One of the best aspects of this job is working with inspirational people. This ranges from the talent to the team. I was asked to shoot the “I Move Me” campaign for ASICS. We would be photographing a range of athletes that included Penny Oleksiak, a gold medalist swimmer.
Fujifilm GFX 50S + 63mm f/1.8
This shoot was strict with time. Adding to the stress, my time with Penny would be shared with an on going video shoot. In some way, most shoots some down to working quickly and creatively. To make the most of my time with Penny, scouting ahead and doing mental gymnastics as to how to shoot, using what light was continuous.
Fujifilm GFX 50S + 63mm f/1.8
The image above is shot in an impromptu locker room. The lockers were moved into a corner and a bench placed to create the scene. Following the video team, we quickly set lights in place. Using complimentary colors to gel the light, we managed to nail a shot. Working quickly is one thing, taking a chance with color is another. Pushing yourself to do something different is always rewarding.
Fujifilm GFX 50S + 63mm f/1.8
This is the last shot in the facility. The video team arranged for lights on the turf so basically the back lights were provided. With the addition of a gridded beauty dish boomed from above, we were good to go. One problem, I forgot to remove the orange gel from the light, so the original file was far from what I envisioned. My only excuse was the time frame I had to shoot so I kept shooting. With adjustments in Lightroom and Photoshop, I was able to balance the colors to the vision I had for this image. It would of been easier and less time consuming had I fixed it during the shoot.
Fujifilm GFX 50s + 110mm f/2.0
The last location was an Olympic sized pool. When working around water, all extra precautions are taken. I opted for the battery powered Profoto B1s over the plug in D1s. With linked arms to a PA, I leaned over the pool to get the GFX 50s and 110mm lens inches from the water to create more drama. With the camera so low, the reflection in the water was exactly what I wanted. Well worth the risk.
Looking back on this shoot day, I remember how tired I was. Having to constantly be thinking of the next step requires a lot of brain power. Regardless, work is work and taking the oppertunity to both push your limits and try new techniques is always rewarding. The harder you push on the current shoot, the more doors will unlock in the future.