When Nikon Asia asked me to create a collection of images using their new Nikon 1 V1 mirrorless camera, F-mount adaptor and five different AF-S NIKKOR lenses of my choosing, I had no idea what I wanted to photograph. But when Nikon also requested that I make a short film about my personal experience working with this kit, I knew exactly who to call: my close friends and frequent collaborators, documentary filmmaking team Mike Rogers and Meghan Shea at Persistent Productions.
The timing was fortuitous as Mike and Meghan were just about to depart Singapore for the United States to film a television pilot with folk and roots musician Ben Taylor at his home on Martha’s Vineyard. They suggested that I join them and use the Nikon 1 to document behind-the-scenes and the making-of the TV pilot.
I loved the idea, Nikon supported our proposal and — most importantly — Ben graciously agreed to star in our photographs and short film. The next thing I knew, I was traveling around the world from Singapore to Massachusetts to join Mike and Meghan and the rest of the team who were working on the production. Together we spent three remarkable days with Ben on Martha’s Vineyard, visiting his home-recording studio where he shared with us the sources of his creative inspiration and his songwriting process.
But the climax of the entire experience was a small, private concert Ben hosted at his home on our last evening. He invited about 30 of his friends from the Vineyard to join him around the campfire as they played and sang late into the night.
Read more about the making-of ‘Campfire Nights’.