Belaying skills...?

In reference to what specifically?

Is it my aged eyesight (may be!) but your belayer seems to be belaying with only one hand.

Perhaps it is, but then a static picture of an active situation does not represent a full story. Right hand on brake rope tight down in brake position left hand in motion back towards the brake after having drawn in slack for the climber who requested 'Rest' for the shot. Nervous beginners perhaps but nothing unsafe here to my eye.

If I was belaying in this situation and the leader wanted slack taking in so she could rest on the rope, I'd simply take a couple of steps backward with both hands on the rope at all times.

Fair enough, but a couple of steps back the ground was not too even, descending to a small stream and safer to keep eyes on rather than worrry about feet placement and not falling down etc. Couple that to the fact they are both beginners and learning by doing. Maybe the style isn't to your liking, and that's fair enough, but it was not unsafe at any stage here.

The couple of steps back wouldn't have been from where he is now to the stream; it would have been from the base of the crag to not even where he is now. And that seems reasonably flat. I mention this merely as clarification. Better that we simply agree to disagree (lest this become tedious - and I need to go now, in any case). Good luck to them with their climbing!

Directly beneath the crag is a tree stump - it's not the best area or situation for text book belay positioning. Agreed that this is descending into pedantry and feels like picking gnats out of pepper - however a discussion was had at least. If you were to scrutinise all photos in this way you would have your work cut out for you.

Jesus Mick. He could be in the middle of scratching his arse for a second or two for all you can tell from a still. RH is locked off, climber is stationary, smiling for a photo, she's clipped to a bolt *above* her harness, essentially on toprope......nothing to worry about here!

Looks good to me also.

Thank you :)