So can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Relative to the company I have been taking images for about 12 years. About 7 years ago I started a magazine called Modest Bike, which featured a lot of my images and other generous photogs who believed in what the magazine was about. A few years later I began working for a large publication as an evil Editor, this was not the best experience and ironically all my experiences at that magazine were the original reasons I started Modest Bike. I guess money was behind my decision at the time. Now I work with F-Stop Gear developing product and keeping the company in touch with our customers. I am based in the Kita Alps in Japan although the company is located in St.Louis.

What do you photograph mostly?
Now a days I photograph snowboarding and the life that comes with it (as a hobby). Previously I mostly shot mountain biking.

What is your favorite thing to photograph? Skiing, snowboard, biking?
Snowboarding is an amazing sport to do and photograph, it is also what my life is revolves around, so it is natural for me to love shooting snowboarding. In the end any thing with style and creative riding gets me going.

What’s your favorite photo you’ve taken?
There are a few that have heart and memories that I might prefer over the technically sound images. This image of Dave Basterachea is likely my favorite combo of both. Mostly because Dave is a good friend and this is an area that our friends rode as much as we could when the conditions were on. It is in the Whistler area and called Morning Glory. I have had some of the best runs in my life on this face and watched my friends do the same. I have seen it slide in to a giant class 3 avalanche while digging a pit, watched the sunrise light the face up at 5:30 in the morning and left it as sun went down snowmobiling my way through tight trees in darkness. I have shared a lot of good and crazy moments with friends here and this picture sums those times up for me. This was Dave’s 1st run of the day. I remember Dan Treadway saying something along the lines of “What? That was his warm up run?”.

Do you have any formal schooling for photography?
I did the 16 year program at the School of Whistler for my eduction in photography.

How did you get into the business?
I tried the snowboard photo route but knew that I also loved snowboarding too much to sit and watch. So eventually I figured I should shoot Mountain Biking so I can actually ride and not just watch other people have all the fun. So I started Modest Bike magazine. I then realized that I also love mountain biking and that maybe I should have started a golf magazine.

What bag do you carry usually?
I am using the Loka almost everyday now. It is a smaller pack that is in prototype phase. It is smaller around 28L and has a tapered ICU to keep the profile of the pack down while holding an avalanche shovel. At the same time it still carries a pro body with 70-200L mounted in the ICU and has room to spare (also caries a 16-35L and Fish). It is kind of my baby and is the base for a couple of new packs that are in the works. A lot of people are going to be happy when this one hits the market. From pro-sumers to working pro’s to just everyday riders. The bags we are working are going to be a pleasure for folks who love the snow.

Can you tell us a little about F-Stop?
F-Stop is company dedicated to making gear for adventure sport photographers. Our main product is backpacks but we also make lens cases and hip and shoulder bags, basically anything that makes a photographers day more enjoyable while carrying gear. Our product is simple and designed to carry your gear but also allows you to enjoy the day beyond taking the photograph. It is important to me that our users are part of the experience, sometimes this means an 8 hour ski tour. We(photogs) are already carrying more gear then our friends who are having all the fun and getting there good times documented. So the last thing we need is a non functional and heavy pack. We should not be limiting our experiences because we can’t get there with our gear. Our company is here to help make those missions a reality and to let photogs have there moment in the snow too.

When was F-Stop started?
F-Stop has been around for the last 4 years.

Why go into the camera bag business?
There is a bit of hole in the market, as action sports grow the need to document them also has. A canvas backpack designed to be driven around in car doesn’t cut it in the outdoors. Our idea is simple and it is strange to think it took this long for someone to get on it.

What’s it like competing with larger companies?
I really don’t think we are competing with them. We offer a product that is unique and basically sells it self. We are a small group of photographers trying to make our own experience in the mountains that much better. Going further and bringing flash cards home full of images that the average person will never experience. Most photographers that catch wind of our line also realize this and see that we’re making gear to make there day easier and ambitious goals possible. I am not sure the others are doing that in relation to the action/adventure sport niche. We don’t structure our business like a typical photo pack company, we are creating our own path. A path that reflects the real world of action sports photography.

Any advice for someone trying to start a company in the action sports industry?
Research, preparation, commitment, money and follow through. But first you should have a good product.

Any previews of upcoming gear?
There is not to much media on the new Loka yet.

Anything else you think we should know?
If you email F-Stop Gear you will likely here back from me personally. We like to hear feedback from everyone as every user has a different and tailored use for our packs, so if you have something on your mind don’t hesitate to contact us. We take our teams input in the design phase but also our customers. We’re building packs for a community of like minded individuals and your one of them so if you want to be part of the process please don’t be shy. We will also have a contest coming out soon that will allow you to play an even bigger part in the development phase of our bags, so stay tuned to www.fstopgear.com for more on that.

Here are some images of both mine and product testing:

Photo Marc Durand (F-Stop Tilopa User) Rider Ian Millar (wearing Loka)

Loka product testing (fun video wearing Loka)

The Powder Miracle from deeplikepow on Vimeo.

Rider: Nick Kowal Photo: Ian Millar (Tilopa)

Company
www.fstopgear.com

Personal
www.modestbike.com/handsome (portfolio site)
www.deeplikepow.com (blog)

Related Articles

• F-Stop Tilopa Review
  I finally took the plunge and bought myself a new backpack to ski with. I previously owned a Dakine ...

I talked to numerous people before ordering the bag. Everyone has loved them so far. I went for the Tilopa because it was a tad bit taller than the dakine and much more comfortable to ski with (so I was told). It is about the same width as the Sequence but the straps are much closer together. It seems like it would make it much more comfortable to carry around. They are also curved which I assume provides better support.

Overall

It appears to be very high quality. The zippers are all covered and waterproofed, the material seems very waterproofed, the straps are strong and the buckles are nothing like I’ve ever seen before.

I love the side straps and the pouches to hold the bottom of the light stands. There are way more pockets than I will ever need. It may even be a burden because I love pockets and tend to fill them with things that I hardly ever use but could need one day. It’s a gift, and a curse. Monk anyone?

Inside

The pack is hugeeeeeee. There is tons of room. To give you an idea of how much bigger I’ll compare it to the Sequence. From the base to the top of the Sequence it held a lens, 285, d2h with 50mm. And outside the ICU, 555 and had a small pocket for tape. In the Tilopa it holds a lens, 285, d2h with 70-300mm (plus 3-4 more inches of empty space), 2″ pocket. And outside the ICU, AB800 and a very large pocket.

The ICU came with 4 small dividers, 2 large corners and a large flat piece. I still haven’t decided how I want to arrange them. There’s just so many options. The bottom of the ICU has a thick foam piece and a cover to open it and get to it if needed. The sides are heavily padded and have velcro to attach to the frame inside the pack itself. The only thing I didn’t like is the cover for the ICU is just a fabric cover. I would have thought it would have some sort of padding. I understand why they didn’t, because it would be annoying to have to open 2 covers to get to your gear but they could have at least done something like the Sequence where it slides behind the pockets. Other than that, I don’t have any gripes at all.

Specifications

(Straight from the www.fstopgear.com site)

UPDATE 1/10/10

I haven’t had a chance to ski with it yet but I took it out snowshoeing today. I loaded it up with all my camera gear plus a little extra to see how it felt. It was awesome. The straps are the perfect width and they support the weight almost perfectly. It felt like there was nothing there even with a loaded bag. I can’t wait to ski with it.

Grievances:

The straps make it difficult to get to the camera and tend to “flip” snow into it.  A tip: take the straps and turn them inside out, away from the backpack. This should keep them from getting in your way. The zipper is somewhat difficult to close and open the last little bit but that can be good if you don’t want your gear falling out. The top pocket for the main compartment is flimsy and I would like to see a little more rigidity when opening and closing. It also makes the stuff in the very top pocket difficult to get to if you have something large in the main compartment. All minor things.

Update 1/15

I love this backpack even more now that I’ve skied with it. I packed it with all my camera gear, extra gloves, goggles, food, cambleback pouch and fleece. It was still lighter than my old backpack. It doesn’t ride up when leaning forward, it doesn’t feel heavy and it’s easy to get on and off which is important when riding lifts all day. I’ll be in Washington for another 8 days so I will continue to update this.

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