Jury 2010

Brendan Lutes

PHOTO EDITOR, TRANSWORLD MOTOCROSS (USA)

Since its launch in 2000, Transworld Motocross has remained the only complete motocross magazine for the die-hard biker into freestyle motocross or racing.

Its photo editor for four years, Brendan Lutes has played his part in delivering jaw-dropping photos for the magazine. “I love to be able to stop a moment in time and show the world what I see at a specific moment. Obviously I really like shooting motocross, but specifically I enjoy shooting freestyle motocross because you can be much more creative with angles and composition.”

How did he get his first gig in photography? “After graduation, I met the editor of Dirt Bike magazine, and even though I only knew the basics of photography, I opened my mouth and said that I could shoot photos. One thing led to another and the following week I was out tagging along at the track helping out with a photo shoot.”

After discovering his passion for photography, Brendan enrolled at the Brooks Institute of Photography and then studied journalism at Arizona State University before eventually getting his first editorial job at Cycle News. One year later, he landed his dream-job at TWMX.

What is a typical day like at the magazine? “No day is really ‘typical’ for me. Each week brings something new, which is what I enjoy about the job so much. One day I could be in the office working on photos and stories and the next I will be out shooting photos. I’ve been all around the world and even on a music tour, living on a tour bus. My job definitely has taken me places I never thought I’d be.”

Asked how the industry has changed, Brendan is aware that digital has effectively pushed analogue photography to the sidelines. “No one in action sports photography really uses film anymore. I think shooting film is almost a lost art, and I sometimes miss spending time in the darkroom printing black and white images. You can now take a digital image and make it look exactly like an image shot with film."

What is his career highlight to date? “I would say that the first cover photo I ever got was the proudest moment of my career. It was a shot of Ricky Carmichael during one of his perfect seasons in motocross.”

As a judge, what is he looking out for in this year’s Red Bull Illume? “My biggest thing with a great photo is that it has to be clean and uncluttered, with good composition. Photos that tell a story are also some of my favorites.”

What does he think about the contest itself? “I think Red Bull Illume is an awesome contest and really showcases very talented photographers from the action sports world. It takes a lot of hard work and practice to shoot good action sports photos, and it’s great to see that recognized in such a cool and creative way.”

http://motocross.transworld.net