Jereme Thaxton

Posted in Adventure, Landscape, Travels | 1 Comment

Back in November I had the opportunity to shoot a travel feature for KLM Airlines and their inflight magazine, Holland Herald, so if you are flying transatlantic during the month of February, check it out! It was a blast to get back over to that part of the world for a few days after spending several years in the Emirates, the people were warm, the landscapes photogenic and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. If anything, I was under dressed since a couple days of shooting took place up at altitude near Jebel Shams–also known as the Grand Canyon of the Middle East. It dipped into the low 40′s at night, not the typical 120 degrees most Yanks think of for this part of the world.

It was a pretty quick trip as I was already inbound for the Istanbul shoot, so getting in at 3 AM was less than ideal but I was still on US time so it didn’t matter. Flying into Muscat, I already braced myself for the change from good ole’ US consumerism to a place where standards are typically thrown out the window. Don’t get me wrong, the people are some of the friendliest in the world…they just do things differently…like renting vehicles. Normally I would reserve it weeks in advance, but since I would be getting in at a crazy hour I figured I would reserve it on the spot just in case the rental company decided to not show up for work that day (it happens, trust me!).

When I finally found a reputable company open at that hour (Thrifty), I proceeded to book a car. ”40 Omani Rials per day” the guy told me in broken english behind the desk, which comes out to roughly $105 per day for a compact car! I looked at him to see if he was smoking crack, he wasn’t. I knew the standard rate was 12 Rials per day and after debating several minutes he backed down to 30, but not a single Baisa less. At 3 AM I didn’t have many options and I needed to be on location shooting 150 km’s away by sunrise. I thought for a second ‘wait…this is Thrifty, right?” so I booked it online right in front of him using my laptop, locked in the rate, paid the deposit so all he had to do was hand me the keys. Success!!!

I do get a little unraveled when I get the ‘gringo rate’ everywhere I go, but I have gotten used to it. Unfortunately for me, due to my fair skin, my hassle-free travel options are limited to Ireland.

Feb 09 2012

Sundance 2012

Posted in Equipment, Press | 2 Comments

If you love films and have never been to the Sundance Film Festival, you absolutely have to go. We recently got back from the small town of Park City and I wish we could have stayed longer as it was definitely a source of creative inspiration for me. Splitting time with the ski slopes, we did manage to watch a couple world premieres but the best experience was getting to rub shoulders with some of the brightest filmmakers in the entertainment business, like Shane Hurlbut, ASC who was DP for Terminator Salvation, Swing Vote and We Are Marshall.

His latest film, Act of Valor, comes out February 24 and is certain to entertain those who love fast-paced action (check out the trailer below). One thing that really excites me about this film is that it stars active Navy SEALS, which definitely adds a level of authenticity to the film often lacking in military-based flicks (the 1990 film ‘Navy SEALS’ with Charlie Sheen is a perfect example). Growing up and watching movies with my dad (now retired Special Forces) often led to me asking the question ‘does that really happen in real life’ and the answer was almost always ‘no!’. The other really interesting part is 75% of the movie was shot on the Canon 5D, a $2,200 still photo/video DSLR that has really made filmmaking available to a much larger audience, even Hollywood.

Watching films at Sundance was great, don’t get me wrong, but hearing Shane pick through his latest film frame by frame, and seeing how he got his shots and action sequences was really inspiring. Real Navy SEALS, yes, but everything was also ‘live-fire’ as well, real bullets, real RPG’s, so he definitely had tons of stories on how he and his crew avoided getting shot while filming. He also had tons of stories on how several of the camera’s didn’t make it, but the good news is that instead of overnighting a 6 figure ARRIFLEX 535B from Hollywood, they would just go to Best Buy to replace the 5D! With the cameras being so small, they were able to capture an angle not typically seen in action films. Really interesting talk, I can’t wait to see the movie next month, here is the trailer:

Act of Valor 2012 – Trailer from SEALFIT on Vimeo.

Jan 31 2012

An End To A Good Season

Posted in Adventure, Outdoors, Sports | 2 Comments

Filming hunting and fishing expeditions can be quite challenging when you factor in all the odds. In 11 years I have seen quite a few trips when things just don’t work in our favor: the weather didn’t cooperate (story of my life), the talent either misses a shot or blows an opportunity, cameras have been known to not work but the number one reason is the quarry simply doesn’t cooperate. If I had a nickel for when a guide or outfitter said ‘shoulda been here last week, everything was perfect’, I would be a rich man. For example, elk hunts are one of my favorite expeditions to go on. They are tough to get close to, live in challenging terrain but are one of the most rewarding to capture with a camera when they are bugling in the fall. Well, after all of the hard work and training this year, none of my elk hunts panned out and we were hunting some of the best places New Mexico and Utah has to offer. It happens.

Luckily this year had a happy ending. Shooting in my home state of Virginia for Bass Pro Shops and their 100% Real Hunting series that airs on NBC Sports, I knew it was going to be a fun shoot but also a challenging one that already had some history. For most of the outdoor shows, if you don’t have a kill recorded on camera , you don’t have a show and this was host Rob Keck’s third try this season on this particular farm in southern Virginia. But third time a charm, Rob bagged this 140 class buck with enough time to shoot additional b-roll to fill out the show. Double bonus, I got to drive home and didn’t have to fly with an arsenal of pelican cases, cameras and grip gear!

Jan 23 2012

Smoking On The Job

Posted in Adventure, Outdoors, Sports, Travels | 4 Comments

I recently had the pleasure of shooting a travel/hunting documentary in Turkey for Cabela’s Ultimate Adventures and the trip was nothing short of epic. The food, different cultures and challenging topography all contributed to the experience, but i definitely enjoyed getting to know some of the locals above all. Mohammed was one of them.

He’s 41, drives a little moped up in the mountains and knows as much English as i know Turkish. During the majority of the year he’s a goat herder, but on our trip he was enlisted by our outfitter as a game spotter. Who better than to have someone help us out than someone who lives with the elusive Bezoar Ibex year round? Hunting Ibex in their native habitat is really difficult, much less getting them on camera before they scamper off, so I was happy for all the help we could get spotting these goats.

I also need to mention Mohammed is made out of beef jerky and shoe leather. Typically our days involved hiking down extremely steep and jagged ravines to get close enough for a cross canyon shot, but what hikes down must hike back up. That is when Mohammed is in his element. The absolute funny part is just about the time we were going to embark on our 2 hour climb out of the deep canyons with our camera gear and dreading it, he would spark up a hand-rolled cigarette (not hashish, I checked). On our last day he even did it with three-quarters of an ibex on his shoulders! For someone that does an occasional triathlon or road race, I was blown away. Typically he will hotbox another at the top as sort of a celebratory ritual (most people go for water), that’s when he let me rattle off a few frames.

Jan 11 2012

Photography Masters Cup Nominees

Posted in In The Field, Outdoors, Travels | 2 Comments

Photography competitions are a unique animal. You win some, you lose some, but above all it helps you stay current as a photographer and to see what the trends are. I was fortunate to recently have two images nominated for the 5th Annual Photography Masters Cup, in the Americana and Children Of The World categories.

Since I do quite a bit of traveling around the country, oftentimes out west, I really liked the theme of the Americana category. This particular image, Denim and Chaps, was taken just outside of Moab, Utah alongside Tyler Stableford in the fall. Throughout the morning we were shooting mostly editorial images of the cowboys (and cowgirls) roping and pushing cattle around the arena but we did have the opportunity to position the models in more creative poses and this one I particularly liked.

The other nominee was titled Young Bedouin and His Camel, taken at dusk with a large strobe off camera left in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter desert. This was for a personal project I was working on over the last year titled Behind The Scenes Middle East where I took a series of portraits of the people that make up the diverse culture of Abu Dhabi, with the Bedouin tribes playing a significant role in how the country functions today.

Nov 03 2011

On Assignment With Cabelas

Posted in Outdoors | 3 Comments

I feel like I have lost about 10 pounds over the last 20 days up in the mountains with the Cabela’s team, but it was definitely a blast. I recently returned from back-to-back video assignments in pursuit of Rocky Mountain Elk for Cabela’s Ultimate Adventures that airs on the Outdoor Channel, the first trip took place in the Pavant mountains just outside of Richfield Utah and the second in the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico. It was certainly tough hunting especially when you add in all the camera gear required for the show, but the Sony PMW-EX3 held up well in the rain, dust and rugged terrain.

On the last day we found a pretty spectacular overlook that was the perfect setting for filming scenes for a new product video that Cabela’s is getting ready to air. It took a little while to get all the jibs and dollies set up, but definitely worth it for this scene. I definitely got my nature fix on this shoot.

Oct 10 2011

Hotels For The Greater Good

Posted in Hospitality | 2 Comments

I recently got back from a shoot down in Nicaragua for Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality and I am particularly excited about promoting their brand. If you haven’t ever stayed in an eco resort, I would highly recommend. One of their newest properties, Jicaro Island Ecolodge is located on a private island that takes about 15 minutes by boat to get there from Granada, which really sets the tone for the ‘get away from it all’ experience. Once there, you will be treated like royalty in an environmentally friendly way.

In contrast to traditional hotels which can pack hundreds of rooms into a small footprint, the concept behind ecotourism is quality over quantity. Like 9 thoughtfully designed casita’s in Jicaro’s case, and even with other guests sharing the island you have the feeling of total seclusion and relaxation. What I loved is everything had a purpose. Architect Michael Faulkiner did an excellent job of blending the structures with the surroundings and utilizing ecologically sensitive construction techniques in the process. Check out the different ways Jicaro positively impacts the environment by visiting their sustainability page. If you are ever looking for a truly unique experience in the middle of nowhere, definitely add this one to your itinerary to Central America.

Sep 14 2011

We Got Married!

Posted in News | 0 Comments

Well my friends, it’s my pleasure to tell you that Cynthia and I finally tied the knot. On December 19 in Abu Dhabi she said yes and August 6 in Williamsburg Virginia we got hitched. Those 8 months have been a whirlwind of emotions to say the least. And the final week it seems I just did what everyone told me to. I had so much going on that my typical response was ‘sounds great, let’s go with it’. I could only imagine what Cynthia was going through. People would ask ‘What do you think about these flowers? These colors?’ Me: ‘Sounds great, let’s go with it’.

I pretty much said yes to most everything except for 3 key pieces of the wedding: the rehearsal dinner (a whole hog roast on the beach–wouldn’t have it any other way), the 1st dance (Buble’s ‘The Best Has Yet To Come’ elegantly choreographed to foxtrot, tango and salsa) and the honeymoon (10 days of adventure in the Nicaraguan jungle). Cynthia has excellent taste in pretty much everything, so I was agreeable on how everything else was put together, but these three things were mine.

So yeah! We did it, and looking back on the whole event I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Everyone had a blast and there were no complications whatsoever (a little rain just before the ceremony, but it was inside the church ). I can’t tell you how many scenarios with hiccups were running through my mind, luckily none panned out. And major props to her sister Kathryn for handling the wedding planning (if the State Department doesn’t pan out, she has a real future here). Here are a few of Peter Davis’s photographs from the event (major props here too!).

Aug 12 2011

The Journey Is Half The Fun

Posted in Adventure, In The Field, Travels | 3 Comments

Everyone has heard the words ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’, and I totally believe it too. Images evoke reactions, some can be described with words, some just leave you speechless. But for the image makers, I would go so far as to say a picture is worth a million words. To me a photograph summarizes an entire adventure, not just the moment it clicks. A single image is like a 2 month journal entry.

I was at Abu Dhabi International Airport the other day, flipping through the magazines while killing time before my flight to Paris and I came across the July issue of Men’s Journal that featured one of my cliff jumping images taken in Sri Lanka. I had a hunch it was going to run this month but ya never know with print deadlines so I was still surprised when I saw it.

Instantly, the image conjured up thoughts of how the shoot came together, the difficulties and challenges in getting the model in the right position…even holding expensive camera gear while up to my waist in some of the most corrosive and camera destroying liquid known to man…saltwater. Yup, flashbulb memory is a great thing. I think the 1999 Levi’s Elevator Fantasy ad that Michael Bay directed comes pretty close to describing how quick the thoughts can come to mind.

So after settling into my nice window seat on the Air France flight I started thinking about the image and 5 things came to mind about the trip and not necessarily the frame itself: 1) the weather: tropical, humid and sometimes a downpour, 2) the locals: outgoing and genuine, 3) the food: hot n’ spicy and always a surprise, 4) the dangerous: random people holding AK-47′s on the street corners (the civil war was still alive and well at this time), and 5) the tuk tuk’s: a local taxi run off of a two cycle engine. Don’t get me wrong, the minutes leading up to the image were a ton of fun, it was the journey that made the trip memorable.

Jul 28 2011

Good Times Sailing With Good People

Posted in Adventure, Travels | 3 Comments

You know those kind of friendships that are more like arranged marriages? That is kind of how I felt when I met Christian, a salty Austrian sailor that I met down in the Caribbean some six years back and have had the pleasure of sailing with on a number of occasions since. I never thought I would meet someone who has an impressive sailing resume from a land-locked country, but if I had a nickel for every day he has spent on the water, I would be a very rich man. Sailing is also his bread and butter, as he writes and shoots for a number of European publications, so we have a little more in common than the love for the sea. At over twice my age, he still says I shouldn’t waste my time in this business–with a smile on his face of course.

And when you get the opportunity to sail with Christian, you don’t look at your calendar, you don’t think about it, you just go. This time it was the French island of Corsica, smack dab in the middle of the Med and about a four hour ferry ride from Italy. We had amazing weather for the most part, although some rough seas and westerly winds plagued us at the beginning, it was smooth sailing from there on out. And when I say weather, I mean the ambient temperatures. In the water we had about a 15 minute limit before turning purple, especially my model (thanks Cynthia!).

Good times were had by everyone on the trip with amazing architecture and French food in the fishing towns and crystal clear water in the secluded bays. The only shock for me came when we dropped 8 euros on a traditional French breakfast of bread, jam and coffee–I kept waiting for the server to bring out a plate of Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage! But hey, we were well off the beaten tourist path, and I didn’t mind it too much since we got to experience the real France. The icing on the cake was no one spoke a lick of English (its good to get out of your comfort zone every now and then and speak another language).

Jun 22 2011

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