f-stop 15th Anniversary Story
What is your first memory of f-stop or f-stop bags?My first f-stop bag was a Tilopa that a friend of mine gave to me as a thank you for buying a used camera off him. I remember thinking, "this is a great looking bag" and took it out on my first shoot and realized it WAS a great looking and functioning camera bag and I was hooked from then on.
What benefits do you get from f-stop bags you can't find in other bags?
I really like how modular the designs are with ICUs and bag size. I can add or remove ICUs to fit my daily production needs and the bag carries well for long, heavy hiking loads up mountains or on the side of big climbing walls.
What is your favorite f-stop bag?
I primarily use the Shinn as my main production camera bag. I can fit a fully built out cinema rig with matte box, monitor, long lens, and mic and just pull it straight out of the bag and shoot run and gun style if need be. I don’t waste time putting my kit together and never miss a shot in the doc world.
Tell us something you discovered about your f-stop bag(s) you didn't know until you got the bag into use or in the field?
I am obsessed with the stow away rain cover in the bottom of the Mountain Series packs. It's always there when you need it and I don't notice it until it's raining or snowing and I need to keep my camera kit dry.
Which bag and ICU combo do you use most frequently, and what do you carry in it?
I most often use the Shinn with Cine ICU to hold my Canon C300 MK III and lens kit. Works great on the go and I can fit a ton of accessories and extra lenses as well as my personal items. It's a work horse!
What is your favorite project you've worked on in the last few months, and why?
My favorite project in the last few months has been documenting Emily Harrington's life as a professional climber, culminating in her 1-day free ascent of Golden Gate on El Capitan. I have been working with her for years and the project is finally coming to fruition. This project has combined my love of big wall documentary filmmaking with a phenomenal athlete breaking the glass ceiling in the big wall, in a day, climbing world.
Photographer BIO:
A professional climber for twenty years, Jon has traveled the world climbing rocks up to 5.14 and V14. His authentic view of climbing and the Outdoor Industry grew from simple beginnings as a committed climber. In the past decade his focus has shifted from the rock to the camera as a director who captures the heart and soul of cutting-edge climbing. Through dedication and consistency he has grown his company, Louder Than Eleven, into one of the Outdoor Industry’s most trusted production houses.
Jon works with pro athletes on their level and has directed a variety of award-winning features and international campaigns for The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, 37.5 Technology, Marmot, Black Diamond, La Sportiva, Petzl, USA Climbing, Outdoor Research, and Spyder. Jon shoots from precarious places where most filmmakers don’t have the skills to go. He captures commercial quality images in both the vertical and horizontal worlds.
Jon enjoys hanging from the side of El Capitan capturing free ascents 3000 ft off the valley floor, climbing in the Rocky Mountains and traveling to the corners of the earth to capture rare moments in sport. He likes to follow personalities and develop deep, authentic stories about talented people doing the coolest stuff out there.
Explore Jon's gear:
Here are images from Jon's recent trips to Everest and Yosemite: