The Abu Dhabi Triathlon was once again packed full with some of the world’s strongest athletes. I’ve been shooting this race since the inaugural event in 2009.  It’s always fun, full of energy and fairly unique in that some seriously big names rub shoulders with hundreds of local weekend warriors.

In a little over eight hours, I shot more than 7,000 frames, a handful of which have gone to press. My strongest images, I’ve crafted into something different this time … an inspiring piece of art. Here’s a taster of what our new retail shop is going to look like. Tri Ad’s

We added words to these images in the hope of inspiring and motivating others through combining a powerful selection of shots with equally powerful words, words that nurture a love for the sport and inspire the spirit of competition.

So how did I approach the Abu Dhabi triathlon this year? I really wanted to get right into the heart of the action. I didn’t end up in the helicopter so got to shoot all the action and emotion from ground level. You really get a strong feel for the people who do this kind of sport.

I suppose you could call it lifestyle photography except this has a different touch. It’s raw & unconstructed which is all the trend these days. Telling images, taken within the environment in which we live. It’s all about getting straight to the heart of the matter. Enjoy.

Alistair Brownlee, one half of the now iconic Brownlee brothers, brought home the ultimate victory with a record-setting performance.  Capturing him cross the finish line brought a massive rush of adrenaline. In all, the 2013 edition of the Abu Dhabi Triathlon was an epic and glorious day. My warmest congrats go to all the winners, finisher and non-finishers alike and also to the entire crew and volunteers for pulling off a great gig.

If you find yourself sitting on the fence re whether to try a tri yourself, I urge you to sign up for next years race. You won’t regret it …

Wk.

Luxurious it was, but hardly the norm in this part of the world to see this weather. An extra dose of luxury came from Ralph Lauren as they provided their latest wardrobe for the shoot … a cool mix of casuals and formals.

We had a jam packed itinerary with some stunning locations like the Helipad on the new Capital Hyatt Hotel, Jumeirah’s observation deck, the St Regis resort and golf course, the Abu Dhabi Golf Course and at dusk, the Shangri-La for sundowners. In all honestly, it was a bit too much but with Matteo being in town for only 36 hours we had to work magic to fit it all in and besides, you’ll do anything to accommodate a great client so we drafted a detailed plan and worked it like clockwork.

I’ve worked with Matteo in the past when he was in action at the Race to Dubai and he’s a great guy; always flexible and helpful in making the shoot work.  We kicked off with a bit of wind shock on the helipad, which meant holding on to everything that could potentially blow off. Balancing on top of a stepladder, gusting winds, a couple of hundred meters drop … what a way to start the day!

I quite like the above shot … the wind in the hair and dramatic skies bring in a sense of energy and theatre. It could have easily been Brighton beach on a good day or a trip al fresco for some ‘uitwaaien in Scheveningen’ …  so unusual it is to have grey skies replace the normal blue here. The golfing images that followed worked really well. I added a bit of photoshop to pop the colors and further convey Matteo’s lively personality.

My big thanks to the team at Abu Dhabi, to Matteo for this energy and to the crowd at ITP for their cooperation … we’ve bagged a few awesome shots.

Wk.

And then there’s the other side, the side where the Yas Viceroy sits. Hovering over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix circuit, the iconic Yas Viceroy embodies 5 star luxury with class, sophistication and a great selection of books in their lobby.

I love it when my trusty Landy get valet-parked outside amongst the Rolls Royces, Ferrari’s and Maybachs. I suppose they all have a statement to make and my crusty four-wheeler gets the same amount of photos taken, if not more.

So back to the Yas library, where I picked up a couple of books to browse over my coffee. Both were about iconic female photographers, Linda McCartney and Annie Leibovitz, who also started their photography career in the music scene. The content was more of a summary of their personal work and a reflection of who they truly are.  I love books like this. They always have a different outtake and get me thinking creatively.

“Write your own obituary” is one of the things Steve Covey asks you to do in his 7 Habits of Highly Effective People course. This odd process is purely to induce thinking about how you wish to be remembered. It’s an awkward thought process but it certainly proves a point. When browsing through the books, Linda McCartney’s in particular, I thought that surely we don’t need to die before seeing our own book come alive?

So fellow creatives … what would your life in photographs look like? In fact, lets take this to the next level. Its an odd thought process remember? What follows are a few questions to start work on your book. Today.

- When did your love for photography start?

- How has it evolved over time?

- What where the experiments? What worked and what didn’t? Surely in the early days, you encountered your fair share of the latter.

- What were the turnaround points in your career … the key assignments, the people you met, the happy accidents, the discovery of great gear?

- How has your style evolved?

- Who are the people that have helped you along the way?

- Add a chapter. NOW. Where do you stand today? Pick your top 10. Yes only 10. And write down why …

- Perhaps most importantly, add a chapter called 2018. That’s only 5 years from now. What would you like to shoot? Who would you like to work for? Who would you love to photograph? Add it. Find inspiring images online or in magazines and create a collage. Design you own moodboard to help you craft your vision. I do this.  I need it. As do you. It’s really the only way to keep evolving. Stay dynamic, never static.

By the end, you’ll have a stunning piece. An artwork. Your story! It’s so easy nowadays to even turn it into a digitally printed book.

Thinking about it now. In Spring 2010, we printed 500 books called ‘Image Box & Story Tales’, a portfolio book with photography work and stories. In the introduction, I refer to it as press pause … drawing a line of achievements and sharing with friends, clients and prospects. An ebook version will be coming online soon.

Wk.

For this reason, I’m delighted to announce that our 2012 donation will go towards the Wadi Wurayah National Park on the east coast of the UAE, a unique project managed by Emirates Wildlife Society in association with WWF (EWS-WWF).

Wadi Wurayah became the UAE’s first mountain protected area in 2009. Since then, great conservation work has been done in protecting the area’s rich ecosystems. The wadi’s fragile and unique ecosystem is one of the few remaining catchments in the UAE and its protection has become essential for the survival of many of its rare species. A total of 1,350 species are known in the UAE, 30 of which have been found in Wadi Wurayah. A new vegetation study is also now underway to gain a greater understanding of the plant species in the area. Regulations have been put in place to limit recreational activities and construction projects too and extensive efforts have been made to raise awareness about the significance of the area for the UAE’s natural heritage and bio diversity.

As the first company in the Middle East to support 1% for the Planet, we’re certainly breaking new ground. Donations go directly to the environmental cause of the individual or business’s choosing and whilst we felt passionate about finding a local initiative to support, there wasn’t a local recipient in place. As luck would have it, friends introduced us to EWS-WWF and after discovering their great work at Wadi Wurayah National Park, it just seemed the perfect match. A bit of admin out of the way and they are now fully registered as a 1% for the Planet environmental nonprofit and a possible recipient of all member donations.

[one percent] of the story from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.

We’re only a small brand yet I hope to inspire other fellow entrepreneurs and business owners share their success and sign up too. Together we can do more, way more! Above is a strong intro movie that explain what it’s all about. Do it for yourself, your kids and the generations to follow. Everyone deserves to enjoy our amazing planet.

Wk.

Saying that, if you can find something you love doing and work out how to make money doing it, you’ve arrived. Perhaps buy your own F1 team and race the world best Grand Prix circuits? Or join the elite class of Ferrari Corse Clienti, where ex F1 cars are transformed into customer driving experiences. Of course, I’d be happy to come and take pictures of you flying around the track, similar to what Ferrari kept me busy with recently building a portfolio of international racing imagery. It was an adrenaline packed three days at the Yas Marina International Grand Prix Circuit, home to Abu Dhabi Formula One.

Not much beats the sound of roaring engines, burning rubber and an ecstatic crowd. It’s amazing to see the passion some owners have for their set of wheels, let alone the world of aftermarket alterations. The brief was pretty open … to ‘create a bank of imagery that reflects the Ferrari Racing Weekend in / on / around the Yas Circuit.’ And so it was done. Even non-petrol heads will enjoy the images here.

Wk.

I booked myself into the Barjeel Guest House in the Shindagha Heritage area, located bang on the creek. It’s a newly built guesthouse that follows the traditional lodging style, and as it turned out a great place with a cool atmosphere and the perfect positioning in the heart of the anticipated action. Breakfast was served on the rooftop overlooking the creek promenade and it was a joy to experience a city come alive in the early morning hours … people from all walks of life taking early morning strolls followed a few hours later, by the suits, ready to take on yet another day at the office. By evening, the same place was awash with couples enjoying evening walks and guys doing their illegal fishing. At set times, the ca

ll for prayer echoed over the water, adding to it a mysterious feel. This area of Dubai does have a true amazing character.

 I spent most of my time out on the streets of Bur Dubai and Deira, ferrying between the two by abra. I just wanted to be impulsive with the direction I took … no agenda, no plan, no boxes to tick … the darker the alley or rougher the neighborhood the better, in that I was eager to take the routes least conventional. Conformity is so dull. Along the way, I stopped regularly for a feed or juice at little roadside restaurants.

Hidden in a back alley in Bur Dubai, lies a Hindu temple (thanks to my buddy Martin for showing me this place eight years ago) surrounded by quaint little shops. The atmosphere, the smell of incense, the crowds around me … for a moment, I felt I was in India. It was amazing to see a million shops in Deira selling exactly the same goods … and the hidden alleys behind them crafting those very same goods. I found this amazing AED 5 barber shop oozing with character and colour, located in the middle of a ‘bed sharing’ district. Bed sharing is advertised on pasted sheets of paper on walls and is a level up (or down depends on how you evaluate) from room sharing. Given that a person only needs eight hours of sleep, why have the bed lie empty during the hours you’re not sleeping? It does make sense then to split the rent and take turns sleeping, similar I guess to submarine living. I stuck my head in a few of these rooms and trust me, they’re pretty rough for my standard but a real-life culture for many. I shied away from getting my camera out.

One particular area that stood out is Bastakiya or Fahidi as the district will in future be renamed. Here you can find amazing old houses, beautifully preserved, many of which have been transformed into galleries and arty guesthouses. You can easily wander around the narrow alleyways for hours and be transported back to the days when life wasn’t quite as hectic as it is today. A while back, Sheikh Mohammed granted The Emirates Lit Fest an old house to work from and when I went to check it out, it just felt amazing. A big tree in the middle of a courtyard, flat rooftop areas to chill & be creative, little rooms with heavy doors and a quintessentially rustic and heritage feel. It was there and then that I realised how much I would love to have an office in this area too.

My last dinner was spent at a Pakistani restaurant on the sidewalk next to the Bur Dubai bus station. Sharing the table with hardworking craftsman and eating a full dinner without cutlery set me back a crazy AED 13. That’s cheaper than a coffee at Starbucks and was an authentic, fun and memorable experience. Talking coffee, I did miss drinking decent coffee in historic Dubai. If you don’t like Nescafe you’re stuffed … so I did feel a bit defeated when I jumped on my (inaugural) metro trip heading for my Grande Latte at BurJuman. Dubai’s metro system is awesome. Try it! Coffee is a bit of a ritual for me, dedicated time to read Wallpaper like magazines, flick through advertising books or to munch of a branding topic. Part of this Old Dubai trip was dedicated to think about the direction our brand is heading, so in the luxury of the mall, on a caffeine high, I drafted a few valuable mind maps.

My conclusion? Simply put, AWESOME. We should ALL take time off. Let go of life, discard the agenda and embrace life in the now. Just go with your current thoughts and experiences, note them down in a nice scribble book and truly go offline to spend time with yourself, in your own thoughts. Your car gets a big service every year so why not recharge your own batteries with the same regularity?

Quite a few will be reading this post and thinking of doing a ‘field trip’ of their own. As I mentioned, you should. You’re free to identify your own content; where, why and how. But the unfortunate reality is that many will never leave their nest and jump into unknown waters. That’s just the nature of how many live. Personally, I’m super happy I did it and look forward already to the next.

Big thanks to Dubai for the energy, the smiles and the opportunity to experience my hometown from a totally new angle. Thanks also to my lovely wife for taking care of the household in my absence and supporting my journey.

Wk.

How did we get together? I’ve known Cath for a few years. I shot her a couple of times during the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge and we’ve been talking on and off for a while about doing some personal work, both photography and video. As for what got the ball rolling was her idea to run Badwater for charity, to raise money for Back On Your Bike.

What happened to Richard Holland has touched the heart of many, especially amongst fellow athletes and triathletes in the UAE. An unfortunate early morning bike ride ended in a serious car accident resulting in a fast dash to the hospital. Months later, Richard still has a long way to recovery. Funds raised by Cath and many others go straight towards funding the expert medical bills. It gives me goose bumps just thinking how quickly life can take a dramatic turn, one where simply surviving becomes a daily task.

It’s becoming a team effort with the media crew at Adventure HQ and Nicolas at Sport in Life supporting Cath by making plenty of PR noise. Creating more awareness about her initiative and telling more people where and how to donate the much-needed cash to support Rich.

It really touched me when Cath called me for support on imagery. I love shooting these kinds of gigs especially when there’s a strong story behind the lens. We drove to the Hajar Mountains to a place I’ve not visited for a couple of years but knew would work perfectly for this particular shoot. With two busy schedules, our time frame was limited to two hours on site, not excessive but enough.

2XU kitted her out with some new gear to test so we played around with a few wardrobe changes. My aim was to shoot at least one strong portrait, one full body shot, one tight action / energy, one environmental action shot and one slow, exhausted look. I’m really chuffed with the results. I’ll let you pick your favorite.

Thanks Cath for your time and energy and best of luck with all the training. I’m proud of your fundraising efforts for Bank On Your Bike. Go, go go!

Wk.

I’ve been in Dubai nearly eleven years and would love to take on the old parts of town I call home. Yes I’ve been there on occasions, but normally on the fly, running behind my camera, completing the creek half marathon or with family on a wild tourist dash. I’ve never experienced the old town at the pace it used to have 40 years ago.

So to quench this curiosity, I’m planning a mini adventure to explore and embrace old Dubai. I’ll be checking into a charismatic hotel near the Gold Souk and spending my days and nights walking the streets. I’ve found a map of Dubai and circled the area I want to discover.

I plan to just take the journey as it comes. I’ll bring a camera to capture any photo moments as they happen but photography aside, my journey will remain a success even if I walk away without a single image. A shooting list would just bring with it pressure to ‘get to work’. In my back pocket, I’ll also have a small notebook and a pencil, just in case I feel like writing the next Harry Potter…

I can’t wait!

Any ideas for locations, places to visit, unusual alleys or secret spots are welcome. It feels a bit like taking the Lonely Planet tour of Dubai although sadly, once somewhere hits the pages of a Lonely Planet, they can no longer be classified as off the beaten track. Still, it’s the shared mindset of unplanned travel that I want to embrace.

Wk.

One such meaning is the generation of ideas … creating and crafting them. Whether based on a brief or a non-brief, aka personal work, strong ideas create movement and movement is what we like to see. Our team is getting more and more involved in the creative process. Planting seeds and nurturing shoots. Mood boards, sketches, brand sheets … it’s an interesting industry and we love having our brains picked. One thing we (as a company) should evolve towards is the proactive selling of ideas. At the moment, we’re sort of stuck between the brief and the pitch but going forward, we’d love to be stamping our own mark. Books, ads, campaign concepts … all of it.

As a shout-out to fellow creatives and photographers then, why not move away from the reactive role of waiting for that phone to ring and take the ball in your own hands. Use your initiative, get creative and be proactive. Brands and most agencies love fresh and strong ideas. Brand them yours so you take the credit, travel the world and look around, adapt to your market … you get the picture. Back to the very words, I started with … “WHO sold that idea?”

The idea Ian was referring to was this mad space base jump by Red Bull. Talk about risk taking. Various presenters used this awesome demonstration of ‘brand activation’ to talk about Red Bull in different ways. We all know what cool stuff they do and I’ve even had the pleasure to work for them. Their branding is so strong, so strong and their guidelines are very precise. It’s evolving day by day from a beverage company to a content culture brand or as Roopak Saluja summarized nicely in his presentation ‘Red Bull is now a media company that happens to sell liquid in a can.’

Take risks were words that kept on being repeated throughout Dubai Lynx. TAKE RISKS. Young brands are daring. More mature ones are not.  We photographers are all young, independent and hungry with no one to report to other than our own soul. Let’s play devils advocate and push our clients to do more, dare more, risk more. Let’s turn the resistance of idea killers. Years ago, I found the below great artwork by ideakillers.net. It hangs in our toilet, which is probably the best to put it …

The Monday morning started off with a provocative call by Martin Wiegel. Who cares? In a nutshell, only 0.5% of fans talk about your brand on Facebook, 80% of your buyers know little or nothing about the brand they buy and finally ‘your consumers’ are just somebody else’s consumers who occasionally buy you. Consumers are not buying from you either exclusively or often.  Oh and they don’t talk about you. Guys … where is the love?

Not new but a good refresher by Mark D’Arcy … because we have an oversupply of everything. What we are producing now is competing with everything produced, EVER. Enough said.

Finally, on noise creation, whether a presentation, your social media voice or your public blah blah … make it relevant. Create a message your clients want to hear, be part of what interests them. Great content inspires participation. Stop talking about yourself, full stop.

One question I’ll leave you with is this. What makes a good idea? A great idea? Over to YOU.

Wk.

The stunning layout aside, I thought it a really nice summary, portraying 15 years of achievements. I loved the simply concept of thinking in reverse, sharing their story from ’08 back to ’94. Was the W Doha being the first project in the book just a coincidence, I wondered?

The book is all about their interior design work and they struck the perfect photography balance between ‘picture-perfect interior design’ imagery and more lifestyle-style shots like the opening at the Dolder Grand Hotel in Switzerland. In this region in particular, there are many that could learn from this approach to story-telling. For this very reason, I’ll have to request the United Designs co-founder Keith Hobbs send another copy to the Doha W. Sorry … I couldn’t resist!

Whilst flicking through the pages, I wrote just one question down on my placemat … “what is the movement?” I was thinking in terms of my way forward, 2012+10 so to speak. Instantly, my thoughts were pouring and I found myself jotting down lots and questions … the what’s, whys and where’s etc.

Looking at the questions alone seemed to conjure up more road-blocks than smooth journeys, gulps instead of wows!

I’m all about fast living and creating your world as you wish … plant seeds, let them grow and bloom then move on  … but the million-dollar question now is which direction to head in. Many years ago I came across this quote “Life is short, so make sure that you are climbing the right mountain and spending the days in the way they should be spend.” Very powerful. I say think it through then start running because dreams and schemes without actual action ain’t going anywhere. Just get moving, take a gamble at the u-turns and learn to adapt quickly. And never forget that in the process of finding your movement, being surrounded by great thinkers who share with and inspire you, is priceless.

I had an awesome meeting with Will Hutson from Carrot Creative the other week. He has great energy, relentless drive and an enthusiasm that I found rubbing off on me. I really hope they do well. When you need a big digital thinker, he and his strategy partner, Tom Bird, are the guys you wanna call.

So thanks to breakfast and this inspiring read. And to my client for booking me into the vibrant W. And lastly cheers to The Movement,

wherever it may take us.

Wk.