LIFE-STYLE | TRAVEL | AERIAL
Photographer/Videographer specializing in Life Style, Travel, and Aerial Imagery. FAA 107 Certified for sUAS flight operations throughout the US. Fully insured. Videography work is limited to Aerial productions.
Based in Maine (May-December) and SWFL (Jan - April). Available for travel year round.
I can't remember a piece of bikepacking kit that has had this much interest in quite some time. So in the spirit of helping others out, I will not only showcase what kinds of camera gear the Slinger can hold, but also all of its other wonderful utility. First up, Beer, in the form of a Growler. As you can see, there is plenty of room for a full size growler. Oh yea, this is gonna be killer.
Growler Details: 11 inches tall and 12 inches circumference at its widest point.
Scott Felter, the mastermind at Porcelain Rocket, has continued to push the boundaries of ultralight backpacking bags. Scott has been helping me with my travels by bike for the last 4 years and I am extremely grateful not only for his support but for his creativity.
For quite some time I know that not only I, but other bike photographers have been looking for a solution to easily carry and protect our camera gear on our bikes. We have all gone through a host of solutions, some elegant, and some not so much. I am sure that most of us have tried making crap, using backpacks, repurposing other bits of kit, all in an attempt to come up with a solution that safely carries our cameras; keeps them close at hand; and most importantly, keeps them off of our backs.
I am happy to say, that after seeing the prototypes I am now the proud recipient of one of Scott's new 'Slinger' bags. This is a super light bag that in similar fashion to 'Feed Bags', attaches to the handlebars, fork and stem to create a secure location for carrying a small DSLR, mirrorless camera or range finder. I personally shoot primarily with a rangefinder, but there are definitely situations where I will use a DSLR like the Nikon D810 or even a small mirrorless camera like the Fuji X100T.
Scott's new Slinger fits the bill perfectly with more than enough space for a DSLR and small zoom or fixed lens. For a rangefinder or mirrorless camera, there is enough space in there for a camera, lens and second lens. The pictures below who the bag mounted to the Salsa Mukluk. The 3rd picture shows the bag with a D810/50 combination. Plenty of room in there for a longer fixed lens or a moderate zoom.
I head to Ireland for 3 weeks of photography and bikes starting next week and then am off to Alaska for 3 weeks of winter touring and photography. I look forward to putting the Slinger through its paces and will provide a bit of running commentary on Instagram as to how it works.
Scott -- GREAT JOB!!
I was honored to be a part of this amazing effort to shed some light on what great things are happening in the New England Food system. This video highlights the people we met and showcases the passion they have for bettering our lives through Food. Enjoy!!
Last year I acquired a Salsa Spearfish and absolutely loved that bike. To date, it is the nicest Full Suspension bike I had ever ridden. A trip through Arizona however left me wanting just a bit more travel than what the Fish provided. This is not a knock on the Fish, but more of a refinement on my part of what kind of FS bike I need for the trips that I plan to take.
Enter the 2015 Carbon Horsethief. Like the Fish, the Thief features the new Split Pivot design. Unlike last years Fish, this year the Thief is Carbon Fiber. I must say, I am super stoked about this new design. I built up the bike this morning and took it out for some pictures in the foot of snow we got yesterday. While this makes for pretty snaps, it does not allow me to actually get on the bike and ride...
This year I am off to the SW again to put the bike through its paces and then onto several longer and more robust trips in 2016. I am definitely excited about getting out and putting this bike through its paces.
Arctic Blast Freezes the Fleet | Leica M240, 90APO Summicron
The Watcher | Leica M240 + 35 Lux 1,4
One of my 2015 goals is to begin showing more of my work, both digitally and in print form. Some call it the decisive moment, some call it luck. I was working on a different way of capturing the Portsmouth Farm Market by trying to bring in some motion to my images. I guess a way of trying to impart the hustle and bustle of the weekend crowd. In this case I caught not only motion, but perfect stillness. One of my favorite images of 2014!
The Dancer | Leica M240 + 35 1,4 Summilux
2015 is here and I am going to take a week or two from the beginning of the year to reflect on what my 2015 goals should be. 2014 was one heck of a year, with some tremendous highs and some really big lows. In effect, it was just like the journey of life, up and down, full of twists and turns, with everything in the end working out the way it should be -- Which is a great segway into two of my favorite expressions, words that I try and always live by, but sometimes fail to heed...
These two expressions have formed the basis for my life the past several years, and as we move into 2015 I am committed to once again embracing the true spirit of their meanings. First and foremost, we are where we are, and all is perfect in that which simply IS. Second, if we could all go back to that wonderful joy we had as kids, found in the most mundane of ways, well then wouldn't we all be much happier and more at peace.
On New Years Eve, I danced and twirled and spent time photographing this lovely young girl as she was lost in the world. Her joy was infectious to all that watched and it reminded me that all is well and that all is as it should be and that in the end, just Live!
Happy New Years to all -- I will be back in a couple of weeks with a plan for the year, and some much needed changes in the site.
Once again I am honored to have a selection of my images from this past year used to promote both the Salsa Cycles brand and the philosophy of 'Adventure By Bike'. This year, among others, they have chosen a selection of images from my Oregon Outback adventure, along with my good buddy Josh Spice, to promote life with a Fargo.
You can see a brief glimpse of them on the Salsa Cycles website, and in print at your local Salsa Cycles dealer. If the images intrigue you, the full story of the trip can be seen at my Exposure site.
A winter ride into the woods at 29 degrees - The M240 battery is fantastic
I must admit, I am really starting to find a sweet spot with the M240, especially when paired with the Summilux-M 35m f/1.4 ASPH. Yesterday I had the chance to get out for a cold weather bike ride into the woods and take a few pictures and then that night, play with some long exposures. In both scenarios, I was incredibly pleased with how the camera and lens performed.
In a similar fashion to the way my MM pairs with the Summilux-M 50 f/1.4, I find a similar gorgeous pairing between the 35 and the M240. I don't know if it is the way my eye sees or the way those two cameras render the scene, but I do find myself more and more sticking to these pairings.
Downeast Maine, an old Smoke House barely stands tall -- ISO 1600, 8 seconds
I think like all photographers, I have a collection a mile long of camera bags. It seems I constantly need a different bag for different situations and still struggle to find the right solution. I feel like I have exactly the same issue with camera straps. A constant love/hate relationship with how I like to carry my camera versus what is functional.
With both of these issues, I feel like for my walk around shooting situations, I have stumbled upon near nirvana. The biggest find was a small company based in NY called Tap & Dye. I found them on instagram and instantly fell in love with their simple design and hand made products. I quickly ordered a wrist strap (my preferred way of carrying my Leica) and one of their antique straps with brass clips. Both beautiful in their own unique ways. The wrist strap is so soft and supple that I have already ordered a second.
The antique strap is stunning in its own way, but I find that for me, I simply don't use a neck strap that often, which is why I have often leaned towards the black rapid solutions paired with Really Right Stuff (RRS) plates on my cameras. This has allowed me to go back and forth quickly and easily from no strap to strap. Now, with the find of the Tap & Dye Products, I am working on a custom solution that will add a bit of style to the system when I don't need the ruggedness of a straight Black Rapid Solution.
Finally, I am pairing all of this with a Maxpedition Versipanck Jumbo bag that I find very comfortable for carrying a single body, 3 lenses, small tripod and my little Tap & Dye strap. The bag has plenty of compartments for batteries, filters, etc. and has a unique little inner pouch in the main compartment that is very water proof. I recently carried the Monochrom through a torrential downpour that soaked me to the bone and yet the camera and inner pockets were completely dry. A very nice feature for a walk around bag that does not look like a camera bag.
It all comes together with a few nice bits from Really Right Stuff. I use the RRS base plates on all of my cameras so that they can easily mount on my tripods and on this modular strap system. I then use a spare RRS Screw Knob clamp that easily attaches to the Black Rapid system or to my Antique Strap via the brass clamps. Closing it all out is the RRS Ultralight Tabletop Tripod which i believe is the nicest table top tripod out there, especially when paired with their min ball head.
Now if I can just find a solution for when I need to carry both bodies that I am happy with.
Merry Christmas
A metaphor for life | Leica Monochrom, Summilux-M 1:1.4/35 ASPH
2014 is rapidly coming to a close and it is now time to take a look back, do a bit of personal review and soul searching, and make some positive changes for 2015. This site will go through another migration as I continue to refine my understanding of who I am, what I am doing, and where I want to go.
However you spend the holidays, may they be filled with love, happiness and peace.
G-
Jason on his Surly Ice Cream Truck chasing rainbows - Leica M240 | 35 Lux 1,4
I tried hard to put together a selection of images that would tell the story of our little trip. 10 guys, fatbikes and cameras in tow, it was not easy to narrow it down. We spent 6 days riding and I spent more than 8 days in all. That equates to a lot of shooting, even for someone that tries to be a bit slower, shooting manual and never on continuous. Still, I feel a responsibility to show a selection of images that I feel encompass the beauty, the spirit, and the love that took place on this little ramble.
As Such, here are my top 30 (and even that was rediculously hard) images from the trip. A combination of landscapes to portraits to priceless moments. Enjoy!
G-
My take on the Desert Ramble is now live over on my Exposure site. Hop on over and check out what a bunch of dudes, on Fat bikes, with cameras in tow, were up to.
Chasing Rainbows -- Night one and a race to find camp after a mere 19 miles of hard, really hard, riding
Ten guys, all avid cyclists and photographers, descended on Fruita, fat bikes in tow, for what would be a most awesome ramble through the desert. Like all good trips, there is balance between the reality of plans versus what is actually achievable. Skills, conditions, gear, all combine to alter what is the expected reality.
This trip would be no different, and while the goal was a figure 8 loop from Fruita to Moab and back, following the renowned Kopokeli trail -- the reality of rain, slick mud that turned to hard clay on our fat bikes, would all conspire to alter our plans.
I am working images now and hope to have the full story up on my photo essay site later this week. In the meantime, I am slowly streaming some of my favorite images onto Instagram as are the others. Follow the hash tag #desertramble to find what others are posting.
From the bottom of my heart, my deepest thanks to JB for putting this together. Truly one of the most memorable trips of my traveling time.
Coconino 250 with Lucas and Eszter - Leica MM, 50/1,4
After the long hard summer, it is almost time to start up the travel and adventure season once again. First up, a trip to Utah with a bunch of guys that love photography, bikes, and hopefully Bourbon. We fly into Grand Junction, shuttle to Fruita, and then head out on the Kopokeli for a 7 day loop through some of the most beautiful lands in the US.
I will be shooting both color and B&W for this trip and using my new bags from the master himself, Scott of Porcelain Rocket. He has a new rear bag setup which offers a ton more stability and a new sling system for those that prefer slings over rolls.
In a couple of weeks, Bunyan Velo will be coming out with there latest edition so look for my images on the Coconino that will accompany words by Eszter. Man, I can't wait to get back out to AZ this winter. Some of the finest riding ever. Last year I used a Salsa Spearfish with the new Split Pivot design. This year I will be on the new Carbon Fiber Horsethief!! A bit more travel and only a slight weight penalty over the Fish. If all goes well, the Fish will go on the market in near mint condition.
You can follow along as I post snippets of pictures on my Instagram account, and possibly a few things to FB, although my desire to post there is fading. I will do a small story here and then a larger story on my Photo Essays website (which is sorely behind in updates...)
Stay tuned, as the fun is about to begin.
