Who He? Sven Martin Interview.
Photo:SpomerSven Martin hails from South Africa along with wife Anka. They both reside here in the USA escaping the often violent homeland they grew up in. Sven is an interesting character to say the least. I think he likes to dominate everything he does. Years ago Sven was a legend in Skateboarding in his home country. He then went and earned himself a marketing degree before moving over here.
I met him at the fall classic in Big Bear, he was shooting a few photos of Anka. Later he started riding himself and quickly earned himself a pro Liscence. Sven has raced on the world cup circuit and you would often see him after his run snapping a few photos with his race kit on. Now Svens images are regulars in all publications. He is one half of The Dirt Agency, a marketing agency formed by him and another photographer Shaun Spomer. They have fresh ideas and bring you race reports Through the popular Littermag website. If you shoot photos you will appreciate what goes into these images. Sven has a world of knowledge in his head and learned it all the hard way "film".
Sven racing for his homeland in the world championships.
Sven has recently been honored by his skateboard sponsors with a homage deck.
Did you go to school to learn photography?
No. Just picked it up along the way, learnt different things from different people along the way, asked a lot of question and experimented a lot. That was while shooting slide, not so easy then as you would try something and then wait a few days to see results and try remember what settings you used. Digital makes it easy for all the “photo jocks” these days.
Which riders stand out in style, who do you love to take pictures of.
Kirt voreis relaxing at home. This is shot with film and then cross precessed.
Neethling. Style for miles.
Which photographers do you admire (mountain biking or not)
Sven racing for his homeland in the world championships.Tell me about getting into photography.
I Started on family holidays. My dad was into it, he was a professional in a photographic society. So I would use one of his cameras and lenses when I was 10 or 11 or something. Snapping elephants and giraffes.
What was your 1st camera?
Canon A1 or A2 I think.
What’s in your bag rite now.? ?
I Started on family holidays. My dad was into it, he was a professional in a photographic society. So I would use one of his cameras and lenses when I was 10 or 11 or something. Snapping elephants and giraffes.
What was your 1st camera?
Canon A1 or A2 I think.
What’s in your bag rite now.? ?
As much as I can squeeze in hand luggage. 2x bodies (1DMKIII and 20D), 3 or 4 flashes with pocket wizards, about 12 gigs of memory cards, 15mm fish, 70-200mm 2.8 (these two lenses account for 85 % of my work) 17-40mm, 1.4 50mm prime, remote camera cable to fire camera with pocket wizards, laptop, chargers, portable external hard drive, numerous sync cords, notebook, digital voice recorder for interviews or ideas, lens cleaning cloth and solution, mini tripods including the gorilla pod. Light stand/tripod, light meter and extra batteries and more chargers. I some how get all this to fit hand luggage and reduce weight out in the field.
Sven has recently been honored by his skateboard sponsors with a homage deck.Did you go to school to learn photography?
No. Just picked it up along the way, learnt different things from different people along the way, asked a lot of question and experimented a lot. That was while shooting slide, not so easy then as you would try something and then wait a few days to see results and try remember what settings you used. Digital makes it easy for all the “photo jocks” these days.
Which riders stand out in style, who do you love to take pictures of.
Andrew Neethling, Peat, Rennie, Hill, Minnaar, Anka, Voreis. Different people for different reasons. But good style is always helps.
Where are you set up when Sam hill is on his final run at the world champs?.
Where are you set up when Sam hill is on his final run at the world champs?.
I’m set up at the bottom by the finish line because he is going to win so you have to be there. Entering the last straight, crossing the line, taking the hot seat, celebrating victory, crowds, fans, aussie flags, lots of stuff you can get there. Also doing my run 30 min before meant that’s where I could get to in time once I got me gear.
Kirt voreis relaxing at home. This is shot with film and then cross precessed.You made some great images at champerey. You used a lot of flash. How hard is it to set those shots up? How many flashes do you use?.
Champery was dark in the thick steep woods for 90% of the course. Flash was the only option there. Also the clouds and rain came in. During races where you don’t have much time to set up and change locations for some variety I only work with two, sometimes one if it works and time is short. Before Sam’s run it started pissing down and I had to try keep everything dry and working while still getting a shot. That shot is now in Bike Mag I think. It was a tough one.
Champery was dark in the thick steep woods for 90% of the course. Flash was the only option there. Also the clouds and rain came in. During races where you don’t have much time to set up and change locations for some variety I only work with two, sometimes one if it works and time is short. Before Sam’s run it started pissing down and I had to try keep everything dry and working while still getting a shot. That shot is now in Bike Mag I think. It was a tough one.
Neethling. Style for miles.What is the most memorable mountain bike photo you've ever seen? What made it so good?
Lots of Malcolm Fearons, Mark Dawson's and Geoff Waugh. They stick out cause they capture an era of the sport. History is frozen and never lost. All while shooting manual with no Digital. Awesome stuff. Saw lots of good stuff at the Dirt Snap Exhibition.
Which photographers do you admire (mountain biking or not)
Daniel Harold Sturt, Atiba Jefferson (skate) Chris Van Lennep (South African Legend surf water photographer) Then I like all the race stuff of Flipper, Spomer, Breach, Lucas. Then there is the cool stuff that some of the Canadian photogs get on all those freeride trips. They have it made, riders riding at the perfect time of day in epic locations because 16mm film is running. Race photogs have it a bit harder to capture an equally strong and memorable image. Its tough sometimes when the light and location is shit but you are still under pressure from clients to deliver.
South Africa. Cape Epic.
South Africa. Cape Epic.Do you think that people understand what goes into a photo?
When you get offered product instead of money for a photo, is that an insult sometimes.
Anyone can shoot a photo these days with the equipment, or at least people think they can. But if clients want a memorable image that will actually capture your attention they need something better for their campaigns than Sea Otter or Fontana. We travel the world documenting the best riders at the biggest and best events worldwide, to get the shot that embodies the moment and story of that event. If companies want to run weak shots for a set of tires then their ads campaigns will flounder.
If you were to suggest a camera for the average rider to put in their camelbaks, which one would you choose?
Any one of the higher end point and shoot cameras. Use the manual settings, change ISO, speed and WB settings accordingly. Only use optical zoom. I use Lumix LX2 with leica lens 10 meg, shoots RAW and 16:9 sweet. Canon has a cool G9 too.
If you were to suggest a camera for the average rider to put in their camelbaks, which one would you choose?
Any one of the higher end point and shoot cameras. Use the manual settings, change ISO, speed and WB settings accordingly. Only use optical zoom. I use Lumix LX2 with leica lens 10 meg, shoots RAW and 16:9 sweet. Canon has a cool G9 too.
Andreu Lecondeguy
Do you still shoot film?
Sometimes, with my lomo and if I want to do real cross processing stuff.
Has digital made life more difficult in the post processing over film?
Sometimes, with my lomo and if I want to do real cross processing stuff.
Has digital made life more difficult in the post processing over film?
You spend massive amounts of time on your laptop sorting things out. With film that wasn’t the case rite?It has its positives and negatives. I don’t enjoy computer editing much, so try shoot as close to how I want the shot. With the computer I just correct the color etc so it matches the printing profiles. No effects or tricks. It defiantly speeds up the business side of it. That also has pros and cons though. But technology is here, so you have to embrace it else you will become extinct like the dinosaurs. The costs of photographic, computer and software are high though. Some people think just cause you shoot digital it should be cheaper, but the costs and time costs are way higher now than with film, even though you are not paying for film and processing
Sam Blenkinsopp
Ok Sven, did you prefer these questions or the drunken one’s I sent over last night?
Alrighty then, I’m done, thanks a lot Sven.
Sam BlenkinsoppOk Sven, did you prefer these questions or the drunken one’s I sent over last night?
Will answer the drunk ones when I’m drunk then you decide based on the answers
Can you do a mc twist? Rob Roskopp came pretty close in wheels of fire. Maybe you guys could have a competition on who is the better skater, and if you win you get a free bike out of him?
Can you do a mc twist? Rob Roskopp came pretty close in wheels of fire. Maybe you guys could have a competition on who is the better skater, and if you win you get a free bike out of him?
Tried Mc Twists, landed some to slide outs, did get Kick flip indys on vert though. I’m sure we both just suck now since we are such bike nerds. I did skate with Kirt Voreis last week and he rules, big spin backside disaster on his bowled mini ramp in his garage here in bend and nose blunts. He is the eternal kid.
Alrighty then, I’m done, thanks a lot Sven.
Shots like this don't come easy, Sam Hill destroys.
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