We chat to footwear videographer and Offspring Community member Dan Batch.
Tell us about yourself (where are you from and what do you do for a living?)
I am originally from Edmonton, North London, but now I live in East London. During the day, I work in a cross between merchandising and tech support. Outside of my day job, I’m a videographer and photographer. More recently, I have also started exploring 3D animation, which has been a lot of fun.
We understand that you’re a footwear videographer, tell us a bit more about that.
Footwear has always been a passion of mine, so when I began exploring creative outlets, footwear was my go-to subject for practice. To this day, footwear remains my favourite thing to create content around. I started sharing this content around 2013/2014, and since then, I've had some incredible opportunities to work with brands and make lifelong friends. Footwear is my favourite thing to create content around because you can have a ton of fun with it, and it speaks to everyone involved in different ways.
We hear that during lockdown you acquired some new digital skills. Can you tell us how this has advanced your creative exploration?
The lockdown was a strange time! I found myself with a lot of spare time and decided to use it (somewhat) wisely. I chose to learn Blender 3D, which enables you to create entire scenes and animate them in a 3D space. I also learned Adobe After Effects to combine creativity and trainers. Additionally, I learned how to scan objects to create a 3D model using a process called Photogrammetry.
All of this has advanced my creativity tenfold, particularly with Blender. As cliche as it may sound, the only limitations to what you can produce is your imagination and the scenes you can envision. Blender has allowed me to bring to life ideas that would have previously required expensive studio space or simply been impossible to create.
How would you describe your design work and practice?
This is a difficult one for me to categorise because I don’t really label it as anything. I share what I like or what I'd like to see, which can vary from one day to the next. I’ve always aimed to give my content a bit more substance than a quick, disposable post, and I believe I mostly succeed at that. I like to post things that make you scroll back up and ask questions like “How was that done?” or “Is that real?”
What was/is the inspiration behind your work?
My partner is also a videographer, and she inspired me to get started in the video field. I enjoy the creative process, even though it can be frustrating at times.
Spending time talking with like-minded people is also a massive inspiration. Everyone looks at a project completely differently, so it’s fascinating to hear other workflows and thoughts. Over the last couple of years, @millzgp and @commonlight have been huge inspirations and great sounding boards for ideas, as well as for understanding technical processes.
Being able to combine any type of creativity with my passion of footwear has taken it to another level and makes it never feel like a job or a hassle.
How did you get started?
I began by creating some YouTube videos showcasing my recent pickups, which was a daunting task since it required me to be in front of the camera. It was a major learning experience for me, as I had to handle everything from shooting and editing to transitions and uploads. Gradually, I became more comfortable with it, and this led me down the rabbit hole of video production and now 3D animation.
It’s been a crazy journey when I look back on things and now evaluate skill level and what is now possible due to persistence and that constant encouragement from my partner as well her telling me honestly if something is good or not.
Looking back on my journey, it's been quite a ride. I now evaluate my skill level and am amazed at what is possible with persistence and my partner's constant encouragement. She tells me honestly whether something is good or not.
What’s been the greatest and hardest things you’ve had to come across?
It's a process of understanding that everything won't be perfect the first time. In the past, I would have an idea and want it to be executed perfectly on the first try, every time. However, that's simply not realistic. By accepting this fact and being patient with the learning process, I have been able to improve and grow.
I believe there’s an audience for everything. Interestingly, some of the things I've put out that I think are just ‘okay’ usually end up receiving the biggest response.
Repetition is key to success, and it’s important to understand that you will reach your end goal in your own time. Don’t stress about lacking skills or knowledge, as everything is learnable.
As a big Air Max 1 fan you have shared some incredible creative work leading up to Air Max Day 2023. What was your vision for this project and what did you initially set out to do?
Initially, I didn’t realise how ambitious this project was. When I start learning something new, I always think of creating content that I’m passionate about with the software. However, as I delved deeper, I realised that most advertisements for products are created in a 3D space and aren’t real.
While watching manufacturers unveil cars, I had an idea: what if trainers were unveiled to us in the same way? This was the beginning of my journey, and it proved to be a huge learning curve.
I started the project officially in May of last year. My first step was to research cloth materials and how they react with different shapes to create a realistic effect. At this point, I had never created any type of cloth or simulation in Blender, so the learning curve was steep. There were times when I nearly cancelled the whole thing out of frustration or because I didn’t know how to do something, but I took breaks and eventually returned with fresh eyes.
It wasn’t until December/January that I reached a point where I was happy with the output. I’m immensely proud of the animations and have been blown away by the feedback I’ve received.
Recently, you were featured on the SNKRS app to celebrate the launch of the Air Max 1 Crepe, a rare sight as you are normally the mastermind behind the lens. What was your highlight from this experience?
I can’t pick just one highlight from the incredible day. From spending time with the fantastic people involved in the shoot, including the photography and Nike teams, to the welcoming and friendly atmosphere, everything was amazing. Plus, it was all for the Air Max 1, a shoe that I adore and have a lot of respect for. Although I’m not usually in front of the camera, I would happily do it again and thoroughly enjoyed the day.
Do you have any early sneaker memory?
I remember going with my mum to buy a pair of trainers, and it was the first time I got to pick out a pair. I can’t remember the name of the store, but they had everything. I stood in front of a huge wall of shoes, not really knowing where to start. And then I spotted them... a pair of Diadora astroturfs! They came in a pack of four colours (yellow, red, green, and blue). I pleaded to get more than one pair, but was rightfully told no. After quite a while, I eventually settled on a red pair, and I never took them off! That was the start for me; I became obsessed and paid a lot more attention to other kids’trainers at school. I fell in love with obscure Nike models that were released around the mid-90s.
Do you have any sneaker regrets and what is your sneaker grail?
Oh, 100%! I was able to rectify one of my past mistakes recently. I passed up on the opportunity to purchase ‘Wasafu Los Primeros’ AM1s while on a trip to Disney World in 2017 and have regretted it ever since. However, I recently found them through a seller for close to retail price!
I'm fortunate to own a couple of my ‘grails’ in Viotech AM1s and Urawa Red Dragon AM1s. Currently, the grail that I'm hunting for is a bit of a myth – the Patta Purple Denim AM1s. While I own the Chlorophyll, which somewhat satisfies that itch, the Purple Denim is beautiful but sadly comes with an insane price tag these days.
What sneakers are in your rotation currently?
My recent shoe rotation has been heavily focused on the Nike Air Max 1, with many recent pickups. I’ve been wearing the Shima Shima 3s frequently. On rainy days in the UK, I opt for the Black and White Jewel AM1 from 2017. The Patta Monarchs have made their way back into rotation recently as they are an incredible pair. In addition to the AM1s, I rotate frequently with the Jordan 3s. The Knicks pair has been on my feet quite a bit, along with the classic Black Cement and Fire Reds. I'm holding off on wearing the White Cement 3s until the weather improves a bit.
Aside from sneakers what else are you into?
I have a huge fascination with Disney! My partner and I regularly watch the films, plan trips to Disney World, and watch YouTube videos on new rides etc. We also love to plan trips away when possible. Apart from that, I enjoy gaming as a hobby whenever I get a few minutes.
What does community mean to you?
Community is genuinely everything. It’s people that look out for each other, gas each other up, check in, and are just simply there for each other. I know we all mainly got here via footwear, but I’ve made some incredible friends over the years. These relationships have become much more significant than just the sneakers.
Check out more from Dan on Instagram @danbatch_
