how did you get here?

[this is long af]

However it is that you are able to meet me here, at this time, is not by chance, but merely another non-coincidental serendipitous moment. If you are here because we are colleagues, or my friend, welcome. Thank you for checking into what I refer to as my consciousness in written form. If you are here because you dont know wtf is going on in your life, you’ve been scrolling for the past hour on the sofa or in your bed, welcome. I too was once completely ignorant to the thrills life had in store for me. Trust me, it gets better, but only if you want it to.

Taboo phrases for creatives:

“I need to update my website”

“I need to put up a blog, vlog”

Both of which I am guilty of never speaking into existence or taking action on. my goal is in 2022 I do both very well, very frequently. I am continuing my 2021 theme of ALIGNMENT into 2022. Alignment is me working toward aligning my interests into my career. Saying NO more, spending more time cooking up and finding my voice thru my craft… thru music, photography, film making.

There was a job I was rewarded recently that left me in a constant conscious loop asking “how did you get here?” (said with no negative connotation of any sort) More affirmation that the growing randomness of what my skillset is, is actually paying off and giving me some amazing opportunities to work with some amazing people.

Bozeman, MT. Photoshoot with Matthew Jones, for Infiniti.

Prep for this job was one of the most nerve-racking to date. Matthew is a world-class photographer and someone I hope to have a long career and friendship with. I got the phone call sometime in November.

“Jeff isn’t available, Donny isn’t available… you think you could Tech for me?”

a Tech in the stills world is a Digital Technician, or DigiTech for short. A DigiTech’s role is to connect the camera to a computer, provide screens for crew and client to review in real time as the photographer is working, and to manage the files before, during, and after the photoshoot. Depending on the relationship the Tech has with the Photographer, a Tech can also provide creative feedback and input on the imaging that is happening at that current moment. Luckily to my advantage, Matthew is the type of photographer that likes to have thoughts to feed off of. He enjoys the back and forth convo that happens while we are working, and I think that’s pretty rad. Example of some dialogue:

“Matt, you’re overexposed, change your aperture to 4.5”

“Left side of the frame needs some fill! (turns to photo assistant) Kip, can you give Matt a bounce from that side? Ok pop one…. Matt how does that look?”

“Matt! watch out you’re catching part of the grip truck on the right side of the frame”

I view this role as the photographers caddy. We carry the gear, make suggestions when asked. Photographer is the golfer, DigiTech is the Caddy, Photo assistant is the landscaper, and the client is the tournament.

The nerve-racking part of this job was the conditions we would be in during the shoot. Single digit temperatures, snow storms, high elevation, thin oxygen, not a lot of rental options in Bozeman. I was worried about where I would source power for my machines, battery charging, and if my laptop would be able to withstand the freezing cold.

This is my mobile tether station, on top of a mountain, right after a snow storm. Windchill was -7 F that day.

Bozeman is a beautiful place. As soon as you walk out of the gate tunnel… its just mountains, everywhere. Not some bitch-ass east coast mountains i’m talking about….. large Lord of the Rings type mountains. Endless rock formations. Its stunning. The car ride into Big Sky was like driving thru a beautiful barren wasteland. All the buildings were stuck in time, and they all looked abandoned. The scenery looked painted on canvas. Beauty is only one of the many words to describe the everlasting cascading backdrops that change every moment the light shifts.

On the main highway as soon as we exited the airport.

The Sprinter van for the crew was hella nice. All Terrain spec. Teal blue with off-road tires and a roof rack.

There are always nerves going into every big shoot. The nerves of a Tech hinge on the reliability of the technology and tools. This job wasn’t some gallery for a tv/film, or some e-com in the studio…. we was really out there… like out there fighting nature. creating pictures that we want to feel so real, in sometimes unrealistic circumstances.

Matt and Will inside our production camper pre pro day.

Matt.

Anna and Laura sending pics of outfits to client before day 1 of the shoot.

Producer Will, Ink & Oranges

Us going to grab dinner in the blistering cold.

Jen and I in the hotel together.

This past year I’ve spent lots of time… on FaceTime. It’s bittersweet because when I go on work trips I’m put up in some of the most luxurious hotels and I’m always by myself. Jen and I have an unspoken ritual that we do whenever we travel for work. We FaceTime each other as soon as we get into the hotel room and give a tour of the room that we’re in. It’s mad cute. We’re mad cute. Shutup.

The sun rising at our first location in Big Sky.

Morning of Day 1, we drove up the mountain in the dark. We pulled up to the house (I Zillowed it, it’s mad expensive… and side note yes I’ve become one of those people that Zillow everything aka basic ass adult vibes) and all I saw was just the frame of the house from the outside lights. As the morning progressed, so did the view. It’s hard to imagine what can be seen in the distance especially if you are completely ignorant to what was there, and what has been there all along. The more the day progressed, the more breathtaking the views became. Honestly one of the coolest places I’ve ever been afforded to work in my life.

Matt with a Nikon Z7ii, My Digi station with 1 iPad (thanks Jinnah) Broadcasting to another 27inch monitor inside the garage for client using a Hollyland 300 Mars Wireless Transmitter.

Transitions.

Matt grabbing interiors of the car. One of the best tools on my station is that Porta Brace tote thats hanging off my tripod.

“fake snow”

Sunset, Day 1.

Day 2 started with a blizzard. We were significantly colder and significantly higher up the mountain. The owners of the 2nd house were low-key strange, and the garage smelled like weed when we first walked in lol. love it.

I use a term called “going rogue”. Thats when the photographer un-tethers their camera from my laptop and shoots to card. I know Matt prefers working like this, and all the pictures that came back when I dumped the card were fire. I like it when Matt gets in the zone and really starts cooking. The framing, exposure, shot ideas all come in a with a little bit more anticipation because we don’t know what he’s shooting. Matt’s morning run with just him, the camera and the blizzard got us some of the best pictures from the whole shoot. really great.

Day 2 blizzard.

Eventually it stopped snowing.

Last shot of the day

There was a previous blog I wrote about being a multi-hyphenate. My desire is to be a master of one, not a master of none. It is my hearts desire to be known for one thing, and to be one of the best to do that one thing very well. I’ve had a few conversations with friends and fellow creatives, and their feedback is that being a jack of all trades should not be received with negative connotation. Acceptance of what I am at this moment is part of my journey. Being an enneagram 3 it’s hard to go with the flow… but with life’s circumstances sometimes I am left with no choice but to roll with it. At least the quality of the jobs are getting better and better.

I never really confidently considered myself a Digitech. It was a new role that I somehow stumbled into (honestly, like everything professional in my life) but after this Montana job and after having overcome all the challenges that came with it, my confidence in it is in a good place, and each job as a Digitech gets easier.

Walking back up the road, close to sunset. Day 2.