Posts from the ‘Gear’ Category

Apr 9

Give Me Strength

To say that I have been absent from this blog lately is a slight understatement, in all reality I have been absent from life in general. I have been sitting on planes listening to podcasts more than I have been sitting at bars listening to friends. All for one giant campaign, Muscle Milk.

When the Give Me Strength campaign started, back in December, it was initially thought that it would cover a few days with a few athletes, and maybe a couple additional shots would come along later in the year. That was until we produced the first campaign of four images; a runner, a girl doing yoga, a lacrosse player and a basketball player. To say that the images went over well is an understatement and the call from Mekanism (Muscle Milk’s agency) came in to shoot four more, then another four, then three in NY, another in SF and a final in Aspen. All the while I was trying to keep up with campaigns that had been booked before we ever thought that there would be more shots.

In the end, this campaign cost me a substantial amount of my sanity, however it served to strengthen my appreciation for the people on set and in the office that have made it all possible. From producers to assistants to the DJ we hired to keep things light (yes, we seriously hired a DJ for the shoots and it was awesome), every person was incredible and shares responsibility for this campaign’s success.

With the extensiveness of this body of work, I have decided to release a series of blogs so that you the reader can take in what is was like to be on set. Also, with the amount of pro athletes that we were able to photograph, I figured some shots may warrant more time than others. In the end, once the final photos have been shown, we have also made a behind the scenes video so that you can see the shoot, the shenanigans and have a laugh at my dancing ability. With that said, let’s show some photos…

photographed by Blair Bunting

The idea behind these shots was to show the truest for of athleticism. When arenas are removed and fans don’t exist, the essence of sport is the athlete. Minimalism at it’s finest, we decided action on black would be the key to the series. For consistency we would need a lighting schemata that would be able to be used throughout the campaign. This may sound easy, however trying to find a ratio that holds a strong look over multiple sports like lacrosse, baseball, yoga and cycling is not an easy task at all. Originally I had five different lighting setups that I wanted to use, and then we reduced it to two, however choosing one setup to use for a campaign is like choosing between a Ferrari or Lamborghini… both are good, but you can only drive one.

photographed by Blair Bunting

With quality of light being key and speed needed to capture the action, we decided that we would shoot with four Profoto 8a’s power packs. I hopped around between 16 and 22 on the aperture as sharpness would sell the complexity of the shots.

photographed by Blair Bunting

Now I know that a lot of photographers are touchy about showing their RAW files to the public, but I want this blog to teach, so here it is:

mm-basketball-raw

The spray was originally for texture, but over the progression of the campaign it was decided that smoke would be better, and it the transition was made. It was felt that if we could get a strong shot out of camera, then the authenticity of the image and sport would convey better. All to often the “hyper real” style seeps into sports campaigns and we get this very action driven image that consists of 40 photos composited together and called a photograph when it should be called a collage. The sheer number of pieces in this campaign would have meant years and millions spent on the retouching alone, so the realism and action would be done the old fashion way, lighting and timing.

As I said early, we had a crew of people from Muscle Milk, Mekanism and my end that made this one possible, I wish I could write the list down, but I fear way too much chance of forgetting people. So instead, please enjoy some behind the scenes pics (shot by my assistant Dan) of us all making these four shots possible and stay tuned to the blog as we will be releasing the first series of pro athletes in the coming weeks.

Mar 8

Bb at WPPI… kinda

So I had originally planned to sit out WPPI this year, as my shooting schedule has given me very little time to spend with my wife and dogs. However, there are some sponsors that I need to meet with and a contract that needed to be signed, so…. I’m going

I am only going to be in Vegas briefly, as in hours, but wanted to give y’all a heads up. I will be around the Nikon, LowePro, LiveBooks and Photoflex booths, so if you see me, please feel free to say “hi”. I am always down to chat photo with anyone, so don’t think I am unapproachable.

It’s Friday, so go get a drink… safely

Feb 12

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The softer side of Pawn Stars

For reasons unknown, I receive many calls to photograph pseudo reality TV shows more than almost anything other than athletic campaigns. Like sports, I try not to watch the shows I photograph. It is not out of disrespect for what the celebs and athletes are doing, but rather I want to remain distant from the connotations put upon them from commentators or editors. As much as we’d all like to believe that everything about a reality TV show is real, it is often far from it. The shows must be interesting and engaging, and standing around a pawn shop in real life is often contradicting to both of these.

However, when I got the call to fly out to Vegas and photograph the Richard Harrison from Pawn Stars, I was going into a situation that was somewhat unfamiliar as I watched the show pretty commonly. It was one of those shows that I could get work done around the house while i had it on in the background and never really miss much. I have always been a history and museum type of person, and on the show it was like walking through the exhibits that never were. This also meant that going into the photoshoot I knew the characters, and in effect knew I was going to photograph a crotchety old man….. or so it would seem.

Pawn Stars

Upon arriving at the shop I found myself to be a bit taken back by how common it was. Other than the back of the shop where Pawn Stars merchandise is sold, it is a pawn shop, nothing more. Being a watch collector, I was hoping that the fame that national exposure brought them would bring along with it some nice timepieces, of which I thought I might pick one up for memento’s sake. However, it was a sea of ordinary horology, almost telling the stories of lives gambled away in the casinos down the street. There were family heirloom Rolexes that had seen many anniversaries and grandchildren, yet were pawned for a mere pittance in a final effort to earn back assets lost. The quick walk of the shop left me feeling nostalgically sad for what culminations led to the merchandise.

After a few minutes the producer came and told me that the old man would like to see me, and that we could start getting ready for the shoot. In all honesty, I was apprehensive of what the next couple hours of my life would bring. Opting to not go right into shooting, I chose to sit down with the Old Man, and talk to him, get to know the non-celebritised person with hopes to develop a report that would show in my images. As is many times the case with talking to a celebrity, I learned more about who I was in the efforts I took to learn who he is. Beneath all the gripes on the show and the almost iron fist that he rules the shop with, he is a very soft, kind person. I had just lost my grandfather a couple months before the shoot, yet sitting in a small room talking about cars, family, life, it was as though I were being allowed to have a conversation with him again. It was also very familiar to me from the days that I shot The Deadliest Catch, because the compassion for family mirrored that of Captain Phil’s love for his sons.

I then started to realize that people like the Old Man and Captain Phil existed on a level of character that prevailed regardless of cameras of fame. While so many have given their lives over to the proverbial “15 minutes”, these men were of a generation of bona fides, where legacy meant more than worth. Irony thrives in the idea that the shows we watch now seem to have diluted a real creed by exploiting a false reality.

Jan 23

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Nikon

Terminal E, Gate 18. In a chaise lounge made up of my roller case and an available chair, I await my flight home. The last three days have taught me more about myself than I believe I have taught others about photography. This time the only absent item was the camera, sharp irony considering I was speaking for a camera company. However, even in the absence of my D3X, I have a newfound pride in Nikon. This one is based not of some technical number measuring depths of sensor latitude, but of a very apparent value that often goes unnoticed in a camera purchase. I am talking about the people behind the curtain that make it possible for us to tell our stories, for me, they are the people at Nikon.

Over the last few days I have learned what it is to be a part of a team, and what it’s like to have real pride in my equipment. I can never again say I shoot Nikon, it’s not fair and too topical a comment. With shots and lighting planned around how much the sensor in the D3X can deliver, it is only fair to say that Nikon is truly a part of my image, my images, and will be the future of my imagery. The sensors that lie at the heart of their cameras are the heart of an exposure and in practice have given me the ability to create the images that have marked my style for years. The sharpness of the 24-70 has been equally as important as my eyes in pulling out every last detail a campaign requires.

The request from Nikon for me to speak on their behalf was an honor and a surreal feeling. While on stage, I felt more like someone talking about why they loved their family rather than a photographer talking about a piece of camera equipment.

Twelve years ago today a dad gave his son his very first Nikon, today that kid just spoke for the company.

… a dream realized

Jan 9

Bb to speak for Nikon

To be honest, writing that title alone makes me smile like a little school girl.

I am honored to say that I will be speaking for Nikon at the 2013 Imaging USA expo in Atlanta, January 20-22. Those who know me, know this has been a long time in the making and an even longer time in the dreaming, but at just over a week away, things are set and the speech is going to be a very fun one to give.

We decided that this speech would focus less on lighting, and more on my approach to photography and more specifically the gear I use and why I use it. The goal of the speech is to be flat out honest about what it takes, equipment wise, to shoot advertising and commercial work. To the sadness of many, there will not be any point and shoot cameras mentioned during the speech

So if you are in Atlanta, the East Coast, the continental US, or Earth, please feel free to come enjoy.

Speech times are as follows (all located at the Nikon Theater):

Sunday (1/20) – 2:45 – 3:30
Monday (1/21) – 11:45 – 12:30
Tuesday (1/22) – 1:15 – 1:45

I will try to build in a few minutes to answer questions during the speech, but if not I will hang around the Nikon booth and answer them to anyone who has them.

Nov 21

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Nexus 4 for Photographers

As many of you know, I am an Apple freak. From the computers, to the iPad, to the iPhone, to the iWhatever, I am a what you would call, “fanboy”. However, the does not presuppose that I am narrow minded in my views of other products or companies. In a nutshell, I appreciate Apple as light, and supports the shadows that form it.

With my love of the iPhone 4s, being well known, I felt to would be fun to broaden my horizons in the phone world. After all, who am I to say the iPhone is the way to go if I have never walked in another man’s shoes? So with that I saw my opportunity to hop over to the other side with the recent release of the Nexus 4, an Android phone from Google. I picked up a couple and decided that my travels over the next couple months would be documented with them and I could form an overall impression of where they stand in likes of Apple, especially when it comes to cameras. Along with the phones, I also grabbed the Nexus 7 tablet with the idea of testing how it travels for shoots compared to the iPad.

This is not a defection from a company but rather an inquisition to clear my mind on what it is I respect about Apple, and what I will like on the Nexus 4.

So stay tuned to the blog, my Twitter, or Facebook page over the next couple months to see what we might be missing when we say that one device is better than everything else.

PS: A little tidbit on the Nexus so far…. after 20 minutes, I have discovered that this thing is an HD monster.

Oct 22

Bb speaking for LowePro

I promise this will be my last “Blair is speaking for someone” post for a while. For one I can only talk so much, but mostly because I like life behind the camera.

For those of you going to the Photo Plus Expo in New York this week, I will be speaking for LowePro on Thursday at 1:15 at their booth. I will be talking mostly about their gear and how much it has saved me on shoots, from the a TV ad campaign in a remote part of the world to an athletic campaign that needed special gear on short notice. More importantly I will be there to meet and chat with anyone who would like. So please come on by with questions or just to say hello.

On a side note, the regular blog about the shoots and the stories behind them will return next week.

Oct 12

iPhone 4s: Year 1

To go along with tonight’s speaking engagement for Apple (info located here), I wanted to look back at what one year with the iPhone 4s could do.

Being the tech geek that I am, this is the first time I have ever held onto a phone for a year. However, the argument to why I would change is easily defeated by what it has afforded me… it has given me freedom. Freedom to go about life and capture it if it should present itself.

Just the memory of the day I got the 4s makes for a relaxed state of mind. It was about 80 degrees outside and I went to drinks with my wife a friend, I wore my Bell & Ross, and had a Martini. I know this because I couldn’t stop taking pictures of everything around me. Over the next few weeks I found that I loved photography again, I was relaxed and the need to photograph was gone, replaced by the want to photograph.

My gratefulness to this phone can be tied to one event alone, one that I don’t talk about much. My grandma.

It was Grandma’s birthday, and I wanted to stop by and say Happy Birthday. I don’t take cameras to these sort of events, but I had my iPhone. The light was nice, she was so happy, so I decided I would shoot a couple portraits. As fate would have it, this would be the last time I would ever see my grandma. It felt good to not be “Blair, the big shot photographer” and be “Blair, her grandson.”

So if 5 minutes make an iPhone worth it, what can a year do? Enjoy…

kauai5

kauai2

ml-blog-3

photographed by Blair Bunting

kauai7

Also, if you’re in AZ, feel free to join me at the Apple Store in Scottsdale Quarter tonight at 7pm. I will be speaking on how I use Apple products to do location shoots, advertise, and of course talk about the iPhone.

If you’re not in AZ, you can still join us as we live tweet the event on my Twitter account and will be answering questions, just remember to #BbApple

Sep 28

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Bb to speak at CreativeLive NYC

Well it’s officially official, I am going to be speaking at Creative Live’s NYC keynote on October 26th. This event coincides with the PhotoPlus Expo, which I do intend to spend some time at as well. As for the speech itself, I am planning to spend an hour and a half talking about how to use a light meter….. yes, you heard that right, I will spend 90 minutes teaching a subject that schools often spend 5 minutes on. I think that this subject is a bit neglected in the digital age and often gets replaced by, “just look at the LCD”. Apologies for this spoiler, but your mind will be officially blown…

So go head on over to Creative Live and have a look a how to watch the lecture and / or join us at the studio.

You have been warned

PS: Sekonic, you might want to give me a call

Aug 14

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F-16: The Ride of a Lifetime

The truest appreciation for science and art lives only in the experience. While my professional respect and novice understanding of physics tells me that I would know what G-Forces entail, the fact of the matter is that I had no idea…

For many, including myself, just the call to do a photoshoot of an F-16 fighter jet would make for a great day, but being offered a ride in one, well that makes for a great honor. I can still remember the call telling me that I needed to clear my schedule and see my doctor for flight approval, my ride had been approved. Now to measure said impact we need a constant…. in this case I hate going to the doctor’s office. Whether I am in need of help or just dropping off medical records, I do not like to be there. However, give me a paper that has a checklist for whether or not I would survive an ejection seat and I will gladly get a physical (or in this case two).

F-16

I would normally say something to the extent of “fast forward a week”, but the truth is knowing what lied ahead, time went by so damn slow. Even while on vacation with my wife, sitting on the beach in Kauai the flight was always in the back of my mind. I had tried to convince myself that I had an idea of what it was going to be like and how I was going to react, but in reality I hadn’t a clue. The ability to sleep at night ended with one week left until the flight, even though I had been on a very rigorous workout schedule in the attempt to stay conscious through the G’s.

The day before takeoff I had to report to the base and go through another physical combined with breathing training and then it was off to egress. For those of you that don’t know what egress is (like me), it is a short way of saying, “the plane is going down and this is how to stay alive.” During the class I can distinctly remember the hypothetic world of “can you imagine” transforming into the reality of “if you have to.” Example being, “If you have to eject, here is how to check out the parachute and call for search and rescue.” Yeah, things got real. From there I got fitted for my G-suit and then retired for a night of futile attempts of getting any sleep.

The morning briefing was short and before I knew it I found myself sitting in the backseat of an F-16 shaking my head wondering how the hell I ever ended up in this place. I still could not believe what had transpired to make this happen and all I could think about was the many men and women that have served this country and deserved this flight more than me.

Confident that I would not remember the whole flight we had cameras installed on the HUD so that if I were to pass out from the G’s or get sick all over the place, you the viewers would get a good laugh at the expense of some of my pride. So without any further adieu, I present the video from that day, made by my good friends Mike and Charles.

I just want to thank all the men and women that made this opportunity happen. I am humbled by your kindness and truly grateful to have met every one of you along the way. More amazing than any of the jets our country has are those who pilot them and keep them in the sky.

Thank you.

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