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Fresh Perspectives with Hugo and Lee

 

Ablers is a series highlighting ordinary people making extraordinary moments.

Hugo is an adventure filmmaker and Lee Mumford a former racing driver. Like many people, their plans were up-ended by the Pandemic. Lee took up First Person View (FPV) drone flying, and Hugo continued his craft in-town. When we challenged them to show off a difference side of their city, their shared passion for capturing incredible moments shone through in this rollercoaster of a video!

We caught up with Hugo and Lee below.


What a film! What was the inspiration behind the collaboration?

Hugo: We didn’t want to make a typical product video but create something with a lot more meaning. As my past has been quite diverse, we thought it would be a cool way of showcasing something different. 

Lee: The world of FPV is becoming increasingly popular as content creators use FPV as a means of showcasing a new and unique perspective. So with my FPV skills and Hugo’s insane videography skills, we decided this would be a good match for a very exciting project. 

Talk us through the process from planning to shoot.

Hugo: After we came up with the idea, we started planning our shots straight away. As I was new to FPV, I had to put in the hours and get as much footage as possible which required the use of a lot of different locations. We also needed good weather to make the shots as impactful as possible so it was a bit of a waiting game at times.

Lee: Once we shot all the content, Hugo cracked on with the editing. Through the use of sound design, music, and colour grading, the final product started to come alive. 

Lee, you transitioned from racing to FPV. What challenges did you face?

I’ve always had an interest for speed which is what attracted me to motor racing in the first place. After I gave up the sport and moved to Hong Kong, I’ve always been on the lookout for that something to fill the gap. When I first saw footage of an FPV, I knew this would be something I would love.

The slowdown of the current pandemic helped free up some of my own time which enabled me to put in the hours and learn the many aspects of FPV. 

Motor racing taught me a lot to do with mechanics but not so much about micro electronics. This was a huge hurdle for me. I had to go back to the basics and learn as much as possible. A big part of learning to fly is learning your limits and therefore crashing is inevitable. Is it therefore vital you know the workings of the drone so you can quickly get it fixed and flying again. 

 

Hugo, what was it like to tell Lee's story?

It was a fantastic experience for me, this is my first passion project where I could combine visual story telling, fpv, sound design, and colour grading into one craft. I have learnt a lot throughout this passion project, starting with tight planning, directing Lee with every shots, location scouting for unique fpv shots and giving enough time for Lee to learn FPV in such a short amount of time. I’ve got to say I enjoyed the creative process more than the final product itself as I believed progress over perfection. 

Give us your thought on the Max. How'd you make it work for your adventure?

Hugo: I have a lot of gear and depending on the location / subject, my gear can change massively. The versatile nature of the bag really helped. We were often required to hike long distances to get to those unique spots so having those thick shoulder straps on the bag really made the bag a lot more comfortable to carry. 

Lee: I must say, I just love all the pockets throughout the bag. FPV requires a lot of parts and having all these extra pockets really kept me organised.

Hugo & Lee took the Max Backpack in Tarmac Black on their adventure.

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Tim Fung: Active Creative

This series is about everyday people making every day count. We caught up with creative consultant and content creator, Tim Fung. Based in Hong Kong, He tells us how important it is to keep work-life balance in check while hustling through this city.

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Jeff Law: Buzz.

 

This series is about everyday people making every day count. We caught up with dentist and coffee enthusiast, Jeff Law. You may have seen his inspiring photos on Instagram. Read on to see how he manages both his patient's teeth and his own!

Besides taking mouth-watering photos of brunch spots around the world, you’re also a full time Dentist. How do you balance your time?

I always have had this dream in my mind when I was studying in uni that I must have a work life balance when I start working. In pursuing my dream, I always make sure I have time to care for my patients and at the same time, doing things that I love during my free time and enjoying every bits of life. Being disciplined and having a plan are the keys to balancing my time. You don’t need to follow the plan strictly, but at least you would have an idea of what to expect. 

What are your must-dos when visiting a new place?

Cafe hopping, definitely. I would do my research on Instagram or simply ask the locals of the latest hits or their hidden ‘pocket’ cafes. 

I’m a food lover too! Trying out local delicacies is like experiencing a part of their lives. 

Do you plan out your adventures, or go-with-the-flow?

Like I mentioned before, I do plan out my itinerary for the day. But I would leave a day or two blank when I would stroll on the streets people-watching. 

What are 3 things you always pack with you?

My camera, power bank and MacBook. 

What’s your idea of a great day out?

It depends. When I’m stressed out at work, being able to just chill and feels that life ain’t that bad after all during the weekend considered to be a great day out. When I’m out for a shoot or cafe hopping, a greats day out simply means that I get to drink a cup of good coffee and have a delicious brunch or I’m able to make use of my surroundings to take a great photo that I would have never thought of. 


Let’s hear your top 5 coffeeshops to hang then!

In Hong Kong:
Baked
Halfway coffee
Cupping room
Gwee coffee
Winston coffee

 

Follow Jeff's daily coffee inspirations, and see how he packs his Daily Backpack in his Instagram Stories or visit his Instagram: @yewwooi
Want to know more about the Daily Jeff is using? Head on here.
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Oceana: Life's a Climb

This series is about everyday people making every day count. We caught up with freelance writer, and mega climbing enthusiast, Oceana. Based in Hong Kong, She gives us the low-down on her climbing experiences, and the importance of gearing up for the right moments.

 

 

How'd you get into climbing?

A friend of mine asked if I’d ever tried a bouldering gym before. it was new for us both, and my body hurt all over for a full week after my first session! 3 years and 5 countries later, I still need my climbing fix every week.


Sounds like a fun addiction. Have you climbed every route in Hong Kong then?

Oh man, I am NOWHERE near climbing most hong kong routes. there’s easily gotta be at least a thousand climbs here, spread across some 60 crags scattered luxuriously across hong kong. even working one route could take a couple weeks, if it’s near the limit of my abilities. Hong Kong climbing... defies expectation. you really gotta see the crags to know what I mean!


What about just casual hikes?

I’ve not done that much exploring of local hiking trails yet, but I did greatly enjoy the silence of Tai Mo Shan.

How would you pack out for a day's climb? 

I usually split gear responsibility with my partner - if he brings the rope then I bring the quick-draws clips, and vice versa. then comes my harness, helmet and headlight if it’s at night. 

Aside from that, I do pack civilian items as well 😂 portable charger, tissues, water, headphones and snacks. sometimes my pen and notebook too, if I’m feeling introspective. 


What do you look for in a climbing bag?

It’s essential that I can easily dust off my bag, so the fabric is pretty critical. also, loops so I can hang assorted gear outside my bag. there can never be enough gear loops. I can always find something more to clip. try me. I've been using the Daybreaker, and although it's not designed for climbing per se, its so light so it works for me. Love all the hook points!

 

How often are you getting out there?

I used to climb anywhere between 2-5 times weekly as a freelancer, but now that I work in an office, I’ve only got the weekends to get outdoors. I’ll hit a climbing gym if I’m feeling a weeknight itch.

What's your top 3 essentials (climbing day or not)?

Notebook and pen.

Water.

Portable charger.


What's your favorite spot to unwind from a day of climbing / work?

I never need to unwind from climbing! when it comes to unwinding for work, I’ll go for a walk/jog somewhere in nature, then get a nice dinner back in my neighbourhood.


Any tips for new climbers ease into their climbs better?

Moisturise your hands at least twice a day, focus on footwork, and never tell yourself you can’t do something!

 

 

Oceana Hangs with the Daybreaker.
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Joseph: Full Stack Maker

This series is about everyday people making every day count. We caught up with Architect, distance runner, and full-stack maker, Joseph Ng. Based in Shanghai, he gives us his take on keeping up with a creative pace in Shanghai in the bustling city.

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