{"id":100184,"date":"2017-02-14T07:29:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-14T07:29:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/amateurphotographer.co.uk\/?p=100184"},"modified":"2017-02-08T15:32:31","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T15:32:31","slug":"action-photography-fred-mortagne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/","title":{"rendered":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Walk through any major city and the first thing that strikes you is the architecture. Buildings old and new, modern and postmodern stand side by side; some seemingly there for their aesthetic value alone, others purely functional. It can be dizzying trying to identify a theme in the overall plan, particularly when each building or landmark seems to have been created with only itself in mind.<\/p>\n<p>However, perhaps you\u2019re just not seeing things from the right perspective. A small community of guerrilla athletes make it their business to occupy and use the pavements and concrete walkways of these chaotically designed cities. Every elevated plane, every set of steps, every length of concrete is a new challenge.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100203&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100203 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Nr Lyon France 2013\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg?resize=602,400 602w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg?resize=562,374 562w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Nr-Lyon-France-2013.jpg?resize=600,400 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Near Lyon, France, 2013. Leica M, 28mm, 1\/180sec at f\/2, ISO 320<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>Skateboarders are a familiar sight and, depending on the location, a welcome addition to what can often be drab concrete surroundings. Sitting outside the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, for example, is an experience enhanced by their presence. You can lose hours hypnotised by their skills. It\u2019s an activity that lends itself perfectly to photography, one of the best exponents being Fred Mortagne.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most striking things in any photographic body of work is when an artist succeeds in blending multiple genres to create something completely their own, something that defies easy categorisation. In the work of Lyon-based skateboarder, videographer and photographer Mortagne we find a seamless blend of action, sports, portraiture, architecture and fine art. His images are, to put it mildly, stunning. Mortagne\u2019s ability to capture the action, light and form in striking black &amp; white images has seen his name and images pop up all over the world.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100188&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100188 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Barcelona 2013\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg?resize=300,451 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg?resize=266,400 266w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg?resize=900,1353 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Barcelona-2013.jpg?resize=562,845 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Barcelona, Spain, 2013. Leica M, 90mm, 1\/1500sec at f\/4.8, ISO 400<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>\u2018There are so many talented skateboarding photographers out there, and my process was to try and create something new; to present different ideas than the things people would normally shoot,\u2019 says Mortagne.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018At the time I started, it was all about colour images shot mostly with flash and fisheye lenses, so I just wanted to bring something else to the table; another facet of skateboarding that was not represented. I wanted to be more sensitive about the style and aesthetics of the sport. It was a very personal project, whereas my videography was totally the opposite. That was all done with marketing purposes and expectations.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>As he says, Mortagne\u2019s work also finds him working as a videographer, although when asked about them as if they were separate entities he\u2019s clear they are complementary. This is a good thing, considering cameras are now hybrids of photography and video recording equipment.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Photography came many years after my work in video, although I still do that as well,\u2019 he says. \u2018I started having ideas of images that I thought could only work as stills, so I grabbed a Nikon FM2 and tried my hand at capturing these things on 35mm film.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100197&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100197 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Venice Beach, California 2015\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Venice-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=562,375 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Venice Beach, California, 2015. Leica SL, 24-90mm, 1\/2000sec at f\/4, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>Style and kit<\/h2>\n<p>Finding himself in a world of photographers who followed the trend of vividly coloured, fisheye action shots, Mortagne decided early on to try something new. His images were the polar opposite to the homogenous style found in much action photography.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was against the norm to work in this way,\u2019 says Mortagne. \u2018Also, working with black &amp; white really helped to inject an artistic touch into the work. I always wanted to go beyond reality; to maybe create something a little poetic. I like the timeless dimension black &amp; white brings to images. All of that, combined with the other ingredients I sought out, meant that eventually I was able to develop an overall, recognisable style.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>This penchant for black &amp; white suits the cameras \u2013 the Leica M Monochrom and Leica SL.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100193&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100193 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Lyon 2014\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg?resize=300,451 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg?resize=266,400 266w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg?resize=900,1353 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2014.jpg?resize=562,845 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Lyon, 2014. Leica M, 1\/500sec at f\/2, ISO 1250<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>\u2018I love the Leica M Monochrom,\u2019 he says. \u2018The quality is incredible. The black &amp; white comes out beautifully. I was really impressed when I started to use it because, to be honest, I wasn\u2019t much of a digital enthusiast. The SL is very cool as well because it is much more technical, has a lot of important and helpful features, and on top of that can I shoot 4K video with it. At the same time, it\u2019s fairly compact, so it\u2019s great to be able to travel with a small bag with a tool to cover all my needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018On the lens front, I love the M lenses and have used them on the SL. My favourites right now are the Leica Summicron-M 35mm f\/2 ASPH and Leica APO-Summicron -M 90mm f\/2 ASPH. For a long time I used the Leica Summicron-M 28mm f\/2 ASPH, which I let sit in a box for a while, but now I\u2019m using it a lot again. I really appreciate the visual dynamics it can create.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Due to the fast-paced and kinetic nature of Mortagne\u2019s work, he\u2019s not the kind of photographer to weigh himself down with multiple accessories. As long as he has his camera, lenses, batteries and memory cards he\u2019s set to go. In this respect he uses his instincts as a skateboarder to adapt to the situation he is presented with. If he needs the camera to remain still, he\u2019ll use a rubbish bin to stabilise it. If he places the camera on the ground and needs it level, he\u2019ll just wedge his wallet underneath.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100192&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100192 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Lyon 2007\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg?resize=602,400 602w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg?resize=562,374 562w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Lyon-2007.jpg?resize=600,400 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Lyon, France, 2007. Nikon FM2, no record of exposure<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>Light and location<\/h2>\n<p>The first thing to note about Mortagne\u2019s approach to photography is his attraction to stripped-down, minimalist locations and his formalistic approach to photographing them. Each image is a great lesson in how visual economy can be used to elevate images from mere pretty pictures to demonstrations of how the simplest means can be used to tell stories, create excitement and ultimately generate a body of outstandingly aesthetic work. The locations, found as far afield as Los Angeles, are absolutely crucial here. They\u2019re not playing second fiddle to the skateboarders. They are as important as the action that\u2019s unfolding upon them. Pavements, viaducts and stairways are all used for Mortagne and his subjects to create dramatic, athletic narratives.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What I look for on location is geometry and minimalism,\u2019 he says. \u2018I avoid any type of visual pollution. I\u2019m constantly on the lookout and, thankfully, skateboarding allows me to travel a lot and go to some incredible places. That was actually one of my main motivations to start shooting pictures.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Mortagne\u2019s rejection of the standard practice of using flash to capture action shots is interesting because it means he will only work with what light is available.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100196&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100196 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Near Lyon, 2013\" width=\"1000\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg?resize=602,400 602w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg?resize=562,374 562w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Near-Lyon-2013-1.jpg?resize=600,400 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Near Lyon, France, 2013. Leica M, 28mm, 1\/80sec at f\/2, ISO 320<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>\u2018I started photography as a hobby, so there wasn\u2019t room in my video camera bag to put anything else other than a small photo camera,\u2019 he says. \u2018Plus, I would never have the time to set up flashes for the kinds of shot I do, as I only have a few minutes to work out what I need.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018And as I said before, real skate photographers were mastering the art of flash photography, for which I had no skills at all. It was just easier for me to do the total opposite. Anyway, I have to say artificial light is hard for me to comprehend and work with. It\u2019s not something that feels natural for me. Despite the hands-on, manual nature of flash, I just don\u2019t feel in control of it.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>That might sound odd, but look through Mortagne\u2019s work and you can perhaps see where he\u2019s coming from. Available light presents a clear set of parameters that, fleeting cloud cover aside, produces a \u2018what you see is what you get\u2019 scenario. This gives Mortagne a quick and clear idea of where the light will fall, and where the shadows are cast. With the lights as they are, the stage is set and his subjects can get on with doing what they do.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100190&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100190 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Long Beach, California 2015\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Long-Beach-California-2015.jpg?resize=562,375 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Long Beach, California, 2015. Leica SL, 24-90mm, 1\/5000sec at f\/4, ISO 200<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Mortagne started skateboarding around 35 years ago. He was, he admits, no good at school and he was starting to lose confidence in his life. He was something of a lost soul, but his discovery of skateboarding gave him the opportunity to reach his full potential. To be able to then find his own unique angle in the field by applying his skills as a photographer is surely an inspiring thing for anyone to hear.<\/p>\n<p>Most significantly, he\u2019s just completed a new book called <em>Attraper Au Vol<\/em> (Caught on the Fly), featuring a selection of his photography from the past 15 years.<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100194&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100194 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Macon, France 2013\" width=\"1000\" height=\"664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg?resize=300,199 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg?resize=602,400 602w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg?resize=900,598 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Macon-France-2013.jpg?resize=562,373 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Macon, France, 2013. Leica M, 90mm, 1\/1000sec at f\/10, ISO 1000<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p>\u2018The book is about skateboarding but it\u2019s accessible to non-skaters, as my work has always been about opening up skateboarding to wider audiences,\u2019 says Mortagne. \u2018Skateboarding has brought so much to my life. It\u2019s given me freedom, travel, fun and friends.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ve met so many inspiring people and discovered other cultures, which has helped me to look on my life from a different perspective. That\u2019s helped me to become who I really am, rather than just a product of French culture. I go by the name French Fred, but I\u2019m perhaps not all that French after all.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t<div id=&quot;attachment_100191&quot;  class=\"c-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100191 size-full\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg\" alt=\"Fred Mortagne Los Angeles, California 2015\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-Los-Angeles-California-2015.jpg?resize=562,375 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t<p class=\"c-caption__text\">Los Angeles, California, 2015. Leica SL, 24-90mm, 1\/800mm at f\/4, ISO 100<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<p><em>Fred Mortagne is a skateboarder, photographer and videographer based in Lyon, France. His new book, Attraper Au Vol, is published by Um Yeah Press and is priced \u00a336.63. To see more of Mortagne\u2019s work visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.frenchfred.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.frenchfred.com<\/a> or follow him on Instagram at @frenchfred<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":335,"featured_media":100189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[374],"tags":[],"product-category":[],"class_list":["post-100184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.8 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Action photography with Fred Mortagne - Amateur Photographer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Action photography with Fred Mortagne\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Amateur Photographer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Amateur.photographer.magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"420\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Chiz Dakin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@AP_Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@AP_Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Chiz Dakin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Chiz Dakin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\"},\"headline\":\"Action photography with Fred Mortagne\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\"},\"wordCount\":1705,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Interviews\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\",\"name\":\"Action photography with Fred Mortagne - Amateur Photographer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\"},\"description\":\"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg\",\"width\":630,\"height\":420,\"caption\":\"Fred Mortagne California 2015\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Technique\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Interviews\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Action photography with Fred Mortagne\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/\",\"name\":\"Amateur Photographer\",\"description\":\"The world&#039;s number 1 weekly photo magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d\",\"name\":\"Chiz Dakin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Chiz Dakin\"},\"description\":\"Chiz Dakin had to discover her mountain feet after she left home, having been banned from hillwalking (in the form of DofE expeditions) by overly cautious parents. She\u2019s since had a few adventures in wild and remote parts of the world, including snow-shoeing and wild camping on the Patagonian Ice Cap and sea-kayaking on the Abel Tasman Trail in New Zealand. You\u2019re most likely to find her in her nearest playground (the Peak District) or on other UK hills and coasts.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/author\/chizdakin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne - Amateur Photographer","description":"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne","og_description":"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica","og_url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/","og_site_name":"Amateur Photographer","article_publisher":"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Amateur.photographer.magazine","article_published_time":"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00","og_image":[{"width":630,"height":420,"url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Chiz Dakin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@AP_Magazine","twitter_site":"@AP_Magazine","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Chiz Dakin","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/"},"author":{"name":"Chiz Dakin","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d"},"headline":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne","datePublished":"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/"},"wordCount":1705,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","articleSection":["Interviews"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/","name":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne - Amateur Photographer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","datePublished":"2017-02-14T07:29:11+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d"},"description":"Photographer Fred Mortagne has built a career capturing the athletic skills of skateboarders. Oliver Atwell talks to him about light, location and Leica","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","width":630,"height":420,"caption":"Fred Mortagne California 2015"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/action-photography-fred-mortagne\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Technique","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Interviews","item":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/technique\/interviews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Action photography with Fred Mortagne"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#website","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/","name":"Amateur Photographer","description":"The world&#039;s number 1 weekly photo magazine","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/23db4de897a9ff0b569a5a6a45c8598d","name":"Chiz Dakin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3bdc3d16803a404554aad515815939c6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Chiz Dakin"},"description":"Chiz Dakin had to discover her mountain feet after she left home, having been banned from hillwalking (in the form of DofE expeditions) by overly cautious parents. She\u2019s since had a few adventures in wild and remote parts of the world, including snow-shoeing and wild camping on the Patagonian Ice Cap and sea-kayaking on the Abel Tasman Trail in New Zealand. You\u2019re most likely to find her in her nearest playground (the Peak District) or on other UK hills and coasts.","url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/author\/chizdakin\/"}]}},"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2017\/01\/Fred-Mortagne-California-2015.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-28 23:44:30","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/335"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100184"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100640,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100184\/revisions\/100640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100184"},{"taxonomy":"product-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product-category?post=100184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}