Sneaker manufacturer Nike recently commissioned a photo shoot to promote its new VaporMax footwear line and hired San Francisco-based photographer Benjamin Von Wong to capture a series of thrilling photos to promote the brand.
To create the essence of an air-filled sneaker, Wong suspended his models off the side of a 30-story skyscraper in downtown Manila, Philippines, to create the illusion that they were flying.
Von Wong documented the shoot in a blog post, saying that the models wore form-fitted harnesses clipped by the side so they could "run" along the side of the building. The photographer spent hours in a harness himself, as he needed to be suspended off the roof in order to capture the intense action on film.
Von Wong, who photographed social entrepreneurs and community leaders instead of traditional models and fitness figures, wrote about the experience in detail on his blog.
"There was no rulebook on 'how to hang people from skyscrapers' or 'what equipment to use' and suddenly I found myself locked in a battle between what I wanted to create in my mind and what was actually doable," Von Wong wrote, before explaining the harnesses used. "Over and over my newly trained models would leap out, pushing themselves and contorting into dynamic positions that would fit the camera's perspective. As athletes, they were no stranger to pain and repetition making this surprisingly easy despite their lack of experience."
Von Wong posted photos from the shoot on his blog without the wires photoshopped out because he said "editing the wires out (takes) away from the story."
"By showcasing everyday people doing extraordinary things, I hope that viewers, will feel empowered to challenge themselves, support others and to pursue amazing life experiences of their own," he wrote.
Check out some of the photos posted on Von Wong's site:
Credit: vonwong
Credit: vonwong
Credit: www.jakeolaso.com
Credit: www.jakeolaso.com
Credit: www.jakeolaso.com
Credit: www.jakeolaso.com
Credit: vonwong
Credit: vonwong
