Formula 1 with Instagram. An Incredible Experience in Social Media
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The most recent Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza was quite a sight. Lewis Hamilton (in full renegotiation of contract) winning a race with ease, a young Mexican Sergio Perez confirming his talent and Alonso flipping to Milanese tifozzis and coming tenth but finishing on the podium. But for me, the race was something even more amazing. Through Instagram and using only Hipstamatic, I was able to show pictures of the whole race from the pits of the usually highly protected McLaren super team. I got some unique pictures never before seen on Instagram.
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A Simple Plan. A unique experience.
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A few months ago I was contacted by Edelman, a British communications agency, with an interesting proposal. Promote the brand and profile of @ @JohnnieWalker on Instagram. His plan was simple enough. Leveraging its involvement in Formula 1 with McLaren to offer exclusive pictures and stuff from the hand of a user of the photo social network. That user would directly control the upload of their own photos and comments. A unique experience so far …. (read article at PSFK.COM about this Campaign)
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(Check Johnnie Walker stream on Instagram and their facebook fanpage)
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And they wanted me to do it!
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Every time we read less and less and the written word can sometimes not communicate emotion as well as a photo. Mechanics rushing around Button and Hamilton, the sound of two roaring F1 cars, the steely gaze of Ron Dennis McLaren´s controlling his team and all the famous people crossing the paddock. Living the Grand Prix as a professional photographer, but with two iPhones and accompanied by a famous photographer named Steven Tee.
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All the my pics here!
And since a picture is worth a thousand words … Here are my favorite photos!
@Philgonzalez
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I would like to thank Johnnie Walker and McLaren and the whole Edelman team, Abby and Natasha for choosing me, the JMI team, Matt and Nick, Steve Tee for being my mentor (what a privilege) and @jgweiner (Twitter) aka Jeff Wiener, a great journalist American specializing in new technologies and motor racing at PSFK.COM. It was an amazing weekend.
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Techniques: iPhone4 and 4s, Hipstamatic, retouching with Camera+ and Noir. Based on previous Johnnie Walker´s “Black and white” photos style, I decided to take photos in this “complicated”, but artistic format. Using a “Fisheye” lens from Olloclip.
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Translation: Richard Gray @rugfoot
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