Category Archives: Photography

We had a HUGE day shooting 2 VERY rare motorcycles yesterday at UNO Studios in Alexandria. Jordan of UNO Studios is a bike guy and let us know that there was a 1 of 6 (in the country) KTM Brabus 1300 R Masterpiece Edition’s that he could get his hands on if we wanted to shoot it.

Fuck yeah we want to shoot it!

What’s even more nuts is that he also suggested that we shoot a fresh out of a crate MV Agusta Brutale 1000 RR Assen too, suggesting that both bikes have most likely never been in the same room together, ever.

BTS Feature now on ZEN Blog: https://www.zengarage.com.au/bts-shooting-a-brabus-1300-r-edition-23-mv-agusta-brutale-1000-rr-assen-at-uno-studios/

@itsmaxmann

A few weeks ago I was at CCACHE, my local bike shop, and I spent the whole Saturday there with Sam the mechanic and a young guy who was having his bike serviced.

It turns out the guy knows about ZEN Garage and was surprised to find out I was the guy who owned and ran it. He said he was 15 when he visited ZEN in Leichhardt, and it brought back good memories for him.

Anyways, fast forward to a week or so ago, one of his videos RANDOMLY rocks up on my YouTube feed! Turns out he’s an aspiring racer now in the cycling scene (he makes great videos!). I subscribed, and left a comment to which he replied:

hahaha how small a world is it! Glad one popped up for you mate. Great meeting you at CCACHE the other week! Thanks for subbing. P.S. you are taking me back to my youth with the ZenGarage account, 15 year old Max would be stoked 😂😂

And get this, literally a few days ago I was watching my fave Australian cycling related podcast The Nero Show and gues who’s on the show as a guest? Max Mann!

Super happy for him, that’s massive exposure. Way to go Mann!

ANYWAYS. There’s more. Just a few minutes ago Nick messages me;

“I heard you ran into one of the models I shoot with at CCACHE”.

I’m like hmmmm. I don’t think I’ve met any models at CCACHE at all…

Then it hits me. BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In March 2023 Nick invited me to be BTS shooter for an INSPORT shoot and guess who the male model was?

What a fucking small world, right?!

Follow Max on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsMaxMann

Morning light on the rooftop.

As a photographer I’m far from being a gear head. I’ve literally never used anything but my trusty f/1.4 FE Zeiss Distagon lens since I bought it new in 2015 but I’ve been struggling to take bike shots with my 35mm 1.4 (not enough separation and even focus on the bike vs the background).

I found a professional photographer on a bike forum who shoots for a cycling magazine and he uses a 70-200MM F2.8 zoom lens. I googled the price, and holy shitballs, $3,699.00 and the thing is fucking huge! He then suggested an 80mm prime and Sony makes an FE 85mm F1.8 for $700 so I pounced on it.

It’s a whole new world for me as I’ve got to stand really far away from my subject, but I think it’s great and that it’ll do the job just fine!