Making Waves: A Year with Boundless Water
2022 brought an extensive collaboration with Boundless Water that evolved from product photography into a creative collection spanning studio work, beach days, and high-octane motorsports.
Product Perfection: The Art of Liquid Light
Shooting Boundless Water's three distinct lines - KIDS, SPORT, and DETOX - required serious technical finesse. Working as DP and gaffer on the day, I lit the scene with a handful of Astera Titan RGB tubes and some Aputure Light Storms, using my Canon 5D Mark IV with the ol' faithful Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens (that thing is a workhorse).
The real challenge? Those gorgeous, mirror-finish cans that we had sitting on a mirror, all reflecting everything in sight. Getting clean, smooth lighting without ugly reflections became a rewarding puzzle to solve.
Each product had its own personality to emphasise, which we did with collaborations - leveraging influencers, actors, athletes and more.
Studio Sessions: Directing the Human Element
Moving from products to people brought new dynamics. As 1st AD and gaffer, I worked with a fantastic mix of actors, models, and influencers who each brought energy that perfectly matched our vision. The best influencers proved as versatile as trained actors.
We cranked up the color and dynamics for each product's aesthetic - soft and refreshing for DETOX, vibrant high-energy for SPORT, and playful excitement for KIDS. Working with kids taught us to build in extra time, and here's a pro tip: save the bubbles for last. They look amazing but leave floors slippery.
Beach Vibes: TVC Content in Natural Light
For the TVC ad content, we had a super early start to get the golden light & headed to the beach with just an iPhone, reflectors, and the Australian sun.
It wasn't going to be just the actors running up and down the beach that day, so we wanted to try a light-weight set-up. With the iPhone 14 just released, sporting the new dual-camera set-up and the ability to shoot raw, it was worth a try.
The challenge was making cans look chilled on a scorching hot day. The solution? A spray bottle for adding condensation became my secret weapon - always keep one handy when shooting beverages.
High-Speed Thrills: Ferrari Club Australia
The owner of Boundless Water is a Ferrari enthusiast, leading to one of the year's most exhilarating shoots.
As director & DP (and editor later that night), I found myself trackside with my Blackmagic BMPCC 6K and some Canon glass, capturing high-speed cars and their drivers.
My previous car shooting experience from the Yves V & FR!ES music video "High Like This" came in handy, but nothing quite matches the raw speed and precision of Ferraris on a proper track.
The Big Picture
What made this collaboration special was the variety and pace. Every shoot demanded fast turnaround with high expectations and little room for error.
It pushed me creatively and technically, from solving reflection challenges to managing kids with bubbles to capturing split-second moments on a racetrack.
Working with Boundless Water across 2022 wasn't just about creating content - it was about building a creative partnership that allowed for experimentation, growth, and genuinely exciting moments behind the camera.
