What is Adventure to us?
At the risk of sounding off with a bunch of cliches, life really is all about the journey. We believe that. And having ventured around the world to some pretty amazing destinations, we still believe in the journey. To us, this is where real experiences take place. Whether it’s in a conversation with a random seatmate on a transcontinental flight. Or the simple nod and acknowledgment passing a new friend on a trail. We live for the journey.
Looking back on the 10 years F4D Studio has been in existence we’ve always leaned toward adventure. The exciting part is how that word has redefined itself as we have grown as a team.
Adventures with Colorado Outward Bound School
This coming spring season will mark F4D’s five-year anniversary working with Colorado Outward Bound School. The organization emphasizes five key principles; Enterprising curiosity, tenacity in pursuit, sensible self-denial, indefatigable spirit and compassion. We think these principles are awesome, so to us this is a no-brainer.
It’s a loud world. There is physical and digital noise bombarding us at all times. How can an organization who’s entire goal is to get people off their phones into the outdoors compete in the digital space? This, along with climbing mountains with the COBS team, is a challenge we earnestly continue to undertake. Exposure greatly increases awareness for the larger community. And because COBS is an organization positioned, literally, in the outdoor space, this awareness remains very important.
Colorado Outward Bound School | 2018 Gala from F4D Studio on Vimeo.
We’ve feel fortunate to be able to Our initial projects focused on staff and the organization’s ideals as whole. Then we began focusing videos on fundraising surrounding key COBS events. With the success of these projects, F4D and COBS then focused on specific courses offered by the organization. We’re very excited to see what projects we are able to create with them this year.
Gettin’ dirt on the lens
To be able to claim that your work is adventure, you must live life like it’s an adventure. The entire F4D team lives this way.
In 2018, F4D began working with Guerrilla Gravity, a Denver-based mountain bike manufacturer. The brand was experiencing growth, but needed a boost in video content that better represented the brand.
One of the first opportunities with Guerrilla Gravity came at the beginning of August 2018 in Angel Fire, New Mexico. Titled “The Good, The Rad and the Gnarly,” the event hosted more than 50 riders over three days at Angel Fire Bike Park.
Guerrilla Gravity – The Good, the Rad and the Gnarly from F4D Studio on Vimeo.
Although F4D cinematographers Travis Conklin and Tyler Vitello were there with cameras, they were also able to rip around the bike park. And that’s what a lot of this is about. It’s about aligning with the right teams who understand your product, its application and its limits. With this knowledge, and the occasional test drive on a Smash or Megatrail, we are able to deliver story-driven content that really speaks to the brand.
Following through with Guerrilla Gravity also allowed for F4D to visit Moab, Utah, for the company’s annual Campout Weekend. The crew started out by meeting at Goose Island Campground nestled in the heart of Moab on the banks of the Colorado River. The bike company reserved both group sites to satisfy the demand of the event. And as people trickled into the campsite, beers from Alpine Dog Brewery and spirits from Deerhammer Distilling Company began flowing and the reunion commenced. For some, this event is the culmination of one year of planning and excitement to see old friends. But for others, this is a time to meet new and like-minded individuals who share a passion for crushing mountain bike trails.
The weekend started out with a ride on the “Amasa Highlights,” which is pretty good introduction to the weekend with only 9 miles of riding and a relatively easy ride. Saturday brought out the big guns with with two different route options for riders. Named the Magnificent 7, the first route offered riders 22 miles of simpler trails. The second route, a much harder 22-mile ride, topped off with a pedal back to the campground.
Freeskier Magazine gets a tour of the back country
Freeskier Magazine, a publication focused on back country, big-mountain, powder and terrain skiing, recently contracted F4D Studio to create videos for some of its client. The first order of business came with Michelob Ultra and Bud Light. And whereas we love a good craft beer (and being outside with them) we never shy away from skiing with friends and cold ones.
The concept F4D and Freeskier finalized involved hiring ski talent Meredith Drangin, Ingrid Stensvaag, the Ski Town All-Stars crew, Devan O’Connor, and some of the Freeskier squad to show off their powder skills.
The shoot started off with a fun session in waist-deep powder. Lib Technologies furnished a pair of Bud Light-branded skis with a top sheet graphic created by Denver artist Pat Milbery – a step away from it’s usual offerings. The final product from this shoot resulted in a photo of Drangin that was used in a recent campaign.
Following this, the crew loaded up the sleds and tore off into the back country. Despite blue skies opening the day, once we arrived the sky turned grey and the snow began falling. However, this did not stop us from getting some amazing shots of the talent carving glades, traversing ridges, and dropping cliffs.
The concept of the shoot revolved around the talent skinning up the mountain before descending the trees. F4D aerial pilot Gabe Rovick took a chance in the snowstorm and flew the DJI Mavic Pro 2 in the middle of the storm – a decision that paid off with an epic shot of the crew traversing a peak (as seen in the above video.)
Want to go on an adventure with F4D? Email Britt@F4DStudio.com. We’ll meet you out there.
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