Monster Energy: This is SAM REYNOLDS

A week or so ago we put out a new edit we have been working on for a little while now with Monster Energy and their athlete and good mate of ours Sam Reynolds.

Shot at a few spots in the UK, and out in Norway last summer and pieced together over the corse of the last 6 months or so.

The video has been online a week now and is almost at 100,000 views with great feedback and interaction which is great.

See the video below, along with some photos that went live alongside the edit:

We are also working on a 4 part web series with Reynolds and his Monster team mate Sam Pilgrim which has started shooting, should be out in a few months and be pretty funny.

The Maderian adventure, photos and video

At the start of 2014 Sam Flanagan, Mark Scott and myself went out on a bit of a limb and took a trip to some where none of us, or anyone we knew had ever been before in search of some new riding, Maderia.

( This is the main edit from the trip ^ )

The trip was a huge success, we had an amazing time, met some amazing people and will be going back for sure.

Anyway, there was lots of media captured over the whole week, so here is a recap of whats already online, and where the rest of it will be in the coming weeks.

First up we put out a head cam run, the trails here took us all by surprise with how good they are and this was the perfect way to show the world what they are like first hand.

Next up we got a few still images out:

Then we got the main edit out, seeded it out to all our contacts at the leading mountain bike and cycling magazines and websites and it has had 35,000 plus views in its first week online alone.

( see top of post for the video )  

As well as shooting the video, sorting out helmet camera runs, and some photos to out alongside the online content I also shot still photos for 2 printed magazine articles for MBR and Wideopenmag , and also wrote the words for both, they will both be out within the next few months. (Thats where the best images are)

Next up for us is some jobs in the UK away from bikes, and a trip to Portugal, and then a 10 day road trip round South Africa with Monster Energy.

All go! Will try keep you up to date with some behind the scenes stuff on the Africa trip.

Jacob

Peaks of Life, makes Vimeo Staff picks

Here at Aspect we have been pretty flat out with work the last month or so, hence the slight lack of posts on here, but being that busy means we have lots of videos in the pipes.

 ( Always best to keep up to date with what we are working on via Facebook and Twitter )

Anyways, last week we put out this short documentary on Tom Wheeler, a good friend of us here at Aspect both as a rider, mate and fellow Filmer. He had a really bad crash a few years ago during a national DH race and this is the story of his recovery and journey back to riding bikes again.

It also just got voted as a Staff Pick over on the best video site going, Vimeo. We are pretty proud of it, if you haven't seen it already give it a watch, its inspiring stuff.

Canon XA20 initial thoughts...

Last month I got a new camera, I was toying with a few options and all for different reasons.

The issue I had was shooting video on a Canon 5d3 is great, the images are stunning and its small and easy to use, but its erganomically not a video camera, has no servo zoom, and is hard to keep steady and hand hold, it also only shoots 60p at 720 which is an issue when you shoot a lot of bikes and sports.

I was looking at Sony FS700, or something more like an EX1 etc

Aspect already has an FS700 so having two seemed a bit silly, and the EX1 and other cameras like it dont shoot 1080/60 either... hmmm, thought I would sit tight and wait a few months and see what else came out, im glad I did.

Step in the Canon XA20!

Now on paper it seems pretty damn good, MP4 and AVCHD at 35/28 MBPS, small ( DSLR size ) but a real video camera, the right shape, buttons in the right place, it has the most insane image stabilization ever, servo zoom and shoots full 1920x1080 HD at 60P, add in the fact it also has XLR inputs for top quality audio, 20x zoom and you have a pretty capable run and gun, documentary style video camera. Perfect for race stuff, road trips, and pretty much everything else. Put it with the 5D3, and FS700 already in our kit bag and we have most stuff covered.

On the recent Dirt mag run to the hills trip the XA20 got a fair hammering ( to the point its had to go in for a repair after Brendog hit the thing head on at 30mph and made the screen loose ) but it was amazingly easy to use, gives amazing clarity and quality and you can hand hold at something obscene like 300mm and the IS makes it perfectly steady!? 

Like I said the camera is away right now getting some TLC, but once its back I'm going to set up some shots, try out the different data rates and codecs, shoot some slow mo with it, compare it to the 5d3, and show you even though it has a small sensor you can still stop it down to F1.2 and get pretty shallow DOF.

For now see a short test of some footage straight off the camera in both AVCHD and MP4 and also a shot from my 5D3 for comparison. The Dirt run to the hills teaser video was partly shot on the camera and as you can see the footage looks great, equal to that from an EX1 as far as I can see...


Run to the Hills - Team DMR Teaser a Mountain Biking video by dirt



J

Jacob Gibbins 2014 Portfolio

Last week I put out my new 2013/14 still image portfolio.

With me shooting less races this season and more editorial and commercial work its a bit different to previous years but I am really happy with the work and have had a ball shooting all year.

Check it out below or via the link and let me know what you think.

issuu.com/jacobgibbins6/docs/portfolio_2014_high_quality?e=3556409/5247068

Jacob

Brendan Fairclough - Les Deux Alpes edit

Back in the summer Chris from Aspect went out to the Alps with Brendan Fairclough, one of the worlds best, and arguably most stylish riders for a week.

Here is the video that came out of the week, thanks to JoDesigns for the motion graphics work, and Boris for the still image.

Reverse engineered - Matt Jones, super flip

In this new series of posts ( Reverse Engineered ) I am going to pick a few images I have taken over the last year or so and reverse engineer them for you, explain how I got the shot, why I shot it as I did and where lighting was, the editing process etc

From the back of the camera to the portfolio.

Some images need very little doing to them, some I shoot with the intention of changing stuff in post. I will be posting up an image in a few weeks for example, where I shot with the aim of clone stamping out a lamp post. Sometimes things like that cant be fixed at the time of shooting and are where digital work really comes in to its own.

For this first one though, we have an Image of Saracen bikes rider Matt Jones down at his secret training compound near his house in the UK.

Shot at the same time as shooting for our film Antidote last winter, so we had both Chris and myself on set for the whole day, and between shooting video I got a few still images to run along side the film.

The Idea for the shot was to show:

• The fact it was winter in the UK ( cold, wet, dark, miserable ) 
• Matt pushing limits and trying big tricks 
• The full ramp set up 

With those points in mind, I wanted to shoot fish eye to make the jump look its biggest, wanted to under expose ambient a bit to get it all moody, and then use flash to bring Matt out of the back ground.

This is what the file looked like right off the camera:

Bit flat, bit dark, but everything is there and in the right place. No blown highlights. Clean.

For this shot as said above I wanted to use some off camera flash to help lift Matt out of what was a pretty boring, thick hedge back ground and over cast UK winter sky.

I use Nikon SB800 flash guns and PW2 triggers. The Nikon flashes as they are true work horses, seem to work in what ever you put them in, and with the extra piggy back battery have a recharge rate with good charge that can keep up with 7FPS shooting. As for the pocket wizards, no real need to explain. They just work.

As it says really, 2 flashes, one as Rim light and one as main Fill. Both pretty mid power and different zooms.

Thats the image captured. In the bag. But I knew I would want to do some work to it in post. Nothing to heavy, no clone work or anything like that but just giving the image the pop and punch I wanted. It was for the press release of the film part after all, It needed to grab some attention and stand out.

• Cropped in slightly, and also rotated the image a bit to get Matt in a better place in the composition. 
• Lightened up the roll in and ramp a bit to give him some context. 
• Brightened him up and bit and have him some more contrast. 
• Burned in the hedge in the back ground and bit and the darker areas of the clouds.

Shot on a Canon 5D mk3, Canon 15mm 2.8 , 2 x Nikon SB800 flash guns and PW2 triggers.

Any more questions leave a comment bellow and I will answer.

Another one next week...

Camera bags ( Vertex 300AW, Flipside 500AW, Flipside sport 20L ) and why you need a few

I seem to have amassed a fine collection of camera bags over the years. Looking back a few years you think you only need one, something that will go on your back and hold every bit of gear you own. Done.

But that's wrong, camera bags are just a tool and like most tools, you have different variations of them that are good at different jobs, think hammers, spoons, saws, cars, cameras even. You don't use a sledge hammer to put in a tack nor do you use a point and shoot to cover a world cup. Its that same idea that has over the last few years become apparent to me with regards to bags.

Have a few, not loads, but 3-4. Small one for some gear when your scouting, big one when you need all your photo and video gear, sport ones for when you need to ride for a while to get to a spot, you get the idea. Yes you could make do with one ( I did for the first few years of shooting ) but like everything, having the right tool for the job makes it much easier.

Here are 3 bags I use on a regular basis, what I put in them and when I use them. I have a few more but these are what I use 80% of the time:


Lowepro Vertex 300AW

This is my main bag for trips when I need to take a lot of gear. Its a big bag, robust and built for the outdoors. As you can see fits in all the gear I need to do both stills and video ( although to do both with full kits of each I do need 2 bags )

Taken it all over the world, and although the airline bins at check in beg to differ, it does fit in over head lockers as hand luggage filled right up, just dont let any one help you struggle in to the bins with it haha

Like I say, the go to bag for me, use it for 70% of jobs and has never let me down.

http://store.lowepro.com/backpacks/vertex-300-aw

Lowepro Flipside 500AW

This is another one of Lowepro's more outdoor bags ( kind of works with what I shoot 90% of the time ) but its a little smaller than the Vertex. It is also a bit deeper which is great for putting gear in a hurry and with pro series bodies, when a grip is on or for video cameras.

It unlike the Vertex opens on the back panel meaning you don't have to get your back all muddy etc when putting the bag down and straps etc stay clean, again its an AW model meaning it has the built in rain cover that can pull out in a second.

The front pocket isnt quite big enough to squeeze a 15" laptop in anoyingly but this isnt to much of an issue as you can just leave the top poking out and strap it in with one of the many straps on the bag.

I tend to use it for jobs where I'm shooting stills or video, not both, jobs inside, or where I need nice fast access to gear. I took it out to Eurobike recently and it was perfect for the job.

Bit of a different layout with super fast access to flashes.

http://www.lowepro.com/flipside-original

Lowepro Flipside sport 20L AW 

This is the newst bag of the 3, and also the smallest and lightest. It is those 2 reason why it gets used. When I go on shoots that mean riding as well as shooting, and where I know I will only have to shoot either photos or video this is the one to take. Small so doesnt swing back and try to make you do front flips all the time, loads of straps to hold it tight to your body and well padded, but on the flipside ( excuse that awfull pun ) its got enough room in it for loads of gear and doesnt feel like im loosing any features over say the Vertex.

If you dont have much gear, or ride a lot as well as shoot then this is the one to get.

Full of spares, chargers and Misc stuff at the moment. 

http://www.lowepro.com/flipside-sport

With all 3 of these bags, you get the built in AW cover and the fact its Lowepro and so will just work.

Its the bits of gear that just carry on working, in all weathers, despite all the abuse, that you don't notice. They don't shout about themselves they just get on with the task in hand. That is what a good camera bag should do. Carry all your gear and work flawlessly all the time so you don't have to worry about how safe your gear constantly.

Any more info or questions just ask in the comments below or via email.

Jacob

Getting started

I saw this on Chase Jarvis's blog the other day, read it in the airport and it all rang so true. I got asked how I started doing what I do a handful of times this week alone. So rather than tell you that again I thought I would say give this a read if your stuck in a rut, or want to be doing something else with your life but don't seem to be able to make it a reality.

When people ask me how I started doing this, I tell them it was some what of a snow ball effect, and that's true but that's the short version, the very short one. So is this blog post to be honest, if you see me in person and want to know more just ask.

The key part of all this, and actually making your dream job your actual job, or achieving anything you really want to is just getting started.

When I was 16 and still in school and setting up as self employed, lots of people told me I was rushing in to it all and should go get a normal job and go to uni blah blah blah. I took on board what they said, briefly, and then threw 90% right out the window. The careers adviser made me spend 2 weeks writing an in depth business plan, I haven't looked at it in 5 years of business.

I was very lucky that I was still at home and so had very little over heads, insurance and a car and a token gesture of rent was about it, so I had it good when it comes to starting a new business. But even so, I just got started and let the finite details work themselves out as I went along, and for the most part it worked out just fine.Yes there will be hickups, yes there will be signs telling you to stop and go be "normal" but its those signs that stop everyone else from doing this. From having what really is an amazing job. Others see reasons to stop, I see hurdles keeping all those who want it less than me out.

Someone ( I forget who, probably my mum ) told me that “ A mistake is only a mistake if you make it twice, otherwise it was a lesson” and its damn good advice, if you screw up ( which you are going to do a lot ) just work out why it happened and try your best to make sure it doesn't happen again.

So I wont rabbit on, but just want to say that like the post I saw on the blog mentioned at the top ( http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/a-brief-guide-to-world-domination/ ) , don't let your dreams become dreams, make them happen. Its so easy to find a hundred reasons to hold off on doing them, but all it takes is one good reason to give it a go and you will realize its not as bad as it seems, if you want something, anything enough, and are willing to put in the hours to make it happen, you will make it happen.

( I am now going to go ride my bike, and not think about working at all haha )

The last month or so ...

As ever I wont start yet another post with an apology for not posting very often. Truth is we are posting more than ever but with the rise of facebook shorter updates, photos and videos get put up on there pretty much every day.

So go like our FB page, and keep up to date on everything we are doing. ( which seems to be a fair bit at the moment ) 

https://www.facebook.com/AspectMedia

First up is Antidote, the full length film we made this winter. Now out in Full. 40 mins of UK MTB good times. Give it a watch on your lunch break or something.

Antidote - Full film a Mountain Biking video by AspectMediaUK

Next is a really cool advert we did with Mpora/Hiplok for there new light weight locks. Shot in London over a few days a month or so back. Now live and something we are pretty proud of.

Hiplok LITE: Designed for Riding - Built for Security. a BMX video by hiplok_locks

Then we have been traveling around at various events. From Euro Crankworx, about to jump on a flight out to Vancouver for the real deal, Norway ( where this helmet cam is from ) all over the UK to various races, South France etc

So while this blog might go a bit quiet when we are busy, we are still here and still updating the world on what we are doing and how, just its happening via facebook more offten. Will get our teeth in to some more in depth BTS and product stuff on this blog in Septmeber when we have a few weeks to breathe.

https://www.facebook.com/AspectMedia