I'm Shooting The 2014 Austin X Games!!

A little over a month ago I saw the Austin X Games announcement and music lineup, and thought it would be an amazing event to shoot. Extreme sports, e-sports, and a ridiculous music lineup - it was a no-brainer. Being the X Games, I was 99% sure there was no way that I would get approved. This is basically just one step down from the Olympics! My outlet, SensibleReason.com, applied for three total press passes - one for myself and two for the other photographers on the team. ESPN emailed us directly asking about our publication, our current X Games coverage, and our planned coverage. We responded with an in-depth email linking to our preview coverage, and explained our plans for more coverage leading up to the event. Fast forward to yesterday, and I receive the following email from ESPN:

Greetings,

Your application for press credentials to cover X Games Austin 2014 has been approved for the events held June 5-8, 2014 in Austin, Tx. Your credential approval will permit you to cover events at the Circuit of the Americas and downtown venue. 

As we get closer to the event, you will receive a detailed e-mail that will include information on when and where to pick up credentials, media center hours and more. Please be sure to look out for this e-mail, as it will be very important for you to follow these guidelines with an increase in security and restrictions. 

Thank you and we look forwarding to seeing you at X Games Austin 2014!

I honestly think my heart stopped for a good 30 seconds while I processed what I just read. I quickly messaged the other two photographers letting them know, and they of course were equally excited. We didn't just get approved, we all three got approved with media passes, which means we will be able to provide way better coverage since we can spread out (the games are huge this year!).

So now the question is this - how do we provide the best possible coverage? Check my gear list and rough plan below for the answer!

STEP 1 - GEAR

Having the right gear is essential, especially at a massive multi-day event like this. Extra batteries, plenty of memory cards, zoom lenses the size of continents, a comfy backpack - all of these are necessary in getting the 'perfect shot' at an event like this. Your lens selection also plays a huge role - it determines not only the type of shots you're able to get, but also how heavy your backpack is for the long, 12+ hour days. Here's a photo of the gear I plan to bring (mostly the same gear I used for shooting Ultimate Music Experience this past March).

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Gear List
- Brand new Canon 70D (I have been absolutely loving this thing so far)
- Canon 60D (girlfriend's)
- GoPro Hero3 Black (using this only for photos since video is strictly prohibited this year)
- Canon 430 EX II Flash
- Yongnuo 565 EX Flash
- Canon 70-200 f2.8 II IS (renting this lens again...it's amazing!)
- Canon 24-105L f4
- Canon 85mm f1.8 (love this lens)
- Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (this is my go to lens for concerts and events)
- Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 (awesome wide angle lens, great in low light, focuses quickly)
- 2x Yongnuo wireless flash triggers (you never know when you might need to use a flash wirelessly!)

- 64gb of SD storage (1x 32gb, 2x 16gb)
- ThinkTank Memory Card Wallet (between the two of us we have almost filled this thing up already...)
- InFocus camera strap (this allows the camera to stay by your side, as opposed to in front of you)
- XShot extendable pole (I will be using this with the GoPro)
- Shutter release cord (for long exposures, using camera on a monopod held up, etc.)
- Ear plugs (absolutely necessary)
- Mini portable memory card reader (for dumping pics once I get back to my laptop)
- Extra batteries (we have 6 total batteries, and 2 chargers, and an inverter so we can charge in the car as a last resort)

- Lowpro Flipside AW 400 backpack (this is truly the ultimate festival backpack - super comfy, incredibly sturdy, holds everything I need, and best of all it opens from the side facing your back, so all your gear is safe throughout the day)

STEP 2 - HAVE A PLAN

The X Games this year are absolutely massive. Spanning 4 days, at multiple different venues, with hundreds of athletes, tons of big music acts, local bands, e-sports, etc...this is going to be a busy event. I'm confident that our three photographers will provide ample coverage though, mainly because we will have a plan! To better understand the scale, first check out the full schedule, and then the map below:

There's a lot going!

This year the games are hosted at Circuit Of The Americas

As of now, our rough plan is to all spread out and cover the action and music during the day. Although everything is relatively close, we still don't want to be walking across the entire venue without a clear plan. This year the games and music directly overlap, so we will have to have photographers at each event/venue. Also, the e-sport category (competitive gaming/MLG) is being heavily focused on, and will need direct coverage as well. With three photographers we can focus two people on the sports, and one on the music. At night once the sports are over, and the main music acts are playing (Flaming Lips, Kanye, Pretty Lights), we will all three be shooting the music. One thing I'm excited about is having 4 days to shoot and get everything figured out. The first day can basically be warm up and getting our bearings, and (hopefully) we will have stuff figured out by the time we set foot on the track on day 2. As the event gets closer we will definitely get a plan on paper, and an actual printed schedule using the awesome X Games Schedule Builder on their website (this is incredibly useful). We are also considering bringing walkie-talkies since cellphones are practically worthless in crowded areas like this.

Anyways, I wanted to give you all a small peak into the planning and prep that goes into shooting an event this size! Some people might think it all just comes together magically, but in reality we have been putting time into this for almost two months now. This will easily be the biggest event our team has covered this year, and we couldn't be more excited to be bringing you coverage! Stay tuned to this blog, and SensibleReason.com for all our X Games news and updates. Thanks for reading!

I'm Shooting Euphoria Music & Camping Festival Next Weekend!

In 8 days I will at Euphoria Music & Camping Festival covering the action. This festival is looking amazing this year, boasting a lot more than just music. Check out my full in-depth review for Sensible Reason here!

I attended Euphoria as non-press last year, and had an absolute blast. I'm pretty excited to be able to capture the action and energy that goes down this time around. I'll best testing out some new gear as well, so stay tuned for some new perspectives :D!

Check back after the event for the recap and photo galleries! Catch the full lineup and preview video below:

2014 Preview 

Breaking World Records and Saving Children From Slavery – Just Another Weekend for Mercy Project

This was originally written by Cameron Field for SensibleReason

This past weekend, I attended the event of a lifetime: a 24 hour long world record-breaking relay that raised money to save enslaved children in various African countries. Mercy Project, a nonprofit organization I am proud to say my brother started, is working from the ground up to save these children with unique and sustainable methods. Mercy Project is tackling the source of the problem – teaching the slave owners, or fisherman in this situation, how to continue to fish without using children as slaves. So far Mercy Project has been very successful, and has recused 47 children.

“Mercy Project began in August of 2009 when I traveled to Ghana, Africa for the first time. On that trip, I met Tomas, the little boy you see in this picture. Tomas is a child slave; one of an estimated 7,000 enslaved children who work in the fishing industry of Ghana today. Meeting Tomas both broke and stole my heart, and we have been working ever since that fateful day to bring justice and mercy to the enslaved children working on Lake Volta.

We want to be creative and innovative in our economic development projects. We don’t just want to rescue a few kids, we want to remove the structures that cause these children to work like this in the first place. Our ultimate goal is to work ourselves out of a job.

Our story is a story of hope, faith, and trust. We believe that good things happen when people give of themselves. We believe that great things happen when people join with others in giving of themselves. Some incredible things are happening, and we are thankful every day for the chance to be a part of it. We hope you will join us on the journey to make the world a better place.”
- Chris Field, Mercy Project Executive Director

Breaking world records is nothing new for Mercy Project – each year they get a group of volunteers together and break a world record, raising money and awareness for the cause in the process. This year the event was going to be a continuous relay, with the record being the total number of people able to complete 1 mile, one after another, in a 24 hour period. The number to beat was 150 runners, so this was going to be no easy task!

I drove into town about an hour after the event had officially started, around 8pm on Friday night. The runners were going strong, each doing 4 laps around the 400 meter track. Mercy Project Executive Director Chris Field MC’d the event, cheering the runners on by calling out their times and playing ‘pump up’ music that kept them going. There were also quite a few supporters that cheered the runners on, some of them staying the full 24 hours!

Some of the runners dressed up to make things more interesting, and some made bets with their friends or spouses as to who would finish their mile the fastest! To the right you can see one of my favorite outfits – a friend of ours wearing a full cheerleading getup! Others wore tutus, ninja turtle outfits, or just an incredibly small pair of shorts – yikes. You could definitely tell the runners were there to have fun, and everyone wore smiles throughout the event. Many people’s friends and family came during their time slot to cheer them on, and towards the end of the 24 hours the stands were packed with spectators!

A few times throughout the relay Chris Field, Mercy Project’s founder, ran with the current runner and encouraged them as they finished their mile. As you can see on the left below, this was truly powerful to watch! I have run with Chris before, and let me tell you – he will stop at nothing to keep you from giving up or slowing down. Surprisingly many runners actually sped up when Chris ran with them, and many sped up as their friends and families cheered them on!

As the clock came close to the 24 hour mark, the fastest runners took to the track. The goal was to squeeze as many fast miles into the last 30 minutes as possible – making the record as hard as possible to beat in the future. As one of the last runners prepared, the look on his face was fierce – he was ready. He ended up running a 4:25 mile, which if you’ve ever been a runner, you realize is pure insanity.

The final runners ran, and with less than 2 minutes to spare, the last runner crossed the finish line – the clock read 23 hours 58 minutes and 35 seconds. 180 total runners was the official record, all within 24 hours. This comes out to an average mile pace of about 8 minutes, which is pretty fast if you consider the overall sample size! 

After the end of the race, a local burger place provided burgers for the runners, volunteers, and those who cheered them on. Everyone enjoyed a burger as they relaxed and realized what they had accomplished: a new world record, and more importantly a brighter future for children who might not have had one before. What a truly powerful event, made possible only by the determination and hard work of everyone involved!

Check below for more photos from the event:

A runner mentally prepares for his mile

The crowd cheers as a runner completes his final lap

A runner completes his 3rd lap as the clock nears 22 hours

The runners that ran and helped set the record

Last, but definitely not least, this is Famous – He was a trafficked child without a family to return to once he was rescued, so Mercy Project founder Chris Field and his wife Stacey decided to adopt him

If reading this has gotten you fired up and you would like to help, please share Mercy Project with your friends, and even consider getting involved!

Ultimate Music Experience 2014 Photo Highlights

Hello! It's been a bit since UME, and the photos are finally edited and ready. Here are some of the highlights:

I hope you enjoyed these highlights! Check out the full gallery here.  Stay tuned for photos from the highly anticipated Euphoria Camping & Music Festival, coming at the end of April!

Ultimate Music Experience 2014 - What's in my camera bag?

We leave for UME in less than 24hrs, and couldn't be more excited! One of the most important things on a trip like this is having the right gear - especially if you are going specifically to take photos! Ever wondered what kind of gear it takes to shoot a 3 day festival this size? Keep reading! I've spent a good amount of time making sure we will have everything we need. Check below for a rough list of what we're taking to the Ultimate Music Experience this year.

First, here is a photo with everything inside the backpack (minus the front pockets):

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And with everything out (including the front pockets; this thing holds a ton of gear):

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Gear List
- 2x Canon 60D (one with battery grip, which I love - super comfy and gives you insane battery life)

- GoPro Hero3 Black (first time using this at a show, cant wait to test it out!)

- Canon 430 EX II Flash

- Yongnuo 565 EX Flash

- Canon 70-200 f2.8 II IS (renting this thing...it's stunning)

- Canon 24-105L f4

- Canon 85mm f1.8 (just got this lens, really looking forward to testing it out)

- Canon 50mm f1.8

- Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (this is my go to lens for concerts and anything else in low light)

- 2x Yongnuo wireless flash triggers (you never know when you might need to use a flash wirelessly!)

- ThinkTank Memory Card Wallet

- InFocus camera strap (this allows the camera to stay by your side, as opposed to in front of you)

- XShot awesome extendable pole (I will be using this with the GoPro)

- Mini tripod with bendable legs (love this thing...also for the GoPro)

- Extra Batteries

- Shutter release cord (for long exposures, etc)

- Flash stand

- Ear plugs (absolutely necessary)

- Mini portable memory card reader (for dumping pics once I get back to my laptop)
- Extra batteries (we have 4 total batteries, and 2 chargers)

PHEW, that's quite a list. It takes a lot of gear to capture an amazing event like UME! We arrive in Padre tomorrow, so expect an update with some photos!

It's official, I'm shooting UME 2014!

In just a few weeks the Spring Break party of a lifetime will descend upon South Padre Island. Ultimate Music Experience 2014 is looking huge, and I'm excited to say I'll be there shooting the entire time! I went last year and had a blast, and cant wait to capture the energy and vibe this year. Check back during the event (March 13-15) for coverage! Also be sure to check out Sensible Reason, the outlet I'm shooting for!

Under Construction

Hey guys! Just got this up and running, still working on customizing it to my liking.

Stay tuned - this is where I'll post the newest updates and shots from what I'm working on. Check back soon!