it is easy. Watching The Ghosts Above, you’ll be left under absolutely no illusions about the seriousness of undertaking such a feat. You'll also be left under no illusions as to the effect the huge number of visitors have had on the mountain.

This is not only an amazing showcase of Sony’s Alpha series cameras, but it’s an amazing showcase of documentary making full-stop.