We had the privilege to work with Land Rover this past weekend by taking out one of their brand new Range Rovers to Joshua Tree!
THE WAY TO TAFT
TravelComment
Making our way to Taft Point, a short hike followed. With the California drought in full swing, it's left the area pretty dry and dusty, which completely sucks when you hike because that dirt and dust just floats in air.. which means breathing it in, getting in your eye and sticking on to your skin cause of the layer of sweat accumulated from hiking in the heat! On the contrary, it's freaking awesome for photos. Creating dirt dust clouds is always a challenge, wind being a huge factor. You have to know where to go to start kicking or throwing up dirt in order to have it be exactly where you want it to be in your photo. After numerous attempts, we were left covered in dirt and troubled with breathing.
J. Tree
Travel, LifestyleCommentHasselblad 500CM + Kodak 400 TMY-2 & Portra 160
When I sold my 5D MK3 to transition over to the Sony mirrorless system, I wasn't expecting to be so disrupted by film, specifically medium format. I've been strictly shooting film straight for the past 4 months. I'm having the most fun I've ever had with photography. I don't want to sound like a film elitist now, but I definitely now have this understanding for this incredible intimacy film captivates you towards. There are the obvious cons: immediacy, the feature to review shots and post them after shooting; shot actuation limitations, the amount of shots per roll; weight; light metering; and expenses on film and developing. Out of retrospect, I've completely disregarded all the cons when I'm out shooting. Sure, it's a hassle here and there changing backs or rolls, but I just can't simply explain to you with words how awesome film really is.
RAID POPLIN CAP
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Hong Kong Environmental Portraits
Travel, Lifestyle3 CommentsHong Kong is truly an inspiring haven for those who have an appreciation for traveling. There is something about the vastly tall buildings, their utilization of space, their appreciation for art, their welcoming Instagram community, and of course their appetizing food that makes Hong Kong a worthwhile destination for just about any photographer that would like to build their portfolio. During this trip, I had the leisure of exploring throughout the beautiful city of Hong Kong with a few of my friends from there who are personally some of my greatest inspirations. Traveling with such great company was what made this trip one for the books. I had the pleasure of exploring the Midlevels with Elaine (@lielaine), added by the experience of traveling by ferry with Jess (@jesso) & Emmanuel (@ecolephoto), also the excitement of running through Quarry Bay with Edward (@edwardkb), and not to forget the great company of Erik (@erikbiedron) for some crazy look-ups. Thank-you Hong Kong for a trip to remember, I'll be back real soon as always.
DEFEATED BY THE DESERT
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When we all decided to take a trip out to the Mojave Desert, the Kelso Sand Dunes was easily at the top of my list for must-do; but little did I know the excruciating and painstaking hike that it required to get to the top of a dune. I've done a good number of hikes in the past couple of years but this one easily takes the cake for being one of the toughest ones that I have done. Sure, looking at it from the parking lot it didn't seem too bad. What seemed to be maybe about 2 miles, really didn't seem like a hard task to tackle. With about 2 hours left until sunset, we decided that we had plenty of time to reach the top so we ended up just sitting back and relaxing in the car to kill time. Boy was that a mistake. 2 miles upward in sand felt like 10 miles and to top it off, it was about 106 degrees. Was I prepared? Hell no. Did the thought of turning back to the car come to mind? The entire way up. Did I make it to the top? Came damn close... With only about 100 yards left to reach the top, I physically could not push any further. I sat in the sand and just soaked in the feel of defeat as I watched the sun set over the other side of the dune. It definitely sucked to have worked so hard to try and make it to the top, and come to face the fact that I could not. It was definitely an experience but the fact of not knowing what I could have seen on the other side of that dune only makes me want to go back and try it again.
Maybe I will...
Leica Visit
CommentI had the honor of being invited by Leica USA to come visit the Leica space in Los Angeles in order to familiarize myself with the store for upcoming events. Upon arrival, I was able to valet my car by Leica which was a complimentary service offered by Leica for anyone visiting the store. I was greeted by a man named Phil who then introduced me to the entire staff. From there, I was offered a private tour throughout the store that allowed me to check out the VIP rooms, cinema room, as well as the exhibition floor that led out to an outdoor balcony with the perfect lounging area. The main purpose of this visit was for the staff of Leica and I to discuss future upcoming projects for the new year. It's official, I am now a part of team Leica!
TASTEMADE GALLIVANT
Travel, Lifestyle, EventsCommentOver the weekend, the Mighty Killers squad was fortunate enough to be invited down to the Tastemade Gallivant event. Yes, the same Tastemade that you see on just about every social media platform that makes you drool all over your phone as you watch mesmerizing food-porn videos. You can say that it's NSFTH (Not Safe For The Hungry).. Tastemade has made its way into just about all major outlets with their hypnotizing DIY food videos and travel shows. They are without doubt, this generation's food and travel channel, so you know when they host a party, all of LA's heavy hitters in the restaurant scene will be in attendance.
And they sure didn't disappoint, open bar and a huge spread of finger-licking goodness... everything from poutine fries to lamb neck tacos. Yes, lamb neck.. don't knock it until you try it.
The ambiance and vibe of the whole party was crazy. Everything took place in the Tastemade Studio, which used to be the distribution center for TOM's shoes and one of MTV's old recording studios. Walking in and seeing the set up from all of the individual studios on their Snapchat channel was dope to see in real life. The set up and presentation of all the food was amazing as well. It brought together a real relaxed feel where everyone was able drink, socialize, and enjoy divine food.
We chilled with a lot of dope people, of those were Terry (@ASTERYX) and Antonio (@KOSTENNN). Who were both there to help launch Tastemade's newest docu-web series, Under Discovered. Terry and Antonio were there for the same reason we were, to participate in the Q&A for the Under Discovered series. The series is about the new generation of urban explorers who are connected through social media. The idea that one person can reach out to someone across the country that they have never met in real life but once they do, it is as if they have known them forever. The power of social media is huge and it is what Mighty Killers is all about. To continue to push the boundaries of social media, Tastemade also announced the upcoming launch of their new app Facet. We will be announcing the app in the near future. Trust us, this app takes travel and exploring to new heights, all the while connecting people.
During the Q&A, Marvin, Nikk, and Sam spoke on behalf of Mighty Killers about some of the craziest things they've done just to get the shot. Everything from Sam hanging off the edge of a cliff in Yosemite while holding on to Marvin's unlaced shoe. To Nikk climbing to the middle of California's tallest bridge. It was really inspiring seeing and hearing the reaction from the crowd, especially after the show. We never do what we do for the likes or comments, instead we do it because we love it. The adrenaline and passion to chase the perfect shot is the reason why we push the limits.
IN THE BAG WITH MARVIN KING
Travel, Urban, IN THE BAG, LifestyleComment
We recently had the pleasure of staying at The LINE Hotel in Los Angeles this past weekend after our long trip out in the desert. Let me be the first to say that after hiking two full days in the Mojave Desert in the 90's, with no access to running water, checking into this hotel was definitely beyond climatical. First thing I did was jump into the huge shower, that could have fit all five of us guys in there (not that we did...) and washed off the two-days worth of dirt/sand layers from my skin and jump into the cozy-team room slippers... which eventually became my on-the-way-to-the-airport-slippers. During our quick one-night stay at this freaking awesome suite, there were just a few essentials that I had to have.
- The LINE Hotel Room Slippers
- MIGHTYKILLERS Basic Cap
- Magazines & Books with an awesome Erin Althea design paperweight.
- Voigtlander 21mm f/1.8 Ultron
- Sony A7ii with Sony battery grip
- Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 Heliar (Mounted)
- Canon FD 85mm f/1.2L with variable ND filter
- The LINE Hotel stationaries
- Sony batteries
- Incase accessory pouch
- The LINE Hotel gummy bears
- iPhone 6 + Moment Lens + 18mm with caps
- Klipsch Reference R6 headphones
- The LINE Hotel room key
- Two crumpled up Dollar bills cause I'm a baller
- Louis Vuittion wallet
Glacier Hunting
Travel, LifestyleCommentThere are a lot of National Parks you should experience at least once in your lifetime and Glacier is one of them.. if not twice or three times. The park is huge and filled with amazing landscapes. Although I only scratched the surface, I still managed to fit in two hikes in two days. One of the hikes we did was Grinnell Glacier and that was an 11 mile hike with an elevation gain of about 2000ft. Both days we had crazy weather from the storm coming in along with haze from the wildfires that were still going on in the southern parts of the park. I suggest you visit this park soon before you miss these incredible glaciers since they're predicted to be completely melted by 2020.
MIGHTYKILLERS x SANDISK EXPLORE MEET
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STREET DREAMS: 007 GALLERY
CommentThe release of Street Dreams issue 007 took place in San Francisco this past weekend at a sold out gallery event with sounds provided by The Soulection Crew. This issue featured a bunch of heavy hitters in the West Coast and we were honored to have contributed to the magazine. The Street Dreams team brought nothing but love and good vibes to our city.
This event brought together many photographers from across the country. It was dope to link up with so many people and match up a face to Instagram's we come across and inspire from. Events like these are more than just a bunch of familiar faces hanging out, it's about shaking and talking to unfamiliar ones and meeting new people within our own community and building relationships. Street Dreams definitely created the perfect environment for just that.
The Street Dreams crew was some of the most chill and humble guys we've had a pleasure of meeting and shooting with. Definitely check them out and support these dudes.
words + photos/ Moe Tang + Marvin King
Sight Unseen
TravelCommentA couple weeks back I embarked on a road trip with a few friends to experience Yosemite. Taft Point and Glacier Point was scheduled, but we definitely stopped by different spots along the way. I don't remember much from my first trip to Yosemite when I was younger, but I do remember was how huge everything was; from the valleys, trees, and mountains. I guess growing up and visiting Yosemite for the second time, everything looks just as huge the first time I saw it.
Streets of Boston.
Travel, UrbanCommentBoston is such a beautiful city. Having only seen it in pictures, movies and on TV, it did not take me long to grow fond of her. It was a foggy and chilly day but wandering the streets left me with a sense of calm as my sisters and I meandered our way through the city on foot, allowing us to experience some of the textures of the city. Something about the brick laden sidewalks etched beneath the towering walls of several hundred year old stone and brick town houses that make you feel like you're in an entirely different time zone. Theres something magical about this place that I don't feel everywhere I go, despite living in a city like San Francisco. Even after only one day in Boston, it found a way into my heart. I will be coming back soon.
OLD OAK FLAT
CommentUpon arriving to Yosemite, our walking wikipedia Trevor took us on our first hike of the trip on a trail called Old Oak Flat. I definitely was not expecting the heat, so you can say that I was very under prepared. When I checked the weather, it said 70's.. and even that is too hot for me for hikes. The ideal temperature for hikes is like 50's for me, I just love being able to layer up and shed them as I go... but when it's hot, theres only so much you can do and so much you can shed off.. then you're just left with layers and layers of sweat.
It was just that in this situation. I was wearing Cole Haan boots, skinny jeans and high socks.. It was pretty brutal the entire way but man, the views were insane. Trevor told us not to look back until we reached a point, and then he would tell us to look and he guaranteed it would be totally worth it.. So guess how long it took me until I looked back? Instantly... The curiosity was eating at me. Although I probably messed up that moment of awe the others got to experience, I was still fucking amazed every time I turned around and looked. I think I probably turned to look back over 50 times the entire hike. The wildfires made the view that much more amazing.
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FW009 LOOKBOOK by NOLIS |
IN THE BAG WITH JOHANNES HIRSCH
IN THE BAGComment
@Simply_Hannes recently took a lengthy trip to South Germany. Knowing that he would be gone for a week in Baden Baden followed by another strenuous week in Albstadt, near Stuttgart for some intense hikes, Johannes made sure to carry light. Through experience, it's always smart to pack only what you need; the necessities. Leave everything else you think you might need back because you will pay for it later during your trip when your bag is way heavier than it needed to be. Check out what what he packed on his trip:
- Panasonic LX100
- Panasonic batteries
- Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod
- Thinktank SD Pocket
- WD External HD
- iPhone 5S
- MacBook Air 13"
- Lenspen
- DIY Paracord Strap
- Camelbak 1L Chute Bottle
- Germany maps
- Victorinox Swiss Army Knives
- Darth Vader USB Stick M
- Mammut LED Headlamp
- Notebook
Follow @Simply_Hannes to see his travels.
Blue Hour Bonsai
TravelCommentHaving been over 6 years since I last paid a visit to South Lake Tahoe, I definitely knew this time around what to expect and what [few] images I wanted to grab during a short, little family trip away from the San Francisco Bay Area for Labor Day weekend.
Luckily for us, especially in today's day and age, we are exposed to a number of amazing social media platforms that allow us to fuel our wanderlust, experiment different styles and techniques, and ultimately -- expand on our creative horizons. Of course, these kinds of things always come with their caveats. Too much of anything isn't always the best policy, no matter how good. That said, I was fortunate enough to know what I wanted on a one-night stay in South Lake Tahoe, and given that many photographers and creatives enjoy capturing light primarily in the golden hour, blue hour, and night time, I was still able to fully engage in maintaining presence throughout the normal part of the day.
Bonsai Rock and Emerald Bay were the two locations that were on my list for this little trip, and it goes without saying that both of those locations truly delivered. After experimenting with numerous long exposures at Bonsai Rock - both as the sun was setting and as the milky way was rising, the end products definitely justified the means.
As for Emerald Bay, there has always been a saying that... waking up for sunrise is never fun, but we never actually regret it when all is said and done. Mornings like these solidify that statement for me, and much, much more.
Alberta Canada: Banff and Jasper National Park
TravelCommentEvery photographer has a dream location that they have always wanted to shoot and see for themselves. Alberta Canada was that place for me. I recently had the chance to go there on a partial work trip shooting for LG. From the crystal blue lakes, to the up close encounters with bears, it was everything I imagined it would be and more. Words can't describe how beautiful this place is.
Labor Day weekend on Lake Tahoe
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Lake Tahoe, Nevada. On a weekend where I more or less put my camera away, there's always a those moments that I can't resist capturing. These are a few of them from what turned out to be an indescribable and unforgettable experience in a place I will not soon forget.
