brockit inc.

copperman 2008

A quick update to all you anxious, copperman competitors:

Our 4-person crew covered the race well and we’ve got a TON of images for competitors. the weather was amazing, and everyone was their usual photogenic self. Thanks to the ATV drivers and to Terry for the shirts and the opportunity for us to provide all the imagery! I personally love doing this job every year, and I know you all love racing it; well… maybe not the swim so much.

Please feel free to browse through the galleries which are in chronological order from start to finish. Swim at the front, and awards at the end. Watermarks disappear on order of digital copy or prints of course – both of which are offered in a variety of sizes, finishes, and resolutions, including files big enough to make a billboard out of – if you’re into really showing off your sweaty, dirty, exhausted looking selves…

There are approximately 900 images up, with more on the way from Brockit Intern, Emily.

Images were shot RAW (I mean – of course…), with flash used quite a bit to shoot into the morning sun, to get some motion blur on the road course by the lake, and back in the woods to make that sweat really glisten. Some of my favorites were shot whilst strapped to the back of an ATV (seems like I’m strapping myself to a vehicle every few weeks here) and shot with the lens that goes under my pillow every night.

Seriously, nice job racers; extremely inspiring!

Browse away…

2008: 08/04
CATEGORY: photoshoots
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michigan tech – summer youth class

If you know me, you know I’m always ready to share with anyone, and this is especially true in terms of education. While I claim to know very little in terms of formality with regards to photography, I’m happy to present a viewpoint from a self-taught, cowboy photographer who has learned by trial and error. I presented to a Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs group as a guest lecturer (I taught this class a couple years ago) and had a great time doing this. A quote below from Stephanie:

Hi Meg, Adam,

Thank you guys so much for coming! I and the students all really appreciated it, especially since Adam had to hop and hobble to make it over! He put on a great presentation. There were a lot of comments afterwards from the kids saying how much they learned. Some included were several students who commented how they were inspired by Adam’s candid captures of people and by his response to “What makes someone a photographer?”

The students weren’t the only ones learning– my TA and I learned a lot as well.

2008: 08/01
CATEGORY: general
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portage health – sweat follow-up & newborn

More work for one of our favorite clients – this time the full-circle turnaround on shots for the commercial. Refer back to the ‘sweat shots’ post to see the evolution. Video guy Todd Brassard ran around like a madman with the Canon shooting the video that we are simply complimenting. Go Jessie & Ashlee for holding the reflectors in the high wind! My own backyard is the backdrop for the other shot, and thanks to the photogenic mother who let us shoot her day-old baby as part of another set of shots recently. Bounced an SB-800 off the right wall for that one…

2008: 07/22
CATEGORY: photoshoots
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copperman poster creation

I’m not sure how to describe this one. When we shoot races, I like to throw an index card into the stuff-bags to let everyone know where to pickup their shots. While intern Ashlee did a great job with the flying bike below (I shot this as a ChainDrive technical shot a couple years ago) I wanted something a little more unique for the upcoming CopperMan Triathlon. On a caffeine buzz one morning I thought why not make a literal ‘copper man?’ I mean, we’ve got latex body paint just sitting in the studio, and I was sure we could get some willing volunteers. It was a good challenge, and the whole team helped here. Emily & Meghan tested the paint and got the mix just right, and Brent & Jessie volunteered as models (they’re both racing anyway). We found a sunny afternoon, painted them up, hit their gold-glitter bodies with a reflector, and that was that. Photoshop turned the gold to copper and the text & graphics followed. Final proofs are below. Thanks models. Sorry it was so hard to get off; next time we’ll use more base layer, or Brent, maybe you just should have taken my advice and shaved your torso! Go team!

Racers, we’ll see you all up in the Harbor for the big race. Check back here for the link (client area) to the shots. Woo hooo!

2008: 07/21
CATEGORY: photoshoots
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dux wedding

My, my, my. Jess was our wedding client for an incredible wedding on Presque Isle. Our standard wedding work is typically for 10-12 hours and we started with Jess and noon and packed up the gear about 12 hours and 1400 RAW shots later. With my immobile leg, we took a full crew on the road which included driver and heavy gear hauler Evan, intern & second shooter Emily, and massage therapist & artist Emma as an extra assistant. Actually, what is the Dude’s line in the Big Lebowski ‘you don’t expect me to be handling the money, driving the car and talking on the phone…’ Well, we did abide, and we rocked this out for Jess. Trophy winning, long distance horses just out of town at the family’s ranch, then Presque Isle with a beautiful, concise ceremony, then we took two limos around to a variety of scenic locations and local bars before hitting the reception. Nice shots, guys. Some of my favorites are below. How often do you get the chance to shoot a beautiful bride in amidst free-running horses?! And thanks to the groomsmen for literally carrying me up from some of the more difficult locations. Note the Old Milwaukee beer in his hand (though it is his, not mine) and Emma carrying crutches, cameras, and Crumpler bag. Nice!

2008: 07/19
CATEGORY: weddings
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adam’s leg

So, yeah… this sucks. A tree trimming company came to do some work in our yard and got their vehicle completely stuck in the yard. I refused to even watch out the window, let alone offer assistance considering how completely trashed the yard was becoming – it was clearly a lost cause. Well, they asked for help to push their wood chipper trailer out of the way and I gave a try at it. Pushing with all my strength, I felt and HEARD something pop in my right calf and I hit the ground. The workers described it as sounding like a flip-flop slapping the ground. My good buddy Chad Arney showed up as he does for all of my accidents and injuries and monitored the situation (and a sleeping Kora) while Robyn and I headed to the ER. It took a shot to each butt cheek to temper the pain, and I finally quit thrashing around on the trauma room bed. Todd & Jessie Brassard showed up to offer sympathy and helped me get into the car, and thus began the ridiculousness.

Long story short: I have a partially torn Achilles tendon and Soleus (calf) muscle. It means a non-walking fiberglass cast for 4 weeks (on my driving foot!) and a torturous pair of crutches for the duration and therapy afterwards. I can’t say thank-you enough to everyone for being helpful and sympathetic, and it is an interesting experiment to have one leg, and makes me value the working one – which is getting nicely built up while my right one wilts inside the cast. Seriously, thanks to my family, friends, co-workers, clients, and strangers who are genuinely helpful, concerned, and encouraging.

You’ll notice a slight shift in the number of us on photo jobs for the next couple months. Instead of the standard intern and myself, you’ll see a full crew: dual interns & photographers, a personal assistant, and sometimes even a dedicated driver / sherpa. I admit that I’m getting pretty spoiled by the extra support, and I notice that our clients are getting spoiled as well – while I can’t wait to heal, I just might keep this going!