Back in the Dust with Shimano GRX Di2
Earlier this year I was back in the desert with the Anthill Films crew, this time in Terlingua, Texas for the launch of Shimano’s latest gravel platform GRX Di2. If you’ve never been to Terlingua it’s a wild corner of the world sitting just outside Big Bend with a landscape that feels somewhere between forgotten and infinite.
This was a full production effort. Anthill was in charge of the film side again. I handled still photography. Same rhythm as our last go around. Long days. Up early. Moving fast. Trying to make sense of changing light and unpredictable terrain. The terrain out there doesn’t really play nice with schedules so you learn to be light on your feet and ready for whatever comes next.
The crew covered a lot of ground. From washboard flats to chunky riverbed descents. Riders Katherine Sheridan, Lisa Muhammad, and Taylor Lideen brought everything they had to this shoot. They’re the kind of athletes who make real miles look easy and the heat look like nothing. It’s always a privilege to be in that orbit.
Shimano’s GRX Di2 system handled the terrain like it was built for it because it was. The new wireless shifting was rock solid. Crisp response and clean lines. It’s tech that gets out of the way and lets the ride speak for itself. That was the thread we tried to follow with the visuals. Let the environment and the riders do the talking. Show what it feels like to be out there moving through a place that doesn’t care who you are.
Directed and shot by Matt Butterworth, Colin Jones (Anthill Films)
Produced by Christina Chappetta
Agency: VML
Client: Shimano
Here’s the final video piece by Anthill Films: Watch it on YouTube
Below are a few stills from the week in Texas. Always a pleasure working with this crew. Looking forward to sharing more from the road.
