The main enemy on this shoot was the wind. Shooting on the open rooftops at UIndy and in the wind tunnels created by the downtown buildings made steady work a nightmare. More than that, capturing distance and depth in an outdoor athletic environment is a technical balancing act from one rooftop into a second roof opening.
I had to figure out how to compress the frame to show the model's speed against the backdrop of the Indy skyline without losing the sense of scale while still making it unreconiozble for a genral audience. Tracking movement at full tilt while trying to maintain a shallow depth of field for that "pop" required some serious coordination between the camera team and the runners.
This project was a win for technical clarity. By focusing on the mechanics of the sport, we were able to deliver a visual style that felt as disciplined as the athletes themselves.
I was able to manage to turn the wind and the sprawling campus layouts into an advantage, using the long lenses to create a cinematic look that puts the viewer right on the track. It was a great way to showcase the spirit of the 317 through the lens of a world-class performance brand.
Next projects.
(2016-25©)
