Filed under: Action Photography, Action Sports, Adventure, Adventure Journal Prints, Behind the Scenes, Bron, Bron Imaging, Landscapes, Local Scene, Outdoor Photography, Photography, Pocket Wizard, Uncategorized
Winter took a break in Utah last week. Temperatures climbed into the 70’s and people were out running and biking in shorts and t-shirts. Spring was here, so I thought it would be great to get out and shoot some trail running. It was a perfect afternoon when I called some local runners to shoot the following day. Of course, winter came back the next day with cold rain and dark clouds hanging over the valley.
Cloudy days are a great time to work with strobes. The strong light from the flashes balanced against the dark skies allows you to create really dramatic images. With that in mind I packed up my strobe equipment and met the crew at a local trailhead.
Here are a couple of my favorites from the shoot. For these shots I used two Broncolor Mobil 2 packs, 3 MobiLED heads with standard reflectors and 3 Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 radio transceivers in hypersync mode. I placed the heads far apart to give me space to shoot wide enough to capture the action against the ominous sky. Pocket Wizard’s hypersync mode allows me to sync at 1/800 sec (and faster) with the strobes, which not only freezes the action but also gives me extra f-stops to overpower the background and create a strong, dramatic look.
I’ve always claimed that there’s no such thing as bad light. No matter what the conditions, you can always create something cool, and adding strobes is always a great option. To take a twist on an old saying, “When life gives you clouds, make sunshine”.
Filed under: 500PX, Action Photography, Action Sports, Adventure, Behind the Scenes, Feature Article, Local Scene, Magazine Article, Outdoor Photography, Photo Workshop, Photography, Professional Skier, Salomon, Ski Journal, Skiing, Skiing Photography, Snowbird, Snowboarding, Sports Photography, Uncategorized
Check out this link to a story written about the 4th Annual Photo Workshop at Snowbird! Thanks to everyone who came out and made it possible, I had a great time.
http://www.mountainonline.com/mountain-magazine/item/975-markewitz-workshop
Filed under: Action Photography, Action Sports, Behind the Scenes, Events, Landscapes, Local Scene, Outdoor Photography, Photo Workshop, Photography, Skiing, Skiing Photography, Snowbird, Snowboarding | Tags: Cliff Lodge, nature, Outdoors, Scott Markewitz Photo Workshop, Ski Photography, Snowbird Ski Resort
I’m excited to announce my 4th annual Scott Markewitz Photo Workshop that’s taking place this coming January 31 – February 3, 2013 at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort.
The 4th annual Scott Markewitz Photography Workshop will be an intensive 4-day program, geared for photographers of all levels who are passionate about skiing, snowboarding and the outdoors. Participants will learn about all aspects of winter outdoor photography with morning and evening classroom sessions and daily on mountain sessions that give participants a chance to practice their skills photographing professional skiers and snowboarders in action.
I’m really stoked to get at this again, it gets better and better every year. And with all the recent snowfall we’ve been having, this should make for some amazing turns and great accessibility of the mountain. This will be an exciting and rewarding experience for everyone, and will challenge students creatively, technically and physically. Snowbird is the perfect venue for this workshop. I’m really looking forward to showing participants the incredible snow, terrain, scenery and photographic opportunities that the resort has to offer.
The Scott Markewitz Photography Workshop includes three days of instruction both on the mountain and in the classroom, as well as three nights at The Cliff Lodge, lift tickets, early trams and breakfast. The cost for the workshop is $1300 (double occupancy, plus taxes & fees). For locals who don’t require lodging and/or lift tickets, please contact Scott Markewitz directly at scott@scottmarkewitz.com.
All participants should have a basic understanding of digital photography and be able to ski or snowboard most areas on the mountain comfortably while carrying their camera gear. Students are required to bring proper ski/snowboard equipment for any conditions, a DSLR camera with assorted lenses, a backpack to carry equipment while riding, a laptop with image processing software installed (Photoshop CS2 or higher, Lightroom, Aperture, or other similar programs), a memory card reader, thumb drive, and at least one external hard drive for storage.
Whether this is your first workshop or you’ve attended a past session, this is a fun and informative program that will improve your skills and expand your vision as a photographer.
Call 1-800-232-9542, email lodging@snowbird.com or Book Online. *Restrictions apply
Filed under: Behind the Scenes, Canyons Ski Resort, Feature Article, Local Scene, Mountain Bike Photography, Outdoor Photography | Tags: Athletes, Bike, Bikepark, Bikes, Cameras, Cody Kelley, Eric Porter, Gondolas, High action sports, Joe Johnson, Lift Tickets, Mountain Biking, Mountain Trails, Photographers, Professional Mountain Bike Athletes, Red Pine Gondola
Recently I had the chance to head up to the Canyons Resort in Park City, UT, for a Bike Park photo shoot. I was fortunate enough to have Joe Johnson from the Canyons Crew and his team tag along for some epic behind the scenes shots which later translated out to be an awesome write-up on the experience. I’m stoked to share:
“We’ve all seen the shots. They grace the glossy covers of magazines, the home pages of web sites and the covers of brochures and trail maps. The composition is perfect. The colors are mind blowing. And the athletic feats captured, well, they’re just silly good. If you’re thinking that those images just happen – check that nonsense at the door. A photo shoot is a production. The planning and execution that goes into getting the shots are just as, if not more important, than the act of snapping the photo.
I recently got the chance to tag along on a Canyons Bike Park photo shoot with Scott Markewitz, a man who has achieved legend status in the action sports photography world. From Powder Magazine to Bike Magazine and seemingly every other publication in between, Markewitz is known for nailing the shot. I shadowed Scott and tried my best to soak up as much information as possible so that you can get a real feel for what it’s like behind the scenes of a resort photo shoot. Here’s my take on how it all went down . . .
Pre-shoot
Contrary to popular belief, the real action starts weeks before the actual day of shooting. Preliminary phone conversations gave way to Scott dropping by the Canyons Marketing offices for a little face-to-face time. Photo shoot objectives were discussed, previous photos were viewed, trail maps were poured over in the name of location scouting, and the long term forecast was consulted.
With a week or so to go, Scott threw a leg over his bike and hit the Bike Park for some ol’ fashioned location scouting. He rode the trails, looking at the angles and features, making mental notes on where to shoot and where not to shoot. Then we checked the weather again . . .
With the shoot a few days out, mountain operations was pulled into the equation to nail down logistics. Early ups on Red Pine Gondola required staffing and scheduling changes. Vehicles and drivers had to be scheduled for on mountain transportation. Lift tickets had to be set up for photographers and athletes. And the weather was checked again. . .
Shoot
The day of the shoot dawned bright and early with everyone meeting at the base of Red Pine Gondola before 8 am. The last few drops of coffee were swallowed. Bikes and camera gear were given a final once over. The features and runs to be shot were discussed. And a plan of attack was put in place.
The crew.
With the plan as the guide, both athletes and Scott fell into a routine:
1. The feature was scoped out by Scott and the riders.
2. The riders gave feedback on the best way to hit the feature.
3. Scott decides on angle taking into account lighting and other awesome photography factors.
4. The riders line up.
5. Scott says go via radio.
6. The first rider hits the feature with as much style as possible.
7. Scott provides feedback on timing, style, etc.
8. The rider walks back up.
9. The next rider goes.
10. Repeat
As the athletes warmed up and began to get a feel for what Scott was looking for, the level of riding and tricks steadily progressed. Meanwhile, Scott kept busy doing his thing.”
Scott getting the shot.
Improvising.
Gotcha!
I was psyched with how the shoot turned out! It definitely helps when you get lucky enough to work with such an enthusiastic Canyons crew and dedicated (and patient!) professional athletes. In the end we chalked up a really solid shoot carried with some sick action shots to boot, check em’ out!
A special thanks goes out to the Canyons Resort, David March, Steve Pastorino, Joe Johnson, the Canyons crew, all of the amazing athletes, and everyone else who helped put this Bike Park shoot together. It was Epic!
–Scott
If you want to check Joe’s full feature post on the Canyons Blog, click HERE
Filed under: Adventure Photography, Behind the Scenes, Fashion, Local Scene, Professional Skier | Tags: blue steel, Carol Beaver, deer in the headlights, Jared Goldberg, Salt Lake City, US Ski Team, Wilhelmina Model
..or better yet, how to turn a professional Athlete into a world-class Model.
As a photographer, watching world-class athletes in action is incredible. Their fluidity and synergy of motion as they push the limits of human performance is poetry in motion. But, point a camera in their face when they’re out of their element, and they often become ‘deer in the headlights’, looking as stiff and uncomfortable as mannequins in a storefront window.
So, when US Ski Team athlete Jared Goldberg contacted me recently to get some fashion shots for his portfolio, I couldn’t help thinking that we might be spending much of the time working through stiff poses and flat expressions (and scores of deleted shots) in order to get a few workable images.
I asked Jared to put together a detailed shot list along with as many magazine tear sheets as he could find that capture the look he was after for reference. Then with some additional suggestions and ideas from an agent at Wilhelmina Models and the expert styling assistance of Carol Beaver, we headed out for a day around Salt Lake City.
What could have been a painful experience turned into a really productive day. Jared looked great on camera and was fully committed to getting the shots right, and in the end there was much more ‘blue steel’ than ‘deer in the headlights’. He might just have a career as a model!
Filed under: Action Photography, Adventure, Adventure Photography, Behind the Scenes, France, Freeride Entertainment, Landscapes, Mountain Bike Photography, Outdoor Photography | Tags: Col de la Seigne, Courmayeur, Les Chapieux, Matt Hunter, Mt. Blanc
SMP X Mountain Biking Around Mt Blanc with Matt Hunter X An Epic Adventure
I was recently invited to join Matt Hunter and the Freeride Entertainment crew in Chamonix, France for a mountain bike journey around Mt. Blanc. Matt has been on a mission recently to do big adventure rides, and this one is a classic. I had done the same journey more than 10 years ago, and jumped at the chance to ride it again.
We spent the first 2 days riding around the Chamonix valley, getting warmed up and grabbing some establishing shots before starting our trek. The sun was out as we set out on our first day of the Tour du Mt Blanc, but it looked like showers were moving in for the afternoon, and we had a big day ahead of us, with over 5000 ft. of climbing and 2 mountain passes to cross. It was a spectacular day to start the journey, and (luckily) it didn’t start raining until a few minutes before we rolled into our hotel in Les Chapieux.
We woke up the next morning to driving rain pouring off the roof of the hotel. We had another big day ahead of us with at least one big mountain pass to cross, and no one was too excited about spending the day on the bike in the pouring rain. We decided to wait it out and see if it improved. After more than an hour the clouds started lifting and the rain let up, so we set out for a big climb up the Col de la Seigne. The rain came back in again as we reached the top of the pass, so we made our way down as fast as we could and rolled into Courmayeur a couple hours later, completely soaked.
We tried to ride the following day, but within minutes we were chased off the mountain by rain and lightning and ended up staying an extra day in Courmayeur. I don’t think anyone minded having the time off the bike to enjoy a day in a classic Italian mountain town.
The sun was shining and the weather was perfect the following morning, and for the next two days we didn’t see a cloud as we made our way through Italy, Switzerland and back to France around the Eastern side of the mountain. Mt Blanc was glowing in the late afternoon light as we rode back into the Chamonix valley to complete our journey around the highest peak in the Alps.
It was a spectacular ride with a great crew. I don’t think I can wait another 10 years to do it again!
–Scott
Filed under: Action Photography, Adventure Photography, Behind the Scenes, Feature Article, Outdoor Photography, Photography, Resource Magazine, Skiing Photography, Sports Photography | Tags: Action Sports Photographer, arts, bron color, Sam Chapin, Scott Markewitz, Skiing Photographer
I’m excited to see this feature on me and my work in the current issue of Resource Magazine. They did a great job of condensing a 20 minute interview into a short piece without losing much content or context. Let me know what you think!
http://resourcemagonline.com/scott-markewitz-a-skiing-photographer/
Filed under: Action Photography, Action Sports, Behind the Scenes, Events, Landscapes, Mountain Bike Photography, Outdoor Photography, Photo Contest, Sports Photography, Whistler | Tags: Anthony Bonello, Bernie Kerr, Brett Tippie, Cam Zink, Deep Summer Photo Contest, Elliott Jackson, Katie Holden, Kurt Sorge, Michelle Leroux, Mountain Biking, Richie Schley, Scott Markewitz Photography, Whistler
It was great to be back in Whistler for the Deep Summer Photo Challenge last week. With 3 days to shoot and one day to put a complete slideshow together, it was way more intense than I had imagined. But, it was a great time and I was stoked to take 2nd place. I want to give a big thanks to Anthony Bonello for his awesome editing skills and creative input on the show, and to the amazing team of athletes that I was able to shoot with – Cam Zink, Kurt Sorge, Katie Holden, Richie Schley, Brett Tippie, Bernie Kerr and Elliott Jackson. And, thanks to Michelle Leroux and Whistler for inviting me to compete. I hope you enjoy the show:
Scott Markewitz Deep Summer 2012 from Scott Markewitz on Vimeo.
I would love to hear your thoughts – Feel free to leave me your feedback in the comments below.
– Scott
Filed under: Action Photography, Alaska, Behind the Scenes, Matchstick Productions, Mountain Hardwear, Skiing, Sports Photography | Tags: Alaska Heliskiing, Dan Campbell-Lloyd, Haines, James Heim, Jay Quinlan, Michelle Parker, Mountain Hardwear, MSP, Murray Wais, Richard Permin, Sam Anthamatten
I just returned from an amazing trip to Haines, Alaska with Matchstick Productions and the Mountain Hardwear team – James Heim, Sam Anthamatten, and Michelle Parker. French skier Richard Permin also joined the crew. We arrived in Haines on Feb 19, excited to get out in the mountains after hearing stories all winter about the epic snowfall in Alaska this season. After a couple of days the weather broke and we flew out for our first runs of the trip on a clear, cold day with our pilot Jay Quinlan, the former snowmobiler who was featured in many past MSP movies pushing the limits on his sled.
I love Alaska. It’s the best skiing in the world and an incredible place to photograph. I’ve taken many trips to ski and shoot in these amazing mountains, and every trip is just as exciting as the first one. February is early for skiing in Alaska. The days are short and the sun is low, but the light is amazing and there are very few skiers around. We flew 4 out of the 12 days we were there and, except for one other crew, we had the entire range to ourselves. We found great snow, impressive lines, and the skiers stepped it up for some great shots.
It was a fun, memorable and productive trip, and I want to thank Mountain Hardwear and Matchstick Productions for making it happen.
I’ve created a full gallery of some of the behind the scenes taken up at Haines.. see below.
Feel free to leave some comments and let me know which ones you LIKE. You can also visit the full album, “Haines, AK – Behind the Scenes“, on my Facebook page.
– Scott
Filed under: Action Photography, Behind the Scenes, Feature Article, Photography, Real life, Ski Journal, Skiing | Tags: adventure photography, High action sports, Leslie Anthony, Outdoor Photography, Skiing
Check out the latest feature article from Ski Journal (issue 5.4): Ski Journal | Issue 5.4 | Scott Markewitz
It’s always great to have the incredible author and long-time friend, Leslie Anthony, write about some of my work and happenings. In the latest Ski Journal (issue 5.4), Leslie highlights a few of my beginnings as a professional photographer, past projects, and current pursuits. I’ve attached a PDF of the article here: Ski Journal | Issue 5.4 | Scott Markewitz
or you can check it out on Ski Journal’s website here: Ski Journal
Let me know what you think and please feel free to leave any comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Enjoy!
