Polarmax Ad Campaign

Well I skipped class today because music appreciation 101 really isn't my thing. I did however receive a phone call from Donny, an art director at Polarmax. This company specializes in technical base layer clothing. The photo is going to be used in 30+ stores nationally for display racks and for posters. I'll upload the final poster as soon as it gets sent to me.

cheers, Ryan

www.polarmax.com

Toy Soldier Productions Photo Shoot DVD cover

The fall has been extremely busy but there's no complaints. I've never seen my image replicated so many times until the Toy Soldier Production dvd's came in. It's nice to see a seasons worth of work paying off.

www.toysoldierproductions.com

www.ryankirkphotography.com

Red Bull Rampage

10 Tips to photographing an event: Red Bull Rampage

Launched in 2001 and held annually through 2004, Red Bull Rampage brought the creative, unrestricted ethos of freeride mountain biking to the contest arena while staying true to the sport's core ideals. Poised on a sandstone ridge in the brutal landscape near Virgin, Utah riders were free to chose whatever line they dared between an established start gate and the finish line 1,500 vertical feet below. Exactly what happened between those two points has become legendary.

1.Dirt: If your worried about your camera and everything you own being covered in dirt,don’t show up.

2. Credentials: Unlimited access is key to composing images. Contact your local magazine or know someone who knows someone. Free lunch is provided with the press pass.

3. See Tip 1.

4. Business Cards: Everyone from publishers to team managers are on hand and the event. Exposure is everything.

5. Clothing: With highs of 103 degrees is obvious to wear shorts and a t shirt. Yet wearing the same outfit for the entire 4 days of photographing makes you more recognizable to riders and other photographers that you meet during the event.

6.Pre-Visualize: There are thousands of ways to photograph the numerous lines and features. Pick your areas and produce quality not quantity.

7. Equipment: Two cameras are key. The remote camera is locked onto the tripod with the wide angle lens and can be triggered by pocket wizards. The main body varied from the 100-400 and the 24-105.

8. Luck: Somehow randomly meet a writer for the biggest European bike magazine and have him be stoked to run your images.

9. Sell aka Luck #2: Submit images to the magazines and get paid for the time. It’s important to review the submission guidelines prior to submission.

10. Individuality: Don’t be concerned about what the other photographers are doing. It’s impossible for someone to duplicate your style.

www.redbullrampage.com

-ryan

Freehubmag.com Behind the Lenz article

Hello again world. I was contacted a few days ago by the guys over at freehubmagazine regarding a new segment they're starting up called behind the lenz. I learn best from articles like this because it is a way for me to pick other photographers brains. Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way and continues to help me.

Here's a link to the post here!

If you haven't already been to Borders or Barnes and Noble to pick up a copy of the printed coffee style copy of FreeHubMag I strongly suggest it.

Thanks again FreeHub and now go out and shoot photos!

-Ryan

Sneak Peak

After finally digging thru the thousands of images and picking out the bangers for submission I came across a shot that makes me want to ride. It's a shot of Brandon Watts (editor and pilot of freehubmag) on a wall ride feature in Moab, Utah. The amount of vert involved is pretty awesome and the amount of blowing sand into my eyes, mouth and camera gear during this shot is equally impressive. Be sure to check out freehubmag.com in the next week or so when they launch their next web issue!!

cheers

Toy Soldier Productions Photo Shoot-Cooke City

The idea sounded perfect after a few drinks and a quick confirmation on weather from mother nature for the following day. The plan was to leave at 4am to get to Cooke City at 7am to meet up with Shane Stalling(Aka the boss) and his buddies to show us around. I was joined by skier Cody Perin and Toy Soldier Productions filmer Justin Brodin and we set off. If you ever get a chance to drive thru Yellowstone National Park, take advantage of the amazing scenery and seeing wildlife up close. When I say up close I mean we almost hit a few hundred between driving there and back.

Without killing bambi we met Shane's crew at the Super 8 and he began doubling everyone back there. The sled in was around 6 miles and I about puked every 100 yards from the festivites of the night before.

The jump had already been built the day before by Shane and Tyrel so we just showed up and it was on. Phil knocked his shoulder out on the biggest air of the day. It sucks it was first hit but at least he overshot everyone by double digits. Cody was dialed on landing his dub 7 but sent it a bit deep on the attempt and ripped the toe peace off the ski and split it in half.

Winter not over yet!

Happy Shooting

Toy Soldier Productions

Toy Soldier Productions Photo Shoot

Every once and a while it's nice to have a stress free product photo shoot involving attractive people and fresh tall Tee's. With the studio to ourselves we got to work. Actual shooting took less than half an hour and another half an hour or so for set up and break down. Side note (professional models make the world of difference, thanks Megan!)

to order a shirt follow this link right here...

toy soldier productions feature film, Come Find Us will be release in the fall of 2010. Trailer Here!