In today’s segment of Links My Family Sends Me, we’ll take a look at some photographs that ‘wow’ the civilian viewer. Lots of juxtaposition that reminds me I still need a telephoto zoom lens. Thanks to my stepdad for the link.
Tag Archives: Photography
Travis Mortz Explains The Sunny 16 Rule
Our recent podcast guest Travis Mortz explains basic daylight exposure for his local film lab. It’s like learning to read light instead of words.
New Spenser “Loofa” Lee Photo Website
Tempe-based photographer Spenser Lee (or Loofa as he’s sometimes known) just updated his portfolio website with not only some amazing riding photos but also some really clean architectural/interior shots. Click around, get psyched.
TCU TV – The Photographer’s Discussion
A while back, I had the chance to get a few established photographers in the industry together to talk shop. I had a loose list of topics we could hit and Jeremy had a list of his own. We didn’t get to hit nearly as many subjects as we would have liked to, but that’s usually how these things go. I think we did pretty well with the time allotted and we’re hoping that any aspiring lensmen will be enlightened by our discussion.
If there are any specific topics that you’d want us to hit for the next discussion, please leave them in a comment below.
1:09 – Jeremy Pavia introduction
2:47 – Chris Mortenson introduction
4:28 – Josh McElwee introduction
6:25 – Jeremy’s “Through The Lens” column from The Union
9:21 – “Film vs. Digital” (actually we discuss Dean Collins and teaching for a while)
11:22 – We actually start discussing the film versus digital thing
13:26 – Shoutout to the darkroom
18:53 – What’s your favorite f/stop?
21:31 – “I just wanna capture the moment and sometimes the moment is shitty”
23:00 – No more hanging posters
24:11 – “Print vs. Online”
25:08 – Gregory Crewdson
28:48 – Readership
30:16 – Vinyl vs. MP3
30:55 – The Albion
31:55 – Props on VHS
36:04 – Josh’s story
37:45 – DIG/Focal Point
40:57 – A watered-down industry
43:35 – The process of shooting/choosing what gear to carry
46:13 – Getting the shot
49:22 – Fuck barspins.
50:35 – A collaboration between photographer and subject
55:19 – Riders getting hurt while shooting
57:01 – Shoutout to Kiraly
58:34 – RideBMX‘s 1 o’clock photo project
1:04:19 – Let’s talk about gear
1:08:57 – Advances in photo technology
1:12:25 – How to get your photos noticed
1:13:44 – Looking outside of BMX
1:15:43 – Experience
1:17:14 – Final thoughts and comments
Posted in BMX, Gear, Interview, Podcast, Tech
Tagged BMX, Chris Mortenson, Jeremy Pavia, Josh McElwee, Magazines, Photography, Scott Marceau, The Come Up
Fisheye Photo Contest Winners
The results are in! Greg Moliterno takes the cake with this high-intensity shot of Shane Cecil. Runners-up:
Kyle Lee by Shawn Duffield
Benjamin Martinot by Kevin Proust
Chasing Light with Vince Perraud
Interview and editorial photos by Chris Mortenson. All other photos credited to Vince Perraud.
I’ve been a fan of Vince’s work for quite sometime now. His photographs are more than just pictures of people doing tricks. He is capturing the culture that surrounds BMX in one of the purest ways I’ve seen in. Be it using natural light or throwing a small strobe in the mix, his photographs capture what it feels like to be out riding with your friends and enjoying all the adventures that riding bikes can bring. When I found out that he was coming through Los Angeles for the Couch Riding trip I set up a time to link up on a roof in Hollywood and watch him make some pictures with flatlander Matthias Dandois. After hanging out with Vince I can say he is one of the most humblest of people I’ve met and I can’t wait to see what he creates in the future.
For the people who might not know you, can you please just give a little introduction?
Yo What’s up! I’m Vince Perraud I come from France and I take picture for something like 9 years now, a bunch of BMX… and I never meet up Jean De Crepe aha.
You have a pretty big collection of cameras in your bag, could you talk a little bit about this and how you came to have such diversity?
Ah yes I have a bunch of cameras because all of them have a specificity and it’s fun to use!! OK I have to admit all of them are half fucked so I need all of this to shoot! It depends on what subject I’m shooting. It’s just cool to vary from fucking digital.
What is your favorite camera to shoot with and why?
Depends on the mood but I would say the good old Bronica SQ! It’s medium format so the 120 film gives a good result, nice depth of field and you can synch at 1/500…and it’s cheap too!!
When out shooting do you have any special process you go through while making images, or do you let things happen organically?
I would say improvisation but now I try to work on it, like check the location, best time to shoot with the good light etc…
Do you find inspiration in photography outside of BMX, and if so, do you find it easy to adapt that inspiration into BMX photography?
Yeah I try to check all sort of photography, like music, architecture, fashion… and mix it because to make nice pics for any subject you have to work on the composition, light etc… But bmx is really free and there are so many aspects to the culture, I don’t necessarily think about it, but bmx (same as skate) photography is really creative!!
I’ve noticed in your newer work, you are shooting with a lot of natural light vs. strobes. Can you just talk a little bit about the shift and how it has affected your shooting style.
Ah yeah I shoot more natural cause my flashes are fucked!! You have to make choices also when you travel by plane, it’s really annoying to be limited on stuff you can bring with you overseas, so recently I was less into flashes and I tried to work more with ambient… and it takes less time to set up so you don’t piss of the riders. You ready already! It’s better for lifestyle too!
Who are some of your favorite photographers outside of BMX?
I have a bunch of various inspiration but the ones that are always sick are: Foster Huntington, Scott Pommier, Chris Burkard, Kenneth Cappello, Brian Gabermann, Eric Antoine, Michel Sedan, Jérôme Tanon, Kristina Fender, Fred Mortagne, Mike Piscitelli… in no particular order.. My favorite at the moment is Purienne.
Do you have any personal projects you are working on?
Good question! I would say going to vacation with my girl…
Do you think it is necessary to study photography to understand how to create good images?
Hum not sure, most of the dudes I know never study photo… but it’s a good advantage to know the sport well when you snap bikes for example…
How do you think the ease of image sharing has effected photography within BMX?
I don’t know, everything is going faster and faster. It can bring more ideas or creativity but I feel like it’s too much nowadays…too much shit and the good stuff are flooded in middle of crap… it’s also harder to stand out…
When was it that you felt like you really hit your stride and found your vision as a photographer?
I’m still searching ahah.
Do you have any advice for the up and coming shooters of the world?
Go out with you friends and snap instead of chilling in front of the laptop! 😉
Photography below by Vince Perraud.
Posted in Interview
Tagged BMX, couch riding, France, Matthias Dandois, Photography, redbull, Vince Perraud
Sandy Carson “A View From the Pit”
Let’s face it BMX and photography go hand in hand. So many riders pick up cameras and are able to produce quality photographs. So I was extremely excited to find some of Sandy Carson‘s personal work up on one of my favorite photo blogs this morning. The series documents concert goers on the front lines of concerts and was shot over the course of 8 years. Check out the rest of the gallery and interview here.
Daniel Benson | The Diggest
Photographer Daniel Benson has a photo gallery and interview up on The Diggest. I grew up looking at Benson’s BMX work in all the UK magazines so it was refreshing to see some of his work outside of BMX as well. Check it out here.
Posted in Interview, Photo, Uncategorized
Tagged albion, BMX, daniel benson, Photography
Shoot All Skaters – Jonathan Mehring
Brooklyn based skate photographer Jonathan Mehring is featured in The Berrics next installment of their Shoot All Skaters series. Being one of the most well traveled photographers in skateboarding, he’s got an incredible body of work to show why. I advise you to Click here and check it out.
Post-Production via Adobe Lightroom
In my opinion, this is the best episode of in focus thus far. Click play for a few Adobe Lightroom post-production techniques from Skateboard photographer Jonathan Mehring.
Posted in BMX, Photo, Skateboarding, Tech
Tagged Adobe Lightroom, Editing, In focus, Johnathan Mehring, Photography
Push It A Stop 