this fellow @thisfellow - Tumblr Blog

Living in NYC has been a blessing and a curse.

In this city, you have access to anything you could ever imagine - except privacy. The isolation from nature is one of the strongest attractions I have had for most of my life, but this city doesn’t offer much escape in the way of getting Into the Wild.

I often feel most inspired, during the fall and winter, to embrace my favorite Northern garb, but blend it in a way that is not only functional but fashionable.

Plaid shirts, with denim is a classic that will never see the dusty shelves of other trends fallen from style, but, to keep it from being a tired look, I threw this together with some Hunter Green joggers and tan slip on shoes. The earth tones make me feel like I’m just steps away from the forest.

I got this ENTIRE outfit at Walmart, and did it on a budget.

I waited until the end to mention this because it’s important to understand that you can find style and inspiration anywhere, and with that mentality locked down, you can shop anywhere also, and save some cash in the process.

You can shop the look with Liketoknow.it or step up and challenge yourself to find a great outfit at Walmart yourself!

#WeDressAmerica #WalmartFashion #liketkit

Sperry 365

The classic Sperry boater shoe is iconic. It's a simple look that has been styled with preppy vibes, casually dressed looks and all-purpose functionality - and because of this, it's easily my favorite shoe to have handy for special occasions.When it's warm outside, it makes sense to go for a Sperry boater and bring your look together with some great shoes to go with comfortable clothes, but not many people are aware that you can also comfortably wear them during the winter months, as well. I recently went to Toronto, Ontario and while there had my generous fill with sub zero weather, but it was still easy to dress up for my dinner plans with my navy boaters, a navy striped shirt and simple pants. I had some warm socks on, but my feet never felt worn or cold because the shoes kept my feet dry and were also amazing to use while walking on slick ice. I was fortunate enough to have my friends from Toronto letting me stay with them, and they were so excited to show me around their city. When it's your first time in Canada, you can expect the locals to take good care of you. I wanted to have fun and look nice, but still be casual and comfortable - after all, It was snowy, so I didn't want to have to spend a load of time putting on and taking off my big boots all the time. It's always fun for me to try things out, to see how they work. There are some hard and fast guidelines for styling yourself nicely, sure, but at the end of the day, we will never know how something will look until we give it a shot. My friend, Zach, picked the place to eat, but was kind enough to also use his photography skills to help bang out some photos nearby, while giving me a tour of some awesome sections of Toronto.When the evening was over, and we got back to the apartment, it was an easy kick off of the shoes and my feet were still dry, warm and in one piece. I didn't slip and fall, like I was prone to do most of the other days, in my boots, because the grip on the soles of the Sperry's were so good.I honestly can't wait to get back to Toronto during the Spring or Summer, and I'll certainly be bringing them back then as well because 365 days a year, these shoes will have a place in my wardrobe.

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OppoSuits Attract

With Summer coming at us Full-Tilt, the Heat keeps the idea of dressing-up low on the list of things any of us look forward to doing. Itchy skin, sweaty backs and the inescapable feeling of warmth makes me want to live in shorts and a t-shirt, but that’s not always an acceptable option.

During the Summer months, I’m always moving around, creating content, running errands or taking meetings and, for formality’s sake, I usually just throw on a long-sleeved button-up and roll up my sleeves when the environment invites it. I’ve often dreamt of wearing something fun and comfortable that would be a little bold, but acceptable for most Summer meetings. I finally found what I was missing --the Summer Suit from OppoSuits.

OppoSuits is a company that makes fun, fitting, and stylish suits for an affordable price with a wide array of patterns, illustrations and colors. They all come with a matching blazer, trousers and neck tie. But what got me excited was the Summer Suit! A short-sleeved suit!

Now, it was acceptable for me to arrive to the party in style, but also in comfort.

When I wore this, I didn’t want to dress up with a buttoned shirt, but rather a soft, cotton t-shirt that matched the color tone of the suit itself. I left the tie at home (Next time, buddy) and went for this casual Miami Vice vibe, complete with White sneakers and Sunnies. Now I was ready to sip tropical drinks without a straw and play outdoor games with style at Pier 17.

It doesn’t take much to fit into the crowd, but if you’re looking for something to stand out, remember that OppoSuits attract and they’re Worn To Be Wild.

Get your own suit here!

*This post was created in partnership with Opposuits*

Best, Bobby

#SummerofFun #OppoSuitsOccasions #WornToBeWild #ad

NYFWM ‘18 with Joseph Abboud

Twice a year an event occurs that brings together the greatest minds and visionaries in Men’s Fashion - Fashion Week. Around the globe, we celebrate new collections and inspirational perspectives on what will be the new style to dictate that year. There are avant garde suits and wild pops of color in certain collections, and then there are those that simply execute and embody the elements of timelessness. Joseph Abboud is one of those men. For decades, designer Joseph Abboud has forged the path in creating stunning suits that any guy could look at and admire, whilst embracing and embodying the integrity of something as simple as a suit. This recent Men’s New York Fashion Week, I was invited to once again be a part of Joseph's vision, his palate, and had the chance to work with his team to create my very own custom-made suit, along with my friends. And this is an experience that I’d be fortunate to experience once, let alone several times, over the past couple years. It’s almost difficult to put into words how enjoyable it was to arrive at the Flagship store in Manhattan and look at a table covered in pattern swatches, imported from Italy. It’s almost nerve-racking. But the team that worked with me to design the suit was amazing! They never forget to understand that something they’ve spent their life learning and loving can be daunting for somebody like me, and guided me through every step, even offering their own opinions to paint a picture of what would not only look better, but would be better for my body type. Single-breasted or Double-breasted? Which lining color or fabric would I want? Stitching and cuffing options that I take for granted in every article of clothing was suddenly explained to me and made my experience more immersive than consumerist. They took me for a ride, abstractly ticking off notes for the tailors to have, which, in their head, illustrated the whole, rather than a few strikes of the pen on paper. When my suit arrived, it fit like a dream. We made final adjustments to the shape and minor tweaks to ensure it fit perfectly and suddenly it all came together. My grey, pinstriped three-piece suit; double breasted with the monogrammed initials “TF” on my jacket lining. A suit custom made by Joseph Abboud for This Fellow. The entire fitting, design and modeling of these suits was a way for us to promote the show, which was live-streamed for all to see on Instagram and Facebook and it was amazing. Joseph's new collection was darker and moodier than the previous, really focusing on blacks, greys and moodier patterns, accentuated with pops of color, here and there. And, in the truly classic style of Joseph Abboud, it was held in a perfect venue for the collection. A dark, moody midtown hotel banquet hall, converted into a ovular runway for the models to walk around. It didn’t matter where you were sitting (or standing), you had prime perspective on the collection. The guys and I had front row seats with a perfect view of every look, which, honestly, made me feel pretty awesome. It’s not every day that something like this happens for me. I am definitely one to know the difficulties of finding nicer clothing that fits my body type. I have thick thighs, a big back, broad shoulders and a big neck, and it makes it really hard to find anything that works for me. I couldn’t recommend this more to someone, to experience the service they provide and to go through the paces of designing designing and owning a custom suit, because that is something that will never go out of style. My favorite thing about this process is it makes me think about my dad. He passed away years ago, and when he did, I came into all of his possessions that I hadn’t ever noticed before. Of all the things that meant the most to me, his custom suits, monogrammed and well-hung, were my favorites. It excites me to think that one day, somebody I love may eventually inherit something that special of mine.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and for following along the journey. If you ever have any questions, let me know!

Best,

Bobby

*this post is sponsored by Joseph Abboud*

#josephabboud #joseph abboud #nyfwm

Occasionally, I will get an email from someone that knows me. They follow my social channels, or are friends of a friend, or are readers, like you, taking time from their day, to write and pick my brain. I get all sorts of questions that are asked to me, but the most common question is, “How would you define style, and what is your style?”

It’s tough.

On a regular basis, I am replying back to curious guys and gals, looking to me to deliver something they didn’t think they had an answer to; but they did and do.

You see, when someone asks me things like this, I explain that style is where confidence is reinforced with identity - when we are truly most ourselves, at that moment in time, is when we are most stylish, confident and one with ourselves.

Not what you’d expect to hear, but it’s true.

And when I’m asked what my style is, I explain that it’s the simplest solution - “Easy basics, with a good pair of denim.”

In fashion and clothing design, in general, we’ve always seen the ebb and flow of style; the evolution that dictates generations of men and women. But still, in centuries of stylistic clothing and bold choices, we have the eternally flawless pair of denim jeans.

Say what you will, but I have always been a jean and t-shirt guy, and love the fit of a good slim jean. The problem I’ve always run into is with the thighs - if there isn’t any stretch, my legs won’t go through. Which brings me to the Adrien Jean from 7 For All Mankind. This pair of denim is not like the rest. It’s built with character, quality and a fit that makes you feel like you spent a million bucks, and even better when you realize that you didn’t.

I’ve always been a huge fan of 7 For All Mankind’s jeans, and, as a budget shopper, I feel confident that I can say, spending the extra money on jeans isn’t just for the looks, it’s for the longevity. I wear my clothing into the ground, dirty them up and literally put the paces in, until there are holes, where there shouldn’t be, and with all of my 7FAM denim, they’re here to stay and not showing any wear and tear, any time soon.

So, when you’re thinking of defining style, think about what makes you confident and what delivers the identity you relate to… then get a damn fine pair of denim and pull it all together.

Best, Bobby

I’m always on the hunt for the next adventure, whether it be local or abroad, in freezing cold or dry desert heat, I want to explore and experience life to the fullest. And as you all know, I’m a huge fan of Audi and one of their partners, as well - and they are easily my favorite brand to roll down the road with, when I’m on the hunt for a story.

I was approached by Audi to test drive their new RS3, which I had for about a week. I didn’t have any set ideas of where I was going to go, or what I was going to do with it, but I knew that I wanted to make the most use out of this beautiful car and take in the fact that I was one of the first people in the country to drive it.

In the beginning of the summer, Audi had sent me the R8, which blew me away with its power and play, and I was so happy to find that the RS3 drove the same way. And, because of my busy lifestyle, I was so excited to see how much space the RS3 had! After all, I’m always on the go, bringing a lot of photo and video gear with me, trying to create content, when I’m not running errands for my day-to-day life.

Best, Bobby

Time With Teva

When I was growing up, I was living in Florida - Orlando, to be specific. It was a great place to grow up, I think, though I was that kid that always had something to gripe about. The thing that made it so fun for me was how music-centered it was. It wasn’t a city where there were a lot of options for things to do, so most people were in bands, or went to small, local rock shows to kill the time. Music is still a big part of Florida’s identity, I think. I mean, they still listen to Ska (If you don’t know what that is, don’t worry).

So, every year, during the summer, it was always the most exciting thing to go to festivals like Warped Tour, where dozens of my favorite bands would be coming to town, thousands of people would be attending and you were on your own. Festivals were the first events that made me feel like an adult, in a way, because I was responsible for my money, my transportation and even my life! But time would go on, I eventually moved away from Florida and my desire to go to shows and festivals was replaced with my need to eat and pay rent, so eventually, I lost the interest and forgot what it was about.

Last weekend, Teva asked to partner up for Governor’s Ball and suddenly the 16 year-old in me broke out and returned, ready for the sun, songs and sandals. I was there in the capacity to work with Teva and to get photos, document the atmosphere and help promote their brand, but it hardly felt like work. I was surrounded by a nostalgia that I hadn’t felt in nearly 15 years (This is still crazy for me to say. Don’t worry, one day you’ll say it out loud, too) and the weekend rushed by.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 15 or 55, you get excited to wear something unique to an event. New York has had some pretty bad luck with weather for some time, and with the promising forecast of sunshine and cloudless skies, I was "festival-ready” to start Summer off right.

On Friday, I had my pair of the Teva Original Universal Premier sandal with me and I was finally ready to wear some shorts! And it was funny. A lot of people on Instagram messaged me saying, they wish they could style themselves like me, or they wish they could rock a pair of sandals, but couldn’t. I wrote back to everyone that said these things and said “You Can!” Being comfortable in my own skin is the only way I know how to dress, and sometimes it backfires, but when you’re wearing basics and a killer pair of sandals, it’s easy. They were so comfortable and the perfect footwear choice for walking outside on the grass all day.

When I came back on Sunday, I wore the Teva Alp Premier sandals and kept it basic because I’m a pretty basic guy. But I was surprised that these sandals were even more comfortable. They were also easier to wear and get into, as they have a clip-lock above the ankle, and not just a velcro strap. It might just be me, but having the quick-release option on these was the one thing I really longed for in a good pair of sandals. As I’m writing this, I am literally wearing the Alp Premiere on my feet right now, that is how much I love this pair.

Anyway.

When I got home, I looked at the photos and laughed. I had so much fun, and it showed in many of the photos. But I laughed because looking at the shots, it reminded me of a feeling I had when I was a kid, going to these events, so many years ago. I remember the feeling of how “Adult” I was and how things like Warped Tour or going to concerts made me feel so mature, somehow, and now I actually was that adult and mature version that I used to strive to become, feeling suddenly younger and more care-free. Governor’s Ball left a time-transcendent experience, bringing me back to my favorite years, and it was all because Teva decided to want to work with me and got me outside of my comfort zone and dragged me back to my childhood.

Take time to reflect on what drove you, when you were younger. And if you’re young, hold onto these feelings and thoughts and reflect on them later. It sounds dumb, but you’ll appreciate the little things, like sitting on a grassy hill, filled with thousands of people a lot more when you can tie it with the nostalgia from a memory before. And the simple things, like walking around that field, will be far more comfortable with the right pair of straps to your feet. Be sure to check out Teva’s selections of Sandals, as there are so many different options.

Best, Bobby

Firsts with Fossil

Growing up, I was always impressed by the past. The simplicity of most things that we take for granted now, was so inventive and well-built, and even as a kid I remembered feeling a certain sense of awe as the seconds and minutes moved slowly on my grandfather’s timepiece. I would quietly count the seconds in my head, trying to memorize the rhythm, so I could perfectly count time without the need of a clock. Perhaps it’s because of this that I’m compulsively early to everything I do - I just couldn’t keep that tempo and always counted too quickly. Nothing has changed with regards to the appreciation of the complexity of such a simple tool, like a watch, and I still only search for the wrist watches that remind me of that classic era, where, if you’re so still, you can feel the pulse of the second hand. For this very reason, I hadn’t prescribed to the recent boom of Smart Watches, as they always looked too “new” for my taste. Sure many look pretty smart and have incredible functionality, but they all lack what I needed - a nod to the past. So, I was so excited when Fossil asked me to take a chance on my first Smart Watch and to partner with them to promote their beautiful and timeless Q Grant Smart Watch. This watch not only looks great, but it has some pretty impressive functions, that can be completely controlled by the Fossil app on your phone. I was using it to even track my steps, while James and I were shooting these photos! I can even use the watch to take photos from my phone, via bluetooth connection. For the general use, it’s also great because it will alert me whenever I have a notification, email, text, etc on my phone by simply vibrating gently - which has already come in handy many times so far, when I couldn’t feel my phone. I can control my music when I’m playing anything and I can even wear it in the shower or in the pool because it’s water-resistant to 50 meters. Obviously, the watch does a ton of helpful functions, but it has really helped to bring me a little closer to the modern age, where the information and assistance is just that much closer and faster, whilst still keeping the classic look of a timepiece my grandfather would've worn. They have a ton of beautiful options of watch faces and the bands are interchangeable, so you can swap a leather for a metal strap and a ton of different colors to choose from. The Chronograph is also just oh-so awesome, really punching in that classic look that many of us long for in a good watch. So, take it from me, dressed up or dressed down, you really can’t go wrong with the design, the build and the delivery that the Q Grant offers.

Best, Bobby

Got2B A Wildcard

I recently partnered with Got2B to have some fun creating content. The concepts are always simple and the ideas are so adventurous, leaving me so much room to have fun and think outside the box. They asked me to join their Street Team, for the “Wild Card” group - an audience with shorter, straight hair that wanted to spike or smooth their look. For the Wild Card collection, they gave me three of their products to test out: The Defiant Pomade, The Playful Pomade and The inPlay Paste. Using these products was easy and they held forever, without feeling heavy, oily or tacky, like a lot of other products I’ve tried over the years. One of the things I really liked about working with Got2B was their approach to identity. They explained, “We’re not a gimmicky group that only caters to punks and goths, we’re more than that. This brand is for everyone, and we put people first and the product as the partner because we’re here to help people embrace themselves, not invent themselves. When I heard this, it really made me feel more assured with the experience. Not only in the product, but in myself with the product. It made me excited to get out and create some fun, unique shots that embraced my creativity. I wanted to do something unique, so I asked my friend, James, to shoot the photos for me. We sat down over a coffee and tried to think of something unique for the photos, something that said “Wild Card,” and what that meant to me. We thought about unpredictability and getting flipped around and ran with the idea. I wanted to really run with the concept of unpredictability and spontaneity, because I am that person. I live a life with organization, a schedule and a system for everything I do, but still find the everyday aspects of my life are still dancing in chaos and chance. When we started talking, we both had the idea to play with gravity and perspective, taking a simple image and manipulating it to feel like something else is happening. From there, it became our goal to live the Wild Card roll and create something only that could do, and the building jump was the call. We set up the shot and did everything as “in camera” as possible, so there wouldn’t have to be a lot of photoshopping. I did actually fall off the roof, many times, but there was a ledge about five feet below for me to fall onto. So, after a few impactful moments of the day, the shot was there. Then I had to individually toss each jar of Got2B product in the air, so we could select, mask and blend into the same composition the fall was in. With a little bit of work and a lot of imagination anything can be done and this was the best part of this project. We were allowed to create whatever we wanted and really explore the boundaries of normalcy. It was all about challenging myself to be comfortable in my own skin and also pushing myself beyond what was normal, doing things that not everybody does because I wanted to do it for myself, because my standards are higher than others. After hours of shooting, I was also pleasantly surprised to find that my hair was still looking great, despite many death-defying falls and hours of marching around, looking for a shot. When I’m putting in the time to create the content, and not thinking of the product in my hair because I don’t even have to, that is an amazing feeling and a great brand to back up. Every day we have the chance to style ourselves, to make up our appearance or dress it down, but it’s easy with brands you trust. I had so much fun creating the photos for this project and I hope you like them, too! Leave me a comment letting me know what your “Wild Card” photo would be! Be sure to click here to get discounts and check out the other collections!

Best, Bobby

#got2standout #got2b

Audi, Oi!

Photos by James Creel

Audi has always been a company that commanded so much nostalgia and respect for me. Growing up, my dad was really into sport cars. He was obsessed with Porsche’s and The Corvette, and was one of those men that worked hard his entire life, so he could support his family and indulge in one or two guilty pleasures, like driving expensive cars. My brother and I used to get a kick out of it because we still don’t know anything about cars, but then we knew even less, and usually just found ways to goof off inside them, pretending to shift gears or something, when we weren’t busy trying to figure the logistics of fitting in one seat - That got harder every year we got older, haha. When we would see an Audi, we would always shout “Audi, Oi!” as loudly as we could. To this day, I haven’t the slightest idea why we would’ve done it, but it stuck. Even to this day, when someone says the name “Audi,” I hear myself saying “Oi!” instantly, as if I were trying to beat my brother to it. So, you can imagine my surprise (and OCD) when Audi reached out to me, offering to lend me a car for a week, sometime in the Summer. What?! I know. Insane. But it gets better. Because I hadn’t any idea what they were planning to loan me. It could’ve been something from ‘92, with a spare tire on the wheels, and I would’ve been pumped. But I was wayyy off. They sent me a brand new R8. Now, let me also explain that I didn’t know what this was. It was just a letter and a number, in my mind. It could’ve literally been anything. But a quick Google search later and I come to discover that it is one of the most sought after cars on the market and Audi’s prized pony. Everywhere I went, people stopped what they were doing to look at it. I felt an intense mixture of embarrassment and ego, because I know I am the last person that should be inside an R8. But maybe I’m wrong, and a tattooed guy with scruffy facial hair and a hoodie getting out of a car like that shouldn’t draw too much attention. Right? Fast forward later that day. My buddy, James and I knock in the car, drive upstate, spend the entire day filming and shooting photos, drive back home and get a flat tire within three minutes of being inside of Manhattan. Fast forward even later, after I get the car back from the repair shop and $500 somehow found its way to creation of a new tire, we took it out again to get more content. If you’d like to see more behind the scenes and get a better idea of what happened, you can watch the video on YouTube here! Audi was amazing and it was awesome to have this car in my control, even for a week, but I am so glad to get back to my simple life, driving my simple SUV and giving my body some time to detox from the adrenaline high I’ve been on for the past 7 days. Best, Bobby

Happier Hour, with Perry Ellis

(All Photos by James Creel) Living in NYC is a wonderful thing. This social melting pot is home to millions of hard-working people that put in the hours each week and count down to the time they can step out of the office to meet up with friends. I worked in the Food and Beverage industry for years and always loved the Happy Hour crowd because it was groups of people at their finest. Friends would get together and share pints, pitchers and pick at food, swapping stories of their work day, plans for the weekend and more, and it was always awesome to bear witness.

I never had the conventional work week, since I never worked the 9-5 that many others did, but I did understand and appreciate the need to get out and cut loose with friends. But, for me, it never brought me to the bars, but took me out to explore and enjoy the nuances that made living in NYC so great.

I partnered with Perry Ellis to share some of my favorite places, in some of my favorite Perry Ellis pieces, that redefine what Happy Hour is to me, and I’m excited to share them with you now.

Growing up as an active man-child, I can’t find myself sitting still for more than ten minutes. I’ve always been highly active and have that burning, impulsive desire to jump in a car and drive somewhere less crowded or different. I look for the things where I can truly enjoy the experience and still work out the eight shots of espresso that have been coursing through my body. So, when I want to enjoy Happy Hour, I find places where I can take in the recent change in season and enjoy the best parts of New York.

Firstly, get outside.

You can go to any bar 365 days a year, but, in New York, half the year is too cold to truly enjoy being outside! So, recently, in Central Park and Prospect Park they opened the peddle board and kayaks to the beautiful lakes on their grounds. For less than the cost of a couple rounds of drinks, I was able to get out and rent a kayak for an hour and row around the waters. It was a great way to get some fitness in my life and was way more enjoyable than walking into my crowded gym to lift something heavy or march step by step on a treadmill. Being on that open water just reminds me of how something so simple can recharge my soul, and living in a big city can really drain that motivation to truly enjoy where you live sometimes. Even the walk around the park itself is refreshing and such a wonderfully different experience, and when you’re done rowing and need to refuel, you can jump over to the nearby restaurants and grab that beer to replenish those burnt carbs! Win-Win.

Another of my favorite areas to visit is Coney Island.

This place is the definition of a New York destination. From Nathan’s Hot Dogs to the Wonder Wheel, you can stroll across the boardwalk and really see a history to New York City that plenty of people haven’t even experienced after living in this city for years (it really blows me away how many people I know that haven’t ever been there).

A couple of years ago the city decided to revive Coney Island with the newer Luna Park attractions and it became a destination again, outside of the traditional 4th of July Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Thousands of people gather around, jump on the rides and brave the Cyclone and, if you’re like me, head over for the best magic hour lighting you can find in the city. The boardwalk is so much more than just funnel cakes and seagulls but if you don’t give it a visit, you’ll never know the wonder of old-school Brooklyn.

There are dozens of other places that I could drop and recommend to visit, but for now, baby steps. Take that initiative to plan your next office get-together and go get some beers somewhere new and realize that wherever you live, there is probably so much more to your city than you even know!

To share my love for you guys, I wanted to share an opportunity to enter a giveaway that Perry Ellis is holding! In order to register yourself for the giveaway all you need to do is follow Perry Ellis on Instagram (@PerryEllis) and register at this website. Once you do this, Perry Ellis will randomly select a winner and dish out some awesome swag! It’s that easy.

So, jump in, sign up and get out during your next Happy Hour meet up! I promise that anything you do will be worth it, especially with friends and some new clothes with Perry.

Best, Bobby

I’m Too Old.

I just turned 32 years Old!

There is a lot of conversation these days about age. How it defines us, gives us character, holds us back and more. Age is a topic that is discussed almost more than most and it’s often viewed entirely in the wrong way!

I have found so much joy over the years, in almost anything that I’ve done, and I never let my age slow me down, whether I was too young or thought to be too old. To be honest, most of my good friends had no idea I was turning 32 and all figured me to be this 20-something year old guy that they were cool with - which, I’m flattered.

There are loads of reasons to be self-conscious about aging, and, honestly, many of them cannot be contained, like genetics affecting your skin, metabolism, hair growth/loss, etc. But I wanted to focus on some points that I’ve taken with me over the years, that have helped me maintain not only a youthful appearance, but also a youthful spirit.

Learn To Love Your Age

We never want to get older. We hold onto our past with music, fashion and friends but learning to love your age is the best thing you can do, to truly grow with maturity. And the sooner you appreciate and accept your age, whether its younger or older, you’ll sooner stop seeing the separation between the two that most people notice.

Age Is Just A Number

I know so many people that stress about their age, focusing so hard on the number, rather than the relative age they feel they are. I just turned 32 years old and I still don’t feel older than when I did, when I was 22. Try to treat your body as you feel, and you’ll sooner find happiness with each passing day, month and year.

Take Time To Reflect

It’s so important to reflect on who you’ve become over the years. Even looking back to see where you were, what you did or what you looked like one year ago will show you so much about who you are becoming. Use the past as a tool to self-edit and correct mistakes but also to appreciate what you’ve accomplished!

It wasn’t very long ago that I was a room server in a killer hotel in NYC, then fast-forward a few years, some more life-experience and desire to do more and I’m a self-employeed adult, still able to pay my bills and live the life I’ve always dreamed, in the greatest city in the country.

Point is, if I hadn’t moved from Florida, risked everything and started where I did, I wouldn’t know the amazing people I know, I wouldn’t have gone on to be a creative creature, that makes movies and photos for a living, and I would probably have settled for something less that I needed because I didn’t do something great.

Which brings me to my next point.

Do Something Epic

Do something that scares you. This doesn’t only mean jump from a plane. Do something that you would normally never do. If you’ve wanted to travel abroad, it can be scary to plan and book, but if you force yourself to act on some of your impulses, you will become a stronger version of yourself, filled with stories and pride.

I literally was a delivery driver at a Domino’s Pizza for years, and was fine with that. But if I hadn’t had the crazy notion to just save, pack up and move to Brooklyn, I’d still be back in Florida and wouldn’t have much to talk about. Be spontaneous, be firm with your goals and act like you know it’ll be the last time you ever do whatever it is you’re going to do.

Be Grateful For Every Day You’re Here

When we’re younger, it’s impossible to see how finite life can be. It’s easier to run a marathon than to believe that you could be dead at any moment from now. But when you begin to take the time to show gratitude in life and living, you begin to better appreciate the little things that make your day.

There is so much more that I could write about mindfulness and loving your age, but I think that these quick points should be enough to help anyone that might be stuck in a bad place. Just remember that every day we are getting older, so make the most of each moment and love the process. Best, Bobby

Photos by Amy Ezgi Silahtar Gear I use: Beginner Kit Pro Kit

Let There Be Ring Lights

Simple tools and humble beginnings that spawn into greatness are the foundation for some of the greatest stories ever told.

You will rarely ever read or hear about a person who instantly picked up a tool or a craft and created a masterpiece that inspired a generation. That’s not real life. For most of us, our beginnings are often the most important part of our later accomplishments. They tend to tell a story of growth, maturity and understanding in anything we do, and often are overlooked as the reason behind why their stories are so inspiring to begin with. It’s always more impressive to us to see the evolution from an amateur to a professional because it’s a trait that we can all relate to - it’s what makes us human.

We all yearn for the final end goal, in our modern day era, where everything is at our fingertips. We usually can’t even finish reading the text that is in front of us (gotcha!), before our attention draws us to something else. But that is why I think now, more than ever, the path to greatness is so impressive. Because we have everything handed to us, we don’t know how to appreciate the journey.

But hope is not lost, and technology has not failed our modern notions. We just need a reminder sometimes that even in the simplest of tools, we can create masterful works of art, photos to be remembered and use it as a stepping stool toward greater work. I’m talking about the invention of the Ring Light.

Lighting is something that many people spend years understanding. This is true for so many things. Photography, videography, painting, even with interior design - we must understand the way the light is working for us, so we can change it and warp it to our will. And, with professional photography, there is an entire world of lighting available that it almost makes me run for the hills, to hide from the world and hole up in a cabin. Even now, it stresses me out, because light is a fickle creature that is so objective to many in how it is done properly.

When Keiko and I were starting out, many moons ago, with creating content for social media and our blogs, we didn’t know a thing about lighting. We also had no money to go out and simply buy the lights that others would recommend us to get because guess what? Lighting is so expensive, if you plan to do it right. It was always such a criminal thought that we couldn’t just go to Home Depot and pick up a $20 fluorescent clip-on lamp because things like color temperature, intensity and even heat would affect the outcome of the shots we were looking for. But that all changed when we found out about Ring Lights.

They’re the saving grace for so many people, being relatively inexpensive lights that are so approachable for the amateur photographer. For a couple hundred dollars, you can take a ring light and plug it into a power outlet and boom, done. Count the photos you love and think of the endless creative ways to make beautiful shots, and then you’ll have an idea of how much I love this thing.

After years of using our ring light, we learned more and more about lighting in the process, and invested in more professional gear along the way, when we opened up Brooklyn Brigade, our rental studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn. But still, to this day, it’s an easy call to break out the ring light for certain projects or looks in mind, knock them out and never regret the process.

The brand that I use is from a company called My Ring Light. Easy, right? They have been such a wonderful company to purchase from because not only is their light the best, but their customer service is incredible. After having the light for nearly a year, at one point, we had a scare when it decided that it didn’t want to work anymore. It didn’t seem to be the bulb, and we hadn’t dropped it or hurt the light at all. So, it seemed like a dark day and a pain in the ass, since Keiko was planning on using it shortly later to work on a photo project. I’ve never had the best luck with pleading for the understanding of a brand, but I decided to write to them and let them know what happened and see if they had any advice on what to do for troubleshooting. They did me one better. The next day, I got an email that the owner had sent out a brand new light with an extra ring bulb, and that it would be arriving shortly later. All we had to do was ship the defective light back!

They saved our life and since I have loved this light and brand even more.

But to come back to my start, the ring light was an amazing starting tool, and it taught me so much about how to take a better photo than I was before. I was able to create beautiful work and without any idea how to work other lighting and it only made me hungry to learn more.

The process of starting small and seeing results led to learn more and be a better version of myself. Now, I look back and see how far I’ve come, and still how far I plan to go. The ring light was, for me, one of those instrumental tools that has shaped my growth in photography and my hope, if you’re still reading this, is that you might find that same curve of growth, also.

In short, if you’re a budding photographer, videographer, content creator or enthusiast, you owe it to yourself to look into it, do your research, shop around and challenge yourself toward the next big goal.

Best, Bobby

Ring Light and Gear that I recommend. Pro Kit Here Beginner Kit Here

#ring light #bkbrigade

The Art In The Awareness Of Time

Human attention span has supposedly dropped from 12 seconds in 2002 to only eight seconds in 2013, which is a second shorter than a goldfish. So, it makes perfect sense that content creators are constantly working on ways to keep us engaged in their work. Some people will edit flashy photos, or queue their videos to catchy music, and maybe even set something on fire - because, why not? The fact is that, it’s true! We need, as creators and artists, to be able to look ahead and not only entertain our audiences for more than eight seconds, but for as long as we possibly can. This is where the trouble comes up for many! It’s often that we find ourselves stuck in a pattern of comfort and convenience and don’t get out and try something, fail, pick it up and do it better next time.

I recently have started a lot of these. I started a YouTube Channel, and someone left me a comment explaining that my talking points were too quiet - something I completely missed, when I was editing. So, I made sure that everything seemed more balanced while recording and also while editing my second video. I took something new (recording my voice and editing the tracks) and failed, but then got back and did it again - Just better.

Today, I’m happy to have you here, and happy to share with you a new tool to add to your creative collective - The Hyperlapse.

I guarantee that starting off you’ll get discouraged and frustrated because, as the effect is so cool to see, when done well, it’s a trick of temperance and knowing that you will be spending a lot of time photographing and editing to make something that will last for moments. And I live for this kind of work.

First, if you haven’t seen my video on YouTube, demonstrating this technique from beginning to end, please check it out HERE.

If you have seen it, Thanks! Now on to iron out the finer details that might be missed in the video.

These days a lot of people ask me what kind of gear they should be using to take their photos. I try to offer my favorite bits of kit, but never forget to explain that any camera will work. Most Smartphones today are more powerful than the DSLR I’ve been using over the past 5 years! So, when I shot the video, I wanted to show that you can make a killer hyperlapse with anything that takes still photos - lots of them. The idea behind a hyper lapse is pretty simple: create a moving Time-lapse. To do this, you will be taking as many photos as you can between two points and have a fixed point that you can always focus on, as a reference. Many people create Hyperlapses with Tripods or a Monopod (which I used whilst shooting the video at the beginning of the tutorial), but you can even create them hand-held, if there is enough light out! I wanted to showcase this by setting up my Sony A7S on a tripod, far away, and made a time-lapse of me making a hyperlapse (hyperlapse inception) with just my iPhone 6S, handheld and nothing fancy about it.

The specific tips I’d recommend for the photo-taking process are simple enough. If you are using a tripod/monopod, move the stand the width of your foot, for each photo. This is really handy (footy?) so that you have a consistent distance per shot, and this is important because before you take a single photo, you want to walk the path you’re planning on taking and do a couple things (I know, this get more and more complex).

Find the scene you want to shoot. In the example in the video, I wanted to focus on capturing the movement of the pier, along with the movement of the birds and the boats. The sky was pretty flat and overcast, but there was a little cloud movement, which is always a great thing to catch in a time-lapse/hyperlapse. I then walked the distance, Heel-to-toe, so I could gauge how many photos I would be able to take. This is important because you’re essentially making a little video, and videos have rules, like frames per second. (Breathe…) So, for example, if I walked Heel-to-toe and took 15 steps, and took a photograph every half step, or the width of my foot, I would have roughly 30 photos. And if I decided to make my video 30fps (frames per second), then I would have a one second hyperlapse, which is never very impressive, considering how much work you’re about to do to get it. So, shoot as many photos as you can, and the shorter the distance you need to travel, the smoother your video will be. Just remember that if you want to have a 5 second hyperlapse, you’ll need to shoot about 150 photos, and I usually aim to shoot every two seconds, or as quickly as I can. If you want a really epic and long Hyperlapse, be prepared to shoot and hold a camera for a long time. The statue at Columbus Circle, in the video, took me about 45 minutes to shoot during the day, and I repeated it at night, so I could have the option of when to cut. It should put into perspective how many photos were taken and edited to make my 1 minute Hyperlapse at the beginning of the video (I took over 5000 photos and ended up using around 2000, so that I’d have options).

You also want to make sure that as soon as you’re ready to start your hyperlapse, you won’t need to stop for anything. A time-lapse is convincing because it takes so many photos, evenly, so we can see how the clouds move smoothly across the sky. So, if you’re shooting a Hyperlapse and get a call from your Cousin Tom - don’t answer it. If you have to pee, suddenly - don’t stop shooting. This is all because you want the smoothest and most realistic capturing of time and those clouds you’re not noticing moving will be really obvious when you’re editing.

Once you’ve shot your photos, you’ll want to drop them onto your laptop and open up Adobe Lightroom. This program and Adobe After Effects are so important for this effect to look as smooth and professional as possible, so if you don’t have them already, I’d suggest downloading the Adobe Creative Cloud and pay the monthly fee to use the programs - it gives me access to everything for a relatively inexpensive look, but I’m pretty sure you will also have a 30 day free trial period.

Once in Lightroom, import your photos and then scroll towards the middle of the hyperlapse. Select one in the middle and begin to edit it to your heart’s content. As you can see in the video, I put a lot of time and work into creating the most dynamic photo, so get familiar with working with Lightroom and have fun. This part of the process is so enjoyable to me because it’s the meat of the hyperlapse - if this looks bad, the video won’t look any better.

After you edit the photo, select copy, or hit Command+ C (copy) and then highlight all of the photos. Once they’re all selected and showing with a white box around them, select the “Sync” button, make sure everything is selected in the boxes to the window that pops up, and hit Enter. Boom, now you have placed the edits you made on the one photo, on all the photos. Best feeling ever. Now, with everything still selected, hit Command+Shift+E (Export) and fill out where you’d like the files to end up. Give the project an easy but relevant name and make sure they’re jpegs that are resized to around 2500-3000 pixels. Much larger and you’re editing in After Effects will take forever, and any smaller, you risk losing information to work with. Hit Enter and Bam, you are one step closer to finishing up. Once you’ve exported your photos, open up After Effects and get ready.

I know in the video I sped things up quite a bit and may have rushed certain points, but that’s only because there are hundreds of videos on YouTube that talk about similar things, and I felt that I can write a little more on here to help.

In AE, hit Command+i to import your sequence of photos. I say sequence of photos because the way AE works is awesome. You won’t have to add every photo, but just click one in the sequence and hit enter. It will import all of the photos in one folder, rather than hundreds of separate folders. Then I like to change the default 8bpc to 16bpc for more information to work with, resulting in a higher quality video. I then take the sequenced folder of my photos and drag it beside the 16bpc icon, to create a new composition.

Here you’ll be able to set up all sorts of customized options, but for now you can just hit enter and get started on the hyperlapse, since we’ll go back later and change the Comp settings.

If you hit the space bar or RAM Preview button, you’ll be able to see what the Hyperlapse looks like at the beginning - usually just awful. It doesn’t matter how steady we are, if you’re using a tripod or not, these things just never look that great before the editing process. Now, hopefully, you can really cut down your editing time by a lot, with the effect “Warp Stabilizer” alone. This tool is fantastic and usually does a pretty good job with correcting your image by selecting position points that are familiar throughout, accounting for rotation and scaling the photo down a bit with a crop to get rid of weird edges.

But, if it doesn’t work, or doesn’t work as well as you’d like, I’ll now be showing how to do everything the manual way. It’s the same thing that Warp Stabilizer does, but you will have the control to make sure everything stays tracked.

So, if Warp Stabilizer doesn’t want to work very well, you can just delete it from your video file - for now. What you will want to do is go to the “Window” tab at the top of the screen and select Tracker. With that open, click on your video file, on the timeline, and select Stabilize Motion. You’ll notice that it already has the box with the word “Position” checked and a box will appear on your preview screen. Expand the outside box a bit and the inner box a little as well. In the middle should be a small +, which is the point you’re tracking. You want to place this somewhere in the center of the screen, usually on whatever you were using as your fixed tracking point, when shooting the photos to begin with. You also want there to be a significant amount of contrast where your point meets, so, in my video, I used the top of the tower, which was black. Against the sky, it’s a perfect spot to track.

Underneath the “Stabilize Motion” button, you’ll see a few buttons that look like “play forward/backward” buttons. The far right is track forward one frame, and the one before it is just track forward. I really feel it’s better to always track forward one frame at a time, so that you can follow the points and reposition them where they need to be. The computer will do a pretty good job keeping the points where they need to be, but there will always be points where they fall off. It took me fifteen minutes to track my example video at the pier because it kept losing the focus.

Once you’re done and have tracked every frame, hit Apply and select X + Y, which are your Left/Right and Up/Down coordinates. If you hit the space bar and let it render through, you’ll be able to see exactly what you did. Now your images should all be rearranged so that the tracked point you selected is perfectly framed and level. To test this, place your cursor on the point you tracked and make sure that the point you tracked doesn’t move off the point your cursor is resting on. So, now that you have a fixed position, you’re getting closer. But you’ll notice that it still has a wobble, like the photos are rotating around that point you made, like you stuck a tack in a stack of photos and moved them around. So, let’s fix that.

The project you just worked on is your composition, with the position edit you just made. Go to the top and slide to the side to get back to your comp window, select that comp you just made and drag that into the composition box again. This is creating a new comp with the effects you already applied on the last comp. Think of it like, saving your file and reloading it, to do more work on. Clean Slate.

We are going to be doing the same thing in this comp as the last comp, with a slight twist.

Go to Windows, select Tracker and click Stabilize Motion. But now, select Rotation and deselect Position.

You’ll see that there are now two boxes. Don’t worry. It’s the same idea. Expand the outer and inner boxes of each one, and drag them to two points, near the center and running on a vertical or horizontal plain. In the example at the pier, I chose the same pole and just found a point at the base. I put one at the top and one at the bottom and Boom, hit Track Forward and make adjustments as you go, if you need to. Hit Apply and select X+Y. When you RAM preview this footage it’ll be deceiving. It’ll look like it’s having a seizure and also smooth at the same time. This is because it’s almost done. What we have been doing is setting your computer up with the best version of the end product as possible, so with the final step, we’re going to run Warp Stabilizer again and it’ll take an already pretty awesome, smooth hyperlapse and make it so smooth.

Drag the second comp that we just worked on, with the Rotation tracking, into a new composition (So, this should be your third comp). Go to the effects tab, go to Distort and select at the bottom Warp Stabilization. Let it render and interpret the footage - this will take a minute or two. You can also boost the Smoothness up to around 100, from 50, and be sure that the Method box is choosing Subspace Warp. Hit RAM preview and see how smooth the hyperlapse has become!

All you have to do now is set it up for the formatted size you’d like to show it on. I like to share in HD, so go back to the top of the screen and select Composition, then select Composition Settings. Here you can make it perfect. Deselect the Aspect Ratio Lock and change your comp size to 1920x1080 and change your frame rate to 24fps, so that for every second of playtime, 24 frames will pass by, rather than 30. This way, you can have a slightly longer video and it’ll feel more natural to watch, since we’ve been watching films at 24fps since the invention of the Motion Picture - which you just created.

Hit select to apply the effects, then add the final Comp to the Render Queue, change the Lossless format from Animation to Apple Pro Res 422 (HQ). Then confirm that choice, hit render and you have FINALLY made your awesome Hyperlapse video.

They are addicting and there will always be room to get better, so keep working at them and tag me in any projects that you work on!

Best, Bobby

All Content Created/Edited by me.

Here are some links to the gear that I recommend you check out, if you’re interested in elevating your content. Pro Gear - Click Here Beginner Gear - Click Here

Cusping The Seasons

It’s often that we find ourselves searching for the things that evade us fastest. Time is a funny thing that way, letting us feel like something we love will be lost faster than something we hate. We yearn for connection, amongst people and planet, and constantly strive to connect them together, for a fuller, more satisfying life. This is one of the most beautiful traits of humankind - our ability to find beauty, even in the remotest of places. Every year, around this time, I find myself itching for adventure. Not skydiving or spelunking or anything extra-fun, but just seeing the transitions, too subtle to notice. I want to see the last of the snow. I want to feel the cattails weave and dance in the air. I want to smell the musty, wet layers of mold and rot in the oaks and the bright, familiar scents of the pines. Hearing the wind channel down the rocky hillside of Bear Mountain is something I long for often because it’s where I feel most at home. I love living in New York City - it’s been my home for a decade now. I’m familiar with the sights, touch, smells and sounds that she carries, but get tired of them, too. The feeling reminds me of a thought I had shortly after moving here. I was about twenty-two, taking in all the senses could handle of the city, greedily drinking them up and locking them away. Shortly into my stay, I realized that I had, in a way, made a mistake moving here. I knew, then and there, that I should have lived somewhere else first - anywhere else. Some other large city, like Boston or Chicago, perhaps New Orleans or Portland. I realized then, that I could never live in any other city and have the feeling I get with NYC - and, in a way, it was the worst thing I could do. I wouldn’t be able to properly enjoy other cities for years, and would beg at times to come back home, to Brooklyn, where I’d be comfortable. But, as with everything, times change, feelings evolve and needs expand. For years now, I’ve been longing for a place on the polar end of that feeling I had, when I was younger - somewhere quiet, remote and filled with nature, beauty and scents that paint textures of age, weather and time. If you’re reading this through, thank you. I truly appreciate anyone taking the time to follow through my rambling. Because times like now, cusping on the edge of a new season, get me in a nostalgic state, where I pine for the thoughts that made me happiest in this place, and I always find it in the snowy hills of Bear Mountain. Find a place the makes you whole, where you will succeed and be greatest. Then work hard and plan where you’ll end up. I love NYC, but I cannot wait to see where the next adventure takes me. Best, Bobby

My Funny Valentine

(Photos by James Creel) It’s that time of the year again, where reservations are made, our suits are pressed and everything within our spectrum of understanding “Romance” is executed. It’s Valentine’s Day. At the moment, there are hundreds and thousands of couples that are running around, managing their dinner reservations around their “Say Anything” boom-box surprises, custom-made heart candies with unique sayings and Carrier Pigeon Carnation Deliveries. For each of you out there, kudos. It’s great that you’re getting out there, doing the best you can for your partner, but remember that in the end, you always want to be yourself and be true to your partner, too. Be safe, have a great day and from Keiko and I, to you, Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you so much for following along, reading our words and subscribing to our content. It means the world. Best, Bobby

30 Years of Joseph Abboud

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