It was around my 7th year shooting professionally and hating camera straps, so I started to play around looking for a new idea. Fast forward a few years, and the BLACKRAPID camera sling was created. It revolutionized the camera strap market in 2008, “Turning the camera world upside down.”

Today, I shoot only for myself. My main focus has been BLACKRAPID and creating a culture behind the brand. That culture is our trademark, “Live The Moment.”

We have created a strap that helps the working photographer with your long days of shooting, so you can live your moment in comfort.

Our Breathe material and cross-body sling design helps keep a balance of weight. Once you try it you get it… You will forget you have a camera on.

KICKSTANDS UP JUNE 22 – 27 UTAH
BLACKRAPID MOTO-RIDE

Let’s go explore, men and women both, and Live The Moment on two wheels as we shoot photos along the way. I love the state of Utah, there is no other place like it. Click here for details.

We will be giving out the Wander Lanyard Smartphone Safety Tether System plus Cross Shot Camera Straps, to help you get the shot.

ABOUT RON

Photographer Ron Henry is the founder of BLACKRAPID, based in Seattle, Washington. Ron was the first to turn the camera world upside down in 2008. He now shoots for himself when he travels, photographing motorcycles, music, street life and dogs.

Learn more on Ron’s website at http://ronhenryphoto.com, and follow him on Instagram @blackrapid and Facebook @BlackRapidStrap.

Also check out Ron’s interview on Ep. 129 of Mitch Matthews’ DREAM. THINK. DO. podcast.

The post BLACKRAPID FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT: Ron Henry, Live The Moment appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

I actually don’t have a favourite, there have been so many films that have meant so much to me on both a personal and professional level.

Matrix was probably the film that defined me as a photographer and 20 years later it’s epic to still see those images pop up on a weekly basis. The Bourne Supremacy introduced me to two of my long time friends and collaborators Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, and of course I met my wife Maria on a Bourne film. Recently I have been working on Disney and Marvel films, and I love being part of that family. Shooting Thor was an absolute highlight and working with Chris and Taika was a dream come true.

Then of course Aquaman for DC with the Big Dog Jason Momoa and director James Wan, both amazing artists that give me incredible access.

I guess if I had to pin anything down though, it would of course be Mad Max Fury Road which was absolutely the hardest film I have ever worked on. I had to fight daily for every frame and I think it showed with what I was able to produce. Then there’s the three Bond films I have shot the stunts for, Live and Let Die was the first Bond film I saw with my buddies when I was a kid, and I’m convinced it’s why I work on action films. To shoot one Bond is amazing, but to be asked back three times is an absolute honour.

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So cool they use my photo from #thematrix lobby scene to announce that #matrix4 has started shooting. Such wonderful memories shooting still for the first 3. Massive honour in fact! #lanawachowski #thematrix #thematrix4 #matrix4 @nikonaustralia @nikonusa #nikon @nikonambassador #hollywood #popculture #iconic #actionfilm #actor @blackrapid @aquatech_imagingsolutions #nikonambassador #mynikonlife #SMPSP #unitstills #bts #stillphotographer @smpspstills #australianphotographer

A post shared by Jasin Boland (@jasinboland) on Feb 7, 2020 at 4:46pm PST

Q: YOU MUST BE AWAY FROM HOME A LOT…

As much and I am away a lot, I am actually home a lot too. I can be away on 2-3 films a year. I have been known to fly home from Europe to watch my son play hockey and be on a flight to Asia for another film two days later. Other times, especially over the holidays, I’ll get up to 6 weeks off, and every few years I can have 6 months off just being a hockey dad.

This year I am in Sydney for the whole year but I go home every weekend, and between the films I have a month off. I miss my little family and up until a few years ago, they traveled with me everywhere, but then of course they found interests. Hockey and acting for my son, and being a yoga instructor for my wife. I see how happy it makes them and there’s no way I want to take them away from that. Having a kid play hockey in traveling teams is super expensive, so I have to work anyhow, ha ha…

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@empiremagazine just named this little flick I worked on as film of the century now that’s pretty rad! Thanks for the opportunity Dr Miller! #madmax #madmaxfuryroad #filmofthecentury #movieofthecentury @tomhardy @charlizeafrica @chrispattonstunts @nikonaustralia @nikonusa #nikon @nikonambassador #hollywood #popculture #iconic #actionfilm #actor @blackrapid @aquatech_imagingsolutions #nikonambassador #mynikonlife #SMPSP #unitstills #bts #stillphotographer @smpspstills #australianphotographer

A post shared by Jasin Boland (@jasinboland) on Jan 17, 2020 at 9:45am PST

Q: WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?

Well our house is on the Gold Coast in Queensland, but my wife was born in Berlin, so we have those two places, but we would all be happier to move to BC. Hockey for my son, cold for my wife, and mountains for me.

Q: WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SHOOT YOU’VE EVER DONE?

Mad Max and Everest

Q: WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO LENS DURING MOST SHOOTS?

Outside 24-120 F4, and inside 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8

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It’s nearly here team! “Extraction” drops onto @netflix April 24 featuring the best boss a guy could have @chrishemsworth and directed by @thesamhargrave who may possibly be the best action director of this new decade! So stoked to work with these two not only sensational film makers but beautiful humans along the way. My little buddy @rudhrakshjaiswal1 stars with Chris along with my pal @randeephooda Can’t wait to see the finished product! #extraction #netflixfilm @netflixanz @netflixfilm #davidharbour thanks for the epic access @leecleary1 @therussobrothers @agbofilms @nikonaustralia @nikonusa @nikonambassador @blackrapid @aquatech_imagingsolutions @hoodmanusa #nikon #nikonambassador #blackrapidambassador #aquatechambassador #mynikonlife #seewhatisee #livethemoment #SMPSP #unitstills #stillphotographer #bts #behindthescenes @lakinreps

A post shared by Jasin Boland (@jasinboland) on Feb 18, 2020 at 12:01pm PST

Q: WHAT ELSE IS IN YOUR GEAR BAG?

Ha, how much space do we have?

Well my general onset studio unit kit consists of 3 Nikon Z mirrorless cameras so I can shoot silent on sensitive scenes, clipped to my custom BLACKRAPID straps.

I have Z35mm f1.8, Z50mm f1.8, Z24-70 f 2.8, Z85mm 1.8 and 70-200 f2.8 in one bag, and then for action scenes or super low light I have 2 D5’s in Aquatech sound blimps with 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f 2.8. Plus six Hoodman steel CF express cards running all my Nikon Z cameras. I’m amazed at how much faster they are than the XQD.

I also have fast Nikon primes 24mm f1.4, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4, 58mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.4 when needed for ultra low light or portrait work. When needed I will also run a 200mm f2, 200-400mm f4 and 400mm f2.8.

Then in my action kit, which is what I use for mounting on vehicles or anywhere I can stuff a camera really, I use 2 x D4s’s, 1 D850 and 1 D750 and various lenses like 35mm f2 and 17-35mm f2.8 and a 24-120 f4. All of them I expect may get taken out at some point. On Spectre an airplane wheel knocked one over, and on another film a car hit one. Lots of bumps for my Nikons, but they just keep on going.

The key is when you are in an impact zone, you need to allow your camera to move or in fact fall over. When you are mounted to a vehicle, the important thing is they don’t move at all due to safety for the drivers, cast and crew.

As well as all my rig mounts, I also travel with a lot of safety gear, harnesses, helmets, ear protection, anything you can think of really. My traveling kit is around 100kg so I never fly with it, everything gets shipped ahead. Currently, the kit I have with me on this film hasn’t been home for nearly 2 years.

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My buddy @frankiestills posted a shot of the Big Dog himself @prideofgypsies and reminded me how much fun this beast of a man is to work for! Can’t wait for the next one! #jasonmomoa #amberheard #jameswan #mera #arthurcurry #dceu #comics #movie #film #actionfilm #photography @nikonaustralia @nikonambassador @blackrapid #nikon #bts #behindthescenes #picoftheday #photooftheday #vfx @lakinreps

A post shared by Jasin Boland (@jasinboland) on Nov 17, 2019 at 2:21am PST

Q: WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO GO TO FOLLOW YOU?

You know, when I first was told by Nikon I should be doing Instagram, I laughed and said, “I’m not having an app tell me how to frame my shots.” I thought it would never catch on. Of course, I was wrong. If I had bothered to mask myself or use a Instacrop app, I’d be a lot further down the track with my Instagram than I am today.

My last 5 or 6 new clients all only looked at my Insta page. It’s great for staying relevant and I try to be on point with only film posts. I frequently pick themes and just do images from one film for a week, or what’s in the news.

I find most new followers only really look back 10 or so images, so I think it is important to go through the back catalogue and repost from time to time, otherwise those images get lost and you may have well just left them on the hard drive.

Another observation I had early on was I felt like people were just going to Insta to experience other peoples lives, and for quite a while that was true. But at some point it changed, and it encouraged people to get outside and experience life for themselves. It’s helped nurture peoples creativity and in my eyes that’s a fabulous thing.

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Happy new year team and what a year we shared! Here’s my #topnine2019 interesting spread clearly you all love @chrishemsworth he’s well worth loving by the way and the big surprise for me is #thematrix looks like everyone is looking forward to seeing #4 in the next decade. Thank you all for dropping by to see my work you fill my heart! #happynewyear #dhaka @therussobrothers #thematrix4 #chrishemsworth #keanureeves #ghostintheshell #scarlettjohansson @taikawaititi #taikawaititi #aquaman @creepypuppet @prideofgypsies @amberheard #jasonmomoa #amberheard @carrieannemoss @nikonaustralia @nikonusa #nikon @nikonambassador #hollywood #popculture #iconic #actionfilm #actor @blackrapid @aquatech_imagingsolutions #nikonambassador #mynikonlife #SMPSP #unitstills #bts #stillphotographer @smpspstills #australianphotographer

A post shared by Jasin Boland (@jasinboland) on Dec 30, 2019 at 1:08pm PST

Hi, I’m Jasin Boland, a motion picture still photographer based in Queensland, Australia.

Come visit my Instagram @jasinboland. I haven’t updated my web page since forever.

The post BLACKRAPID Ambassador Spotlight: Jasin Boland – Make the Job Work for You, Don’t Work for the Job appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

COPY CAT URLs

We’ve become aware that there are online stores selling products which have similar website names to ours.

The products we sell are camera straps and accessories and the only website we own and operate is BLACKRAPID.com. Our company is located in Seattle, Washington USA.

If you are purchasing different merchandise from any other URL, it is NOT owned and operated by us.

To ensure you are purchasing an authentic BLACKRAPID camera accessory product, please reference our product list on our website BLACKRAPID.com/all or contact our outstanding Customer Relations Specialist at customerrelations@blackrapid.com.

– The BLACKRAPID Team

The post CONSUMER WARNING – COPY CAT URLs appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

I started Shotkit back in 2014 to scratch my own itch of wanting to know what my favourite photographers carried in their camera bags.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT A GOOD CAMERA DOESN’T MAKE A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER,

but most of us in the photography industry are passionate about the camera gear we use, and we’re all a little curious about the gear used by our peers!

OVER THE YEARS, SHOTKIT HAS MORPHED INTO A POPULAR RESOURCE FOR ALL THINGS PHOTOGRAPHY AND GEAR RELATED,

but the goal of the site is still to provide an accessible place for both beginners and pros to have a snoop inside the camera bags of photographers.

After receiving so many submissions from photographers around the world, I’ve been given a unique insight into the most popular photography gear in use by professionals today… and of course, BLACKRAPID is a name that keeps popping up.

IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE DIFFERENT TRENDS EMERGE IN THE INDUSTRY,

particularly how mirrorless cameras are disrupting the throne that’s been held for so many years by the trusty DSLR.

Whatever your stance is on using a camera with an EVF vs a traditional OVF, the future of cameras which rely on cumbersome mirrors to capture images is looking admittedly bleak.

Personally, I made the switch to mirrorless cameras for my wedding photography work earlier this year and have been enjoying the experience… although I must say there are still times when I miss my DSLR.

AS FOR SHOTKIT, I’LL CONTINUE TO PUBLISH IN-DEPTH REVIEWS ON THE LATEST CAMERA GEAR

to help both beginners and professional photographers who need advice about their next purchases… not to mention of course those of us with a dose of the dreaded G.A.S.!

I definitely don’t condone buying gear for the sake of it, or amassing a whole arsenal of camera accessories that hardly gets used. I’ve taken a rather minimalist approach to my wedding photography, in a hope to encourage creativity through limitation, often using just one camera body and one lens for an entire day.

That said, I still think it’s worthwhile to invest in new gear from time to time if it helps with your motivation and creativity, and let’s face it, we do all like new toys after all

FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOWING OFF THEIR BEST WORK AND FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY GADGETS AND GIZMOS, TO GEAR REVIEWS, BUSINESS ADVICE AND CREATIVE INSPIRATION, THERE’S SOMETHING ON SHOTKIT FOR EVERYONE.

If you’re reading this and thinking that you’d like to have your work featured on Shotkit, then come on over and get involved! Whether you own one camera or ten, I’d love to have you on-board.

Mark Condon is a photographer and founder of ShotKit, the popular blog that gives readers an inside look inside the camera bags of some of the most highly regarded photographers around the world.

Find out more about him on his website ShotKit.com, and be sure to follow him on Instagram @shotkit and his Facebook page, ShotKit.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by Mark Condon | Peek inside the Camera Bags of the World’s Best Photographers appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

#LiveTheMoment in Comfort and Style!

INTRODUCING A BRAND-NEW CAMERA STRAP DESIGNED BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN – THE NICOLE ELLIOTT BY BLACKRAPID.

Your camera should be an extension of you, not an annoyance to carry. Your camera gear should add to your creative energy – not inhibit it. Taking its cue from the way women have been carrying their babies for centuries, Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID takes the pressure points away from your neck and shoulders by “hugging” your shoulder to evenly distribute the weight.  Allowing you to have full mobility and making your camera feel virtually weightless.  Shoot for hours without feeling fatigue, discomfort or pain! The strap is reversible – black on one side, black and white pattern on the other – business and party in one unique design. The shoulder strap has two pockets for lens caps and two zippered pockets for memory cards, batteries and whatever other small accessories you want to keep close.  The strap has a release trigger snap hook that locks in place when hooked to the 1/4″ screw that attaches securely to the bottom of your camera. And the strap adjusts to up to 63” in diameter, ensuring a perfect fit for any body type.

With its innovative functionality, maximum comfort and unique style this strap will change the way you photograph life. The Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID – #LiveTheMoment in Comfort and Style!

The Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID is now available exclusively at BLACKRAPID.com. Order yours today! https://www.blackrapid.com/Nicole-Elliott-Strap-by-BLACKRAPID

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT

Carrying around heavy camera gear for an all-day wedding, running and jumping with kids during a family photo shoot, going for a hike in the woods, or simply photographing urban lifestyle can take a toll on our bodies. The new Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID changes that experience completely by providing a soft, stylish, reversable shoulder pad that curves with your body and distributes the weight of your gear appropriately. No more sore shoulders or necks after a photoshoot FTW! Here’s our favorite features:

• • Ergonomically Correct: Even weight distribution takes the pressure off your neck and shoulders, making your camera feel weightless.
  • Reversible Fabric: Sophisticated pattern on one side and classic black on the other.
  • Comfortable Shoulder Piece: There’s never been a camera strap that literally “hugs” your shoulder evenly to distribute the weight. This takes the pressure points away from your neck and shoulders allowing you to have full mobility and makes your camera feel virtually weightless.
  • 2 Zippered Pockets and 2 Lens Cap Pockets: You know all that stuff that gets lost in the bottom of your camera bag, or stuffed into a random pocket? You’ll never lose your lens caps again with the two integrated lens cap pockets, and the two zippered pockets which are perfect for those memory cards, business cards, or other small items.
  • Easy adjustment: Need it longer? Need it shorter? Just grab the adjustment strap and pull! Done.
  • Durable, Removable, Water Resistant, Washable Fabric: Simply detach the shoulder strap from nylon strap and rings, wash by hand with mild soap, and lay flat to dry.
  • Right- or Left-handed Wear: With its easy reversible front or back adjustment, the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID can be slung from the left or right shoulder.

To top it off, it’s made with our new high-performance materials and hardware, including the ConnectR (CR-3), LockstaR, FastenR (FR-5), and Camera Safety Tether.

We can gush about this beauty all day long, but we’d rather you discover for yourself what you love most about it. With our 30 day money back guarantee, you can order the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID, try it out, and if you decide it’s not for you, return it within 30 days.

THE HEART BEHIND NICOLE ELLIOTT BY BLACKRAPID

Words from the designer, the beautiful heart and soul behind the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID:

“We are mothers, we are daughters, we are wives and friends…

We love deeply and live passionately.

We are surrounded by a world of wonder and amazement, from little laughs and giggles, to the beautiful people that surround us and the everyday moments that steal our hearts.

Life is a journey…. A bunch of little moments that together make up one big beautiful life.

My hope is that the Elliott strap helps you capture the life around you Confidently, Creatively, Passionately…without borders.

Here’s to a beautiful life captured one shot at a time – one moment at a time.

Every moment, #LiveTheMoment. In comfort and style.”

~ Nicole Elliott

The post It’s Here! The camera strap designed by women for women – Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID! appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

HI GUYS!

I’m Alisha, a 25-year-old photographer all the way from Auckland, New Zealand and I’d like to share a little bit about myself and experience in the world of sports photography and beyond!

MY PHOTOGRAPHY WORK VARIES QUITE A BIT AND THIS AMAZING PART OF BEING A FREELANCER MEANS I NEVER GET BORED.

While the majority of my photography is in sports and fitness industries (from capturing actual sporting events to staged lifestyle work for sporting and fitness entities) I also capture events and weddings, which I approach the same as sports: you have one moment, don’t miss the shot! With my background as a Graphic Designer and Content Creator by trade, I’m somewhat a perfectionist who likes to take creative control and fulfill this with food, product, and lifestyle photography in the studio and on location.

SPORTS AND ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVOURITE.

As an athlete myself competing in Track and Field in Pole Vault, sports has always been part of my life and will always be part of my identity so I’m very lucky to have it as part of my career too. Nothing beats that feeling when you capture the key shot that shows a split second of athleticism and/or emotion. Professional and amateur athletes put hours and hours of work into their sport and you can see it through their emotions when they succeed, which is what I feel and look to capture in sport. Participating in a variety of sports my whole life has helped me read the situation in photography; you have to think very fast and often make key decisions split seconds (which helps in many other areas of photography where you are working against time).

WHEN MAKING THESE DECISIONS, I TRY TO ANTICIPATE THE MOMENT BEFORE IT HAPPENS SO I CAN BE READY AND PLAN MY POSITION, COMPOSITION AND EXPOSURE.

Therefore my gear setup has to work as fast as I do. Whether there is plenty of space around you, or you are crowded amongst other photographers/people, the last thing you want to worry about is dropping your cameras when you change bodies. I used to fluff around with having two cameras on my shoulders, they always slipped off and to change camera bodies you had to either place the other one down, hold it between your legs, or chuck back on your shoulder; all things that take time, until I discovered BLACKRAPID double strap system. For any lens/body combo that doesn’t require a monopod I chuck on my Double Breathe, so now when I need to change cameras quickly, I literally just drop it (for a 70-200 2.8 and smaller, the 300 2.8 you need to place it down haha) and the other one is ready to go at my hip, no need to worry about where it is ‘cause it’s literally attached to me!

OFTEN IN SPORTS YOU HAVE TO QUICKLY GET UP AND MOVE, SO WITH MY BLACKRAPID DOUBLE BREATHE I CAN JUST DO THAT AND KNOW MY CAMERAS ARE ATTACHED TO ME RATHER THAN HAVING TO PICK THEM UP AND WASTE TIME.

It works well when you are also carrying a larger 400mm because you can just grab it and leave the other bodies at your hips. When you see a key moment or a potential angle, all you are thinking about is how you will capture it. Thus, you can often see me climbing a tree, in a ditch, jumping the fence, etc. so I rather not have to worry about holding my cameras! When I was the Nike + Auckland photographer I used to push scooter with my gear to get to various spots and it also made it possible to bring out a snack very easily which is very important, haha. Another plus is that I get to hug my fellow athlete friends on the track without worrying about smashing or dropping my gear in the heat of the moment.

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY MIGHT BE A PREDOMINATELY ‘MAN’S GAME’ BUT BEING A FEMALE DOES HAVE ITS ADVANTAGES.

Due to my smaller frame I am often or not chucked in the more unusual spaces for assignments like being on the back of a motorbike, on a small inflatable boat to capture sailing/ocean swimming, or photographing a race by being harnessed to the top of the bridge looking down. I feel as a female I have a naturally different perspective to sports as I’m sensitive and intuitive to the raw emotion sport brings out in people. Sports photographers have the power and responsibility to not only create a story but to illustrate the strength of ALL athletes. My hope is to inspire other females to take up sports photography to create a more diverse range of powerful sporting and help illuminate the strong female athletes in sports and beyond!

COMMENTS LIKE ‘THAT IS HEAVY GEAR FOR A LITTLE GIRL’ HASN’T PHASED ME BECAUSE I KNOW I’M REALLY LUCKY IN MY EXPERIENCE.

Whether in London, Australia for the Commonwealth Games, or in my home country of New Zealand for national and international events, I’ve had a far greater positive experience working alongside very experienced male photographers from all over the world who are nothing but supportive, friendly, and encouraging! So I encourage any other young girls out there that it’s a pretty cool world and there are good people around! (Here I take the opportunity to thank all the experienced male photographers I’ve met from New Zealand and all over the world, who showed no judgement, treated me as equal and only judged me on what images I produced rather than my age or gender, so thank you!)

MY LAST BIG TRACK AND FIELD EVENT WAS THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES IN APRIL WITH MY ASSIGNMENT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE NEW ZEALAND ATHLETICS TEAM IN ACTION.

This was an incredible experience to not only be in the thick of an international game getting the shots of my friends in action, but to also capture the moment they received medals for their accomplishments. Currently, I’m working on a few little assignments that aren’t sporting events like projects with Hey Girl, a wellness and health hub targeted at Women, and Parafed Auckland showing athletes as strong and how they use their disability positively. I am also working on a series of product and lifestyle work and of course, personal projects discovering new boundaries of creativity with my talented friends.

I ENJOY GETTING OUT THERE, SHOOTING FOR MYSELF, AND EXPLORING NEW IDEAS AS YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING AND PUSHING YOUR CRAFT.

Peace!
– Alisha Lovrich

You can see what Alisha is up to on:

www.instagram.com/alishalovrich
www.facebook.com/alishalovrichphotography
www.alishalovrich.com

Alisha’s sport photography highlights:

IAAF World Athletics Championships in London 2017
FIH World Hockey League, Women’s Final in Auckland 2017
World Masters Games in Auckland 2017 photographing Athletics, Mountain Biking, Sailing, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Swimming.
Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018

Alisha’s current gear getup:

BLACKRAPID Slim Double Strap (For my small frame)
Canon 5DmkIII
Canon 7DmkII
Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II USM
Couple of Canon Speedlights I use on/off camera for events/creative work I can knock around.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by Alisha Lovrich | Photographing with the Double Breathe Slim in New Zealand appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

It’s Gettin’ Hot In Here! | Seattle WA

SUMMER MONTHS ARE HERE AND CAR INTERIORS GET HOT!

On an average summer day, a car interior reaches 116 degrees F (47 degrees C) and the car dashboard gets even hotter, a whopping 157 degrees F (69 degrees C)!

WHEN IN DOUBT, KEEP IT WITH YOU.

Be safe, keep your gear safe, #LiveTheMoment, and have a great weekend!

The post It’s Gettin’ Hot In Here! appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

The word serendipity isn’t used enough and today I hope this favorite word of mine brings you a little happiness as you begin your work week.

A FEW DAYS AGO,

we were taking a ferry ride from Bainbridge Island to downtown Seattle. The sun was shining, the water calm, and all passengers on board were giddy excitement as the beautiful Emerald City came into view. From the bow’s upper deck, we had a perfect view of Puget Sound as well as the car deck below, an ideal spot for any people watcher. Of course, I couldn’t help but notice all the smartphones and cameras capturing happy moments and took stock of all the different camera straps people were using (I was personally using the WandeR Bundle Smartphone Safety Tether System on my iPhone X).

WHILE SOAKING IN ALL THE SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND SCENT OF THE SEA,

I glanced down to the car deck below and noticed something happening: a beautiful couple stood at the bow of the boat while two photographers captured their embrace with the city skyline in the background. It was a perfect engagement session underway! Now, I spent the first 16 of my 20 years in photography shooting weddings and to this day, nothing makes me happier than to see love being captured and couldn’t help but smile with genuine joy watching this beautiful moment and photoshoot unfold. It was exquisite! Then I noticed something: one of the photographers was wearing a BLACKRAPID camera strap! With an ah-ha moment and my BLACKRAPID business card in hand, I ran down the steps to the photo session, introduced myself to the photographers, and asked if I could photograph them photographing the couple. They said yes! and we all quickly got to work.

PRO TIP:

No matter your experience level, photographing BTS images of seasoned photographers is always rewarding. You get to see the angles they see, listen to their etiquette in directing people, and learn to anticipate their moves during the shoot to capture the best angle that represents their story. It’s like learning to dance with a new partner and I highly recommend every photographer take on a couple BTS sessions a year just to stay fresh in style and practiced in experience.

MOVING AROUND CARS AND WASHINGTON STATE FERRY WORKERS,

the lovely photographer gracefully maneuvered her way around all obstacles with elegance. She was so kind and gentle in directing her couple, and I knew she was capturing something truly unique while also creating a special moment for them. I felt honored to be allowed to not only witness this beautiful session, but to also capture a few images for BLACKRAPID.

THE PHOTOGRAPHERS WERE NONE OTHER THAN

the highly esteemed Alante Photography team, Kimberly Person and Loren Callahan, winners of Seattle Bride Magazine’s Best Photographers of 2018 and I know it was true serendipity that our paths crossed at this moment, on this ferry, on this sunny summer day.

Thanks you guys, for allowing me to #LiveTheMoment with you!

To learn more about Kimberly and Loren, visit their website Alante Photography at www.alantephotography.com and be sure to follow them on Instagram @alantephotography www.instagram.com/alantephotography.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by LaRae Lobdell | Photographing Photographers on a Ferry, Seattle WA appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

A CLASSIC IS A CLASSIC FOR A REASON:

it’s reliable, it’s highly functional, it’s of superior quality and it’s stood up to the test of time (ten years!). This strap meets all of those criteria and so it’s no wonder that it’s still a favorite among photographers, including ourselves.

ONE OF OUR FAVORITE FEATURES OF THE CLASSIC RETRO RS-4

is the small zippered pocket which is where we love to keep a memory card, business cards, our ID and the occasional hotel key.

AS FOR CONSTRUCTION,

the shoulder pad is made of PU foam and offers cushioning without the loss of breathability. We’ve worn it on the hottest of days and it was still comfortable. The best part is, this strap can be worn on either the left or right shoulder. We typically wear ours across our left shoulder but on long adventures or photo shoots, it comes in handy to be able to switch the camera to our right shoulder and give the other one a rest.

ALL IN ALL,

this is one of our go-to straps because it’s lightweight (5.9 ounces), looks good, feels good and works well in multiple scenarios.

Thanks for sharing your professional insight and awesome photos, Erin and Caoline!

To learn more about Erin and Caroline visit their BlackRapid Ambassador profile, and be sure to check out their work over on their website www.authenticavl.com.

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