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Award-winning filmmaker Mikey Neale has always tried to inject a cinematic style into his motor sports videography, so when he was asked to test the three new Sigma cine prime lenses on location in Spain, he jumped at the chance Capturing the drama of motocross
W hether you are spectating or taking part, there’s nothing quite like the adrenaline-fuelled excitement of motor sports: the flashing speed, the chest-rumbling sound and the nail-biting tension create a buzz that is hard to match. However, remote locations and restricted access have encouraged videographers to adopt handheld and shoulder-mounted techniques, making it harder for them to capture the true atmosphere of the environment. Motor sports filmmaker, Mikey Neale, has spent his career going to great lengths to do things a little differently, bringing a dramatic, cinematic feel to an otherwise documentary-style genre. “Even when I started doing off-road motorcycle films I didn’t shoot the typical motor sports filmmaking,” says Neale. And his commitment to his art didn’t just earn him a reputation for great videography. “I tried to make more cinematic choices in terms of framing and lens choices to a point where at times I used to drag a mini
jib around with me on an off-road track. People thought I was crazy,” he laughs. This commitment has paid off, with Mikey having had the pleasure of working with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Valentino Rossi and, thankfully, these days achieving his trademark style is not quite as difficult. “I think it’s easier now for anyone to put a cinematic quality and style on things. Everything’s getting more affordable and more portable, giving you the opportunity to mimic these larger budget moves and shots,” Neale explains. This is a big reason why he is such a fan of the new Sigma prime lens line-up. The FF High Speed Prime Line is a collection of ten high-quality cine lenses that range from 14mm to 135mm at T1.5 or T2. Most recently, Neale has been using the three latest additions: the 28mm T1.5, 40mm T1.5 and 105mm T1.5, which he sees as the perfect match for his Red Epic M-X. “I think it’s a really good combination and in a way I wish I hadn’t tested them, because I think it’s going cost me a bit of money now,” he says, grinning.
“Some lenses get a little soft on the edges when they’re wide open, but I didn’t see that with these Sigma primes”
ABOVE The three latest additions to the Sigma prime lens line-up were the perfect combination for Neale’s recent shoot of a commercial film in Spain, which included shots of trail riding
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SUMMER 2019
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