pictures, videos and shenanigans

The Amazing Spider-man posters are the newest project I have photographed and one I am most proud of.
I scaled buildings, jumped out of planes, did some base jumping and developed this scientific breakthrough elastic poly-nylon carbonate webbing for support to get the angles required…it was awesome.
Okay, perhaps I only borrowed friends rooftops and gained private roof access to a few NYC skyscrapers in order to capture the right angles and perspectives. None the less I am overwhelmed with the dynamic treatment the designers did (including the CGI Spidey himself) to make these posters as arresting as they are. There are quite a few executions and the media buy is tremendous.  It is truly one of the experiences of a lifetime to see your work on this scale and participate in one of the largest movie franchises in history.

The Amazing Spider-man international key art – ©2012 Columbia Tri Star

The Amazing Spider-man movie poster ©2012 Columbia Tri Star

The Amazing Spider-man movie poster ©2012 Columbia Tri Star

I love when a client has faith in me to shoot something outside the subject of work I usually show on my site.  Every time I get a call for cars I feel a challenge coming on. When Allyson Torrisi of Popular Mechanics reached out about photographing the not yet released 2013 Dodge Viper I jumped at the opportunity.  This sexy seductress of a vehicle is unlike any I’d ever seen.

Drivers side door 2013 Dodge Viper for popular mechanics

nose of the 2013 Dodge Viper for popular mechanics.

Front view 2013 Dodge Viper for popular mechanics.

Rear view Photo of 2013 Dodge Viper for popular mechanics.

Opposed to humans vehicles are 13 foot mirrors with more curves.  Everything within viewable distance can and will reflect in the surface of a car.  Important to the client is that we didn’t make the images look like they were CGI created and that we actually had access to the unreleased Viper.

studio setup 2013 Dodge Viper for Popular Mechanics. Photo by Monte Isom

We weren’t in a car specific studio and couldn’t fit a 4o’ chimera in the space so we flew a 20′ x 20′ silk overhead then wrapped 3 sides by white seamless to clean up the surfaces.  We utilized 30′ of black duvateen to define some elements and features of the car.  The roar of the engine was ferocious and smooth.  Passersby could not help but stare through the garage door when it was open.  Post shoot the Viper was driven out of the studio and into the transport truck.  Dozens of people were stopped in their tracks and taking photos.  A french couple asked me who was the celebrity that people were so excited about taking pictures of.  I retorted, “the sexiest thing to come out of the American automotive industry in a long time”.

2013 Dodge Viper for popular mechanics.

Newsies was a movie in the early nineties with Christian Bale that has a cult following.  On March 15th the Newsies the musical opened on Broadway in NYC and Serrino Coyne tapped me to shoot the advertising for Disney. My first musical and I had an absolute ball.  Let me tell you the dancers from the production took great direction and could leap higher than many of the NBA stars I’ve worked with. They garnered Choreographer, Christopher Gattelli a Tony award for best Choreography.  The Wall Street Journal wrote an article titled Culture City: The Jump That Saved a Season – WSJ.com about Gattelli, the remarkable choreography and the marketing photo.

Broadway Musical Newsies cast for Disney by Monte Isom

The images were utilized in TV commercials, print advertising and the front of house of the Nederlander theater on 40th st.

Broadway Musical Newsies Billboard in Times Square for Disney by Monte Isom

Broadway Musical Newsies Billboard in Times Square for Disney by Monte Isom

Broadway Musical Newsies Poster for Disney ©Disney

Nederlander Theater featuring Broadway musical Newsies photo by Monte Isom

Baracade covers outside Nederlander Theater photo by Monte Isom

Newsies ad on phone booth spotted on 17th st in NYC

Check out the behind the scenes video.

HBO is one of my favorite long standing clients with over 20 shoots under our belts.  Our most recent boxing poster collaboration took me to both a rooftop in Manhattan and studio photographing the best looking pugilist in the game.   Most professional athletes are not models but in boxer Sergio Martinez’s case he may as well be.  This Argentinian fighter loves the camera and it loves him.  It was like Bieber mania with the women swooning while working on set. You can witness some of it in the behind the scenes video.

Shooting celebrity athletes means always balancing between nailing enough quality variations in a short time frame while not appearing rushed.  Sergio gave us one fantastic image after another right from the start hence we were never hurried. We even had enough time to get a facebook photo of he and I.

Sergio Martinez, Argentine Middleweight Boxer photographed for HBO

Sergio Martinez, Argentine Middleweight Boxer and Monte Isom faceoff for facebook photo

During the shoot HBO marketing manager Sandy Ortiz suggested we try to capture the New York skyline for the backdrop as the fight would take place at Madison Square Garden. We decided to shoot asap as we were up against a tight deadline.  HBO photo editor Justin D’Amico worked his magic and had me 689 feet above 42nd st on the roof of the Grace building the following evening. Fortunately the weather and NYC city lights conspired to give me exactly what I needed: clear crisp beautifully illuminated cityscapes.  Like Sergio I needed to give very little direction.

A beautifully clear night in New York City for HBO photo by Monte Isom

I am never more proud of my work than when I turn the corner of 42nd and Broadway and see my images on a HBO Times Square billboard.  Thanks to everyone who hustled that day to make it happen.

Was so excited to turn the corner and see the HBO Times Square billboard with Sergio Martinez vs Matthew Macklin