Friday, 30 August 2013

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 )

Monday, 5 August 2013

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

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Antidote parts 1 - 3 out!

Its all out there! Antidote the longer length film project we have been working on since the end of last season really is now online, all 3 parts can be seen on Mpora now.

Been a lot of work, we have learned a lot about making a bike film, and if everything comes together are already considering the possibility of doing another one.

With the riders list reading like a whos who of UK MTB from DH to Freeride with Brendan Fairclough, Olly Wilkins, Rich Thomas, Taylor Vernon, Matt and Jono Jones, Matt Simmonds, Joe Smith, Danny Hart, Sam Pilgrim and Sam Reynolds it has gone down well.

Find all 3 parts here:

Antidote - Part 1, Fairclough,Wilkins,Thomas,Vernon a Mountain Biking video by AspectMediaUK


Antidote - Part 2, Jones Twins, Matt Simmonds, Joe Smith a Mountain Biking video by AspectMediaUK


Antidote - Part 3, Danny Hart, Sam Pilgrim, Sam Reynolds a Mountain Biking video by AspectMediaUK


And we will be putting out the film as one part to download should you wish this weekend.

Enjoy

Aspect

Sunday, 12 May 2013

Antidote - full length film trailer now out!

For the last few months Aspect have been working hard shooting for our new full length MTB film called Antidote. A much bigger affair than we have done in the past with a lot high production values and a stacked roster of riders.

The trailer hit the internet yesterday and is up over on Dirt now, give it a watch and a share etc and keep an eye out for part one dropping next week.

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/exclusive-antidote-teaser-for-new-four-part-online-film-from-aspectmedia.html

Big thanks to Monster Energy and Giant Bicycles for making the film happen, with out those lot none of it would be possible.

Also working with Dirt/Mpora and Exempt clothing on this which is great.


More Mountain Biking Videos


 Part one coming next week! Brendan Fairclough, Olly Wilkins, Rich Thomas and Taylor Vernon! 

Friday, 10 May 2013

DMR Sect product launch campaign




For the last month here at Aspect we have been working hard on this project. It all started after we finished the brendog Vaults pedal campaign and after that did so well, they wanted to get us involved on their next launch, the DMR Sect product launch campaign.

They got us in to shoot everything from the video, banners, still photos for the website, mini sites on websites like pinkbike, print adverts etc. start to finish everything visual ( apart from the amazing graphic design done by DMR rider Olly ) was done by Aspect. 




While some say the swearing, and the lack of riding was a brave move, the concept was strong and wanted to show how DMR really is a riders brand making stuff that has been thought through by the people that ride it hardest. Part 2 is already in the planning and will be a more normal riding edit, so don't worry you will see more of those wacky Jimmy Pratt whips.


Another big shout out on this project has to go to Josh O'Leary over at JoDesigns. He did all the motion graphics work on this edit which helps bring it to life. Motion graphics really rasie the production on any video they are in, and how ever simple take a fair bit of work to get done just right. We will be working more and more with Josh in the future so expect more cool things from the Aspect/JoDesigns thing ...

Anyway, watch the edit, go check out the products, buy some and keep an eye out for the trail and part one of our new film which will be dropping over the next few weeks.

Ta

Aspect

Sunday, 5 May 2013

Gravity Enduro Rd 2 video



Wideopenmag//Juice Lubes - UK Gravity Enduro Series Rd 2 at Innerleithen from Wideopen Mag on Vimeo.

The other weekend Aspect went up to Innerleithen in Scotland to shoot the second round of the UK gravity enduros for Wideopen and Juice Lubes, good weekends racing had by all, see the video we made above.

Expect a post on some more gear and other big projects very soon, seems we are to busy working in May to do many updates on here ha

Aspect

Monday, 8 April 2013

Will Weston - Aspect media supported rider

Last week Aspect went up to the forest of Dean to meet up with our supported rider Will Weston.

Now for as long as I have been making money from doing this, I have wanted to support a racer with nice photos and videos. Marketing and getting quality coverage is a huge part of being sponsored, and being in a position to help a rider by giving them that is something I like doing.

So when Will left the Saracen team ( like myself ) last season and asked me if I wanted to support him with media for the season I jumped at the chance. He is a good kid, learning all the time an starting to dip his toes in the WC lake. So a big year for him.

The main aim of this days shoot was to get a short interview video outlining his plans for the year and some photos to act as a press release about him. I think we did that.







The plan is to do a few of these shoots with him through out the season, and to get him good quality images from all races we are both at. 

Keep an eye out and check out his site to keep up to date on all his goings on.

Aspect

Monday, 1 April 2013

British Enduro Rd 1 video

The other weekend Aspect went down to Afan in Wales to shoot a video of the opening round of the UK Gravity Enduros for Wideopenmag and Juice Lubes.

We will be at every round of them in 2013 so expect some great videos from them all...


Dan Atherton on his way to taking the win by a LOT

Aspect



Wideopenmag//Juice Lubes: 2013 UK Gravity Enduro Series Round 1 at Afan from Wideopen Mag on Vimeo.

Saturday, 30 March 2013

Aspect Media's gear ... post 1 of 2

We get a fair few questions on what kind of gear we use at Aspect media. Over the next few weeks we will be doing a few blog posts on all this to answer all that.

In the first of the series we look at what is in both of our ( myself and Chris ) main bags.

We will be covering support, lighting, computers etc in future posts.

First off Jacobs ( mine )

Now as I'm first and fire most a photographer my bag is more full of still gear, but with a fair bit of stuff to make shooting videos better as well.

In this first Image we have the contents of my main bag in its everyday set up exploded.

In this image we have: 

  • Canon 5d3 body with 24-105 F4 IS L
  • Canon 550D body with grip
  • 70-200 F2.8 L
  • 15mm fish eye F2.8
  • 50mm prime F1.8 
  •  2 x Nikon SB800 flash guns
  • 3 x PWs
  • Rode video mic pro
  • Rode lavalier mic
  • Time lapse remote
  • LCD viewfinder
  • flash diffusers
  • memory card pouch
  • gorilla pods
  • batteries
  • lens clothes/blower
  • cables and bungees

Then in the bag which I didnt bther to unpack are some more bolds, flash filters, lens filters and some 2 way radios. 

All paced in to the Lowepro Vertex 300AW.
A rugged outdoor and location bag big enough to fit all this in with enough pouches and relevant weather protetion to take out in to the mountains. Never skipped a beat.

The gear that you don't notice is the gear working the best.

Here it all is packed up nice and neatly in the Lowepro Vertex 300AW




Next up Chris Seagers main bag...

Now Chris is just a video man. So his bag is much more suited to just shooting video alone. 



 As you can see above it all packs nicely in to the Lowepro Flipside 500AW, another bag with the outdoors in mind, opens from the back so you dont get your back all muddy after putting it down, lots of straps on for tripods and to keep it nice and tight on your body for riding with as well if we need. ( althought we have even better bags for this purpose you will see next time )

Anyway the contents:

  • Sony FS700 high speed camera
  • Canon 7D with 17-50 mm
  • Tokina 11-17mm 
  • Canon 70-200 F2.8 IS L
  • Viewfinder for the Sony 
  • Spare batteries for both cameras
  • Remote for the Sony ( useful when cameras on the crane )
  • Shotgun mic ( with wind breaker )
  • Gorilla pod 
Between these 2 bags we have most things covered, but as we will show you in the next gear post in a week ish, theres a more bags for different shoots and gigs, all the supprt gear ( Tripods, cranes, sliders, steadcams etc ) as well as lots of usefull tips for computer gear and chargers etc

Any questions just leave a comment.

Aspect

Friday, 15 March 2013

Why the lack of posts ?

If you are one of the people who comes on here regularly and have been wondering why theres been a noticeable lack of posts theres a very good reason for it.

We are to busy actually working and shooting, and don't have any videos out for a few more weeks yet ... Pretty simple, just not enough hours in the day at the moment.

We are in full tilt production mode at the moment for our new full length film that is in the works, we have been all over the place for that, Spain with the Jones twins etc  and have a handful more shoots for it in the next month.

Here Matt Jones throws a sweet table while shooting down in Malaga.

As well as that I have been shooting plenty for a few magazines and Chris has been mad with uni work, we have a few big shoots coming up in the next few weeks though so keep it locked to our facebook page ( which is updated a lot more than this ) to keep up to date on a very really exciting projects etc

https://www.facebook.com/AspectMedia

Ta

J

PS: we also got some sweet post cards printed, if you want one in the post message us via the facebook page with why and where.