9th Street Jumps
Got the chance to go out and photograph local Austin BMX celeb Justin Hochevar. When we walked up to the jumps, I had my camera in my backpack, a couple of light stands in my hand and a few light bags strung over my shoulder. Justin pedaled up a couple of guys sitting on the bench and the local convo pretty much went like this….
Local – “What’s up Justin, how you doin man?…. long time no see”
Justin – “How’s it going guys? Great to see ya.”
Justin shakes some of the guys hands, fist bumps the rest
Local – “You guys here for a photoshoot?? Cause if you’re here for a photoshoot, YOU CAN JUST GET THE F*@K OUTTA HERE NOW!!!!”
After about 2 seconds of awkward silence, I start to remember the that this is their local crag, just like any other place, and this is how locals test/ greet outsiders. This wasn’t the first time I had been put in this sort of situation and what else can you do but laugh? So that’s what everyone did, and then we got down to business. The yocals sat on the side, heckling every now and then, but mostly just sat there flapping their gums and drinking beer. While they were busy doing that, Justin and I were knocking out shots. Getting composition and lighting down, and getting the timing just right (the jumps and the photograph). I used two lights in the scene. One in front of the rider in a med softbox to just barely fill the landing zone, and a 40degree gridded light to the left to get a nice hard light on the rider. After we got the shot that we wanted nailed, I did a portrait just for fun. Single softbox used to light him. Here are the images:
1/200 - f/8 - 14mm - iso200
1/80 - f/5.6 - 70mm - iso200
Summer time Climb time
Today. Right now. The temperature says 102, but “feels like” 105. Feels more like I’m stuck inside that new grill I just bought and some dude is standing outside of it messing around with the gas regulator… So how does one fair an entire summer in this inevitable sweltering Texas summer heat?!?! THE LAKE OF COURSE! For the past, I don’t know, 6 or 7 summers, we have headed out to Pace Bend to rock climb over the water. At first we believed we were only able to climb the cliff bands that surrounded the Pace Bend park peninsula, but last year taught us different. The water level dropped so much, that we were unable to climb Pace Bend proper anymore and thus the Austin Armada was born. I believe there to now be a fleet over a dozen V-hulled John boats ranging from 10-150 horsepower that can get us to most any over the water climbing spots in under 15 minutes. And we’re still finding more. This summer has been especially great to us because the water level has risen back up to full which made this particular cove climbable again. We found it last year, but there was a wall of blankness approximately 15 ft. to the first obtainable hold. Definitely psyched to have this spot. Here are a few images from Point Cove:
Congrats Shelley and Jeremy!
A few weeks ago, we trekked out to Flat Creek Winery to do a couples photo shoot of Shelley and Jeremy. Something good must have been in wine, cause a week after this shoot, the two became engaged!!! On a side note, I just got a new grill yesterday, and we cooked up some really good T-Bone steaks last night. The Cab Frac from Flat Creek Winery pairs really well with that cut FYI. Here are a few selects from the session:
1/250 - f/5.6 - 150mm - iso100
1/800 - f/2.8 - 85mm - iso100
1/200 - f/5.6 - 35mm - iso200
1/200 - f/5.6 - 50mm - iso100
1/200 - f/4.5 - 30mm - iso200
1/320 - f/5.6 - 150mm - - iso200
1/160 - f/11 - 55mm - iso400
