Montre Livingston Interview with Wheel Scene

It's been a few months since I shot Montre Livingston during his stay out for Blading Cup in November.  But with him wining the biggest European rollerblading competition just days ago, figures the Wheel Scene feature dropped the day after.

Much like any other shoot a publicist would tell you "you have 5 minutes," that's what happened to me waiting for Montre to wrap up a video interview, after having just spent the day waiting for him as he was filming for his upcoming VOD section.  What I got was the last 15 minutes of daylight, 5 minutes of that was reasonably okay.  Spent the time getting him to talk about what's been going on since I saw him last for his ONE Magazine feature I shot, catch up, get him to cut up.  I learned he's naturally a showman that parents and kids could look up to.

The image is rather flat, which, wasn't my call.  I did my set of edits and Wheel Scene wanted the original out of the camera.  I sometimes think camera phones have made us accustomed to unedited photos and their "okayness."  Still, it was nice to catch up with Montre and do something for WS.

The Kindland: My LA In 8 Polaroids

Somehow it slipped my head to post this feature up I was hired to shoot for The Kindland.  The editor approached me about shooting 8 polaroids of Los Angeles.  Which, turned into going back to experiences from my childhood on the Eastside.  Overall happy with how that came out, but with only 8 frames in a pack, I spent a month thinking through every shot!

If you're ever in a bind, here's how to fix your Profoto Speedrings

That was a terrible pun, first off. If you got it, you're still with me. If not, just watch the videos already. ;)

 I switched over to Profoto and found myself balking at the Profoto tax. Ooo they have modifiers for days! Oh, for how much? I can either have my engine worked on or get this? Decisions, Decisions....

 I asked myself how about just changing out the speedrings?  $130. Okay, no. How about just the speedring from Mola (I own the Mola Rayo)? $118.  Bollocks. How about Interfit? $50, but poor ratings.  Doesn't Paul C Buff make one?  $29, but always on backorder. Ebay? $30.  Sure, close enough.  I'll get 3 and still come under.  Wait, what it it's built poorly? Buy 1 to test.  No harm no foul if it doesn't work out.

A week and some change goes by and voila, speedring. A bit tight like some of the Ebay reviewers said.  It looks oval, not round.  It doesn't snap closed effortlessly.  Ken Doo made a similar observation about his Ignition Magnum. Probably made by the same factory.  Turns out, China skimped out on 1/4" of wire around the ring, causing the extra tightness.

How do you fix that?  Pliers and a steady hand.  If you want to get this on AB octoboxes, guess what, it's wider than the original speedring and you have to make 4 notches to make it work.  That's a whole other post!

Quality control inspection by Glitch. Rayo armed & ready!

Bought 2 more since I solved my problem.  I made random observations between actual Profoto collars vs these 3rd party ones, as well as some thoughts on mods for those thinking about jumping on these.  There isn't much information go on searching google.

Hope this helps some of you!

 

Montre Livingston in Fitness/Sports Issue of FHM Spain

I wasn't expecting this for a couple more months, but Revista FHM (FHM Spain for the rest of us) dropped their fitness & sports issue this month, with it a feature on Montre Livingston I pitched them back in December.  Right time and place since the Editor In Chief said they were getting ready for an April issue.

To my surprise yesterday, I get an email with this spread.  So stoked!  The shot was already about a year old, but it found a repurpose getting rollerblading out there in a major magazine.  That's gonna be the goal this year...finding ways of pushing shots like this into the public consciousness.

Didn't shoot this, just February 2016 FHM Spain cover

Naluda Magazine Interview with Brian Freeman

It's been a hectic few weeks and I haven't had a chance to do anything too blade or work related.  It's nice when I know I have a few things in the can, one being BFree's interview with Naluda Magazine.  Always a plus to bring blading to the mainstream, one exposure at a time!