So something completely different this week. A couple of weeks ago I was shooting a commercial job, on location in the centre of Birmingham, and as we were finishing up I heard a voice behind me ask if they could have a picture taken. The lights were all still on and my client didn’t seem to mind so I said ‘why not?’. So this guy jumped in front of the camera and this is the shot that we got! We only had time to take 4/5 images before we had to pack up the kit and get to the next location to shoot. I was on a job remember! We quickly exchanged some details though and that was that. We got a great, impromptu, image and it made a fun story from the shoot.

With that being said I thought it might be interesting to hear a bit more about this guy and the story of how he came to be in front of my camera? We met for a matter of minutes on the day that we got the shot so there was no chance to find out anything really. So when he contacted me about getting a copy of the image, I asked if he might like to feature on the blog in some way. He kindly agreed!

I thought about just asking some questions and writing them up in the blog but that’s a lot of transcribing for me and a lot of reading for you lot when I planned on recording it all anyway. So a friend suggested just putting the recording out as a sort of podcast on the site which made sense but let’s face it if I’m doing all that and have the cameras to take some images for the blog then why not just stick those cameras on tripods, throw some milk crates down for us to sit on and film the whole thing too!

So another week and another step out of my comfort zone this time in front of the camera. So here it is! To find out how the break dancing image came about and a little bit more about the interesting guy in it, give this a watch!

It’s a quick edit and luckily we shot it all in one take, with 2 cameras but there are plenty of lessons I’ve learnt from filming it (mainly self-critical ones of putting myself on camera). Here are a few:

• If you suddenly decide to film the interview make sure you have a big enough card in BOTH cameras so it doesn’t cut two-thirds of the way through on your close up shot. In fairness, I didn’t realise that we’d been speaking for so long as it was so interesting.

• If you suddenly decide to film the interview perhaps also look in the mirror at yourself beforehand. Have a shave and dust yourself down a bit. I’m covered in dust from where I’ve got the red background from the back of the studio cupboard.

• Don’t say the word ‘cool’ so much.

• Accept that no one likes the sound of their own voice, well no one I’ve met!

• Have a basic idea of what you want to talk about so you don’t ramble too much.

Despite all that I actually enjoyed pushing myself out of my comfort zone and doing something a little different. Oh, and also filming it saved me doing one hell of a lot of transcribing. That would’ve been a wordy blog post!

I may consider doing something like this again but we’ll have to see. I definitely have some very interesting people in my life who have some incredible stories that you’d find interesting I’m sure. Maybe there’s a whole new project in it??

Anyway, I hope you found it interesting finding out a little bit more about the story behind the image as well as the man in the image. I think you’ll agree he’s an interesting guy. You can check out what he’s up to via the links to his Youtube Channel and also his Instagram, below.

I also want to shout out Joe Webby for creating the music for the video within a matter of hours of me showing him the interview. Also Paul Stringer for the awesome Trailer Edit!

Oh and here is the link to the ASAP Rocky track that Meites referenced in the video!

So until next week in the words of ASAP: CREATE, EXPLORE, EXPAND, CONQUER!

LINKS:

MEITES EXPLORES:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_HZiP7ueRoH_fQmT5ZEREA

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/meitesvn_csb/

https://www.instagram.com/meites_explores_csb/

MUSIC:

JOE WEBBY

https://www.instagram.com/joewebby/

TRAILER EDIT:

PAUL STRINGER

https://www.paulstringer.co.uk/