X Games 14
12:30 Friday and I’m headed back out soon. The first day of X Games 14 was interesting. First, a fast run to the Home Depot Center, simply to get our credential. This wasn’t news to us, as that happened last year. At least they gave us the coolest USB flash drive, the X Games SkateDrive. I actually needed a new USB drive, so it kinda worked out. So after getting our credential, we had to drive all the way back to downtown LA to the Staples Center.
First up: BMX Freestyle. It was a new venue, the Event Deck, across the street from BMX, but it was also about 4:30pm in direct sun. No dreams about cloudy days offering solace, or at least some beautiful golden hour. I tried a few basic shots, and they came out looking like they were shot in direct sun. But I tried a few different things, and eventually got a few shots I liked.
A basic backlit shot. It’s not new, but the idea is that it doesn’t have that super blaring direct sun look. I adjusted the WB in the camera to 10,000 Kelvin, shot about a billion stops under, and it almost looks sunset-ish. Also, I had to do this shot from the media spot under duress after security told us that no media was allowed in the bleachers, where the fans sit. A fisheye, or a long lens to get a nice clean background woulda been great.
Read on for the link to the gallery, including shots of Skateboard Big Air.
Update on the Airport Security video: It’s been shot and basic edits applied. With X Games underway, and strategizing where to go and what to shoot, it’s been hectic. But it will come out in a few days. [Read more →]