Journal
Tens Moments of 2018 ☀️
Our friends wearing Tens and the stories behind them ✈️🌴✨ This year has been a big one for change - from our new website and brand, to Marty moving to Barcelona, Kris moving to London and us moving on up & moving on out of our Glasgow studio to a fully remote team. 2018 was a good one! One of favourite things about Tens is seeing where you all take them - some of you have your trusty classics from our first crowdfunding campaign, and some of you got the first ever biodegradable Tens this year - and they travelled with you. So, before we start counting down to Summer ‘19, let’s look back at some of our favourite Tens moments from this year… “I was in Positano last summer when I took this, it was almost sunset and the view was amazing! I saw the view with the lens and thought I’d try to shoot a photo with Tens in front of my 35mm and that's it. That's the result. That day I was on a ride to Sorrento to visit my uncle and with my parents we decided to make a round and going to the costiera Amalfitana and to stop in Positano.” Follow @se.ph.ora “I was at QC Termetorino, enjoying thermal pools and baths and a relaxing day with my boyfriend” Follow @ggalaska “The plan was to go on a hiking trip throughout the Italian Alps but a injury on my calf prevented me from going. Instead we booked a last minute trip to Curaçao, explored the island and all it has to offer. The beautiful beaches offer the perfect setting for a relaxation getaway. My highlight was definitely our visit to Playa Porto Marie where wild, yet friendly pigs roam the beaches. Must visit, although watch your food and belongings carefully! They’re sneaky and won’t take no for an answer.” Follow @timvrey “I was in a small town called Leonidio in Peloponnese, Greece. I went there for a few days to relax with my three awesome friends Maria, Chris and James. All of them love photography and my friend Chris snapped this photo while the sun was setting.” Follow @yannispap “I took this photo at the end of November in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. I was there on a holiday with my family after not seeing them for almost a year (because I live in Rome and they live in Canada). We were there together for two weeks.This was taken at my favourite beach bar called Lio Beach. I would have my espresso there every morning and end up suntanning all day haha!” Follow @zoeyarielle “This photo was taken at Osaka Castle, it was in April so the cherry blossoms were everywhere. We sort of picked this one as we like the pink tone of it the most. It was also our first and final full day of exploring Osaka before heading to Tokyo and we absolutely loved it there. Everywhere made us feel like we were in a Studio Ghibli film.” Follow @hanphn “This photo was taken in Cincinnati at about the halfway mark of the final cross country Vans Warped Tour. So at this point, we’ve been living on our tour bus for about 4 weeks, caravanning across the US with roughly 100 other buses, vans and semi trucks. We’re dirty, sweaty and loving the traveling circus lifestyle that is the Vans Warped Tour. This last year’s will remain one of my favourites of all time.” Follow @pierrebouvier “I was travelling the east coast of Australia. When we took this photo I was on a boat to Whitsundays voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I’d been living in Australia for a year but hadn’t ever done much travelling so was really excited to be seeing the country for the first time with my best friend (and funnily enough a girl I had been talking to on Instagram for months ended up being there by chance too). It really was a beautiful moment and so glad it was caught on camera because it’s one of those rare times that the Instagram moment lives up to the reality. It really captured a feeling.” Follow @effyshowslife “It was an impromptu girls trip to Maui. We wanted to ditch the crowds on the beaches of Maui to explore the rocky coastline and do some cliff jumping. Should have realized to climb the hot rocks in shoes, but ended up just toughening up those carefree summer feet instead.” Follow @kendra.gauntlett and photographer, @victoriahaas “Back in October, a group of friends from my hometown asked me to join them on a trip as we all always seek out opportunities to shoot photos and videos. A friend of mine has a house in northern Italy in the middle of Alps, so we decided to drive there. The final spot was a peak, over the lakes called “Laghi di Cancano” since we knew that during Fall, the colours would be incredible. And so it was! What we found there was an incredible contrast between the bright blue of the water and the warm oranges of the trees.” Follow @jackcrapa “It was taken in Aurora, Oregon at sunset on a nearly empty beach that turns super reflective once the tide goes out. I was with a group of friends and we were shooting off fireworks and reminiscing on old stories around a campfire!” Follow @justinliv “I was on holiday with my girlfriend, in Italy (Camogli, Liguria) - a hot afternoon spent visiting this small village” Follow @gianmarcobarba “When I brought the sunnies home, I caught Taro, my dog, eyeing them on the table (his favourite snack is to chew on people's sunglasses) I spent 3 days training him to balance things on his nose and when I saw the sunnies I just had to chuck them on him. I reckon he pulls them off better than I do. Stylish little pup that he is.” Follow @mira.bali “We took 3 months off from our jobs and went on an adventure across South America - which has always been a dream of mine. We started in Cuba, then Mexico (this picture is from Tulum) down to Colombia and Peru. It's been an amazing time and we travelled only with our carry on small backpacks which was so refreshing (and difficult for me downsizing to 3 pairs of shoes haha). We got engaged in Cuba - hence the showing off of the ring haha! We had delicious food and I absolutely loved the music. It was so interesting to see how different each of the countries are culturally - they’re all united by language, but so beautiful in their own personal way.” Follow @nomad_nonsense “I remember that beautiful day. I had gone with my boyfriend at the sea in Italy... We waited for the sunset, eating a pizza together at the beach. It was a lovely experience! With these excellent lenses it was a breathtaking sunset!”️️️ Follow @ariannavegni Where will you take your Tens in 2019? Tag us on Instagram @tens
4 Jeeps. 3 Days. 1 Trip to Oman☀️
Jeep Wranglers, canyons and cliff jumping - Ewan takes us on a 3 day, off-road trip around Oman
Escape to the West
by Iain MacLennan The allure of fresh air, clear skies and breath-taking landscapes provide a strong attraction that any photographer would find difficult to ignore. Equally, finding untouched and beautiful wilderness has become increasingly challenging in our ever connected modern world. The west coast of Scotland however, is one of the last few places within the UK that manages to achieve that raw sense of disconnect whilst still remaining within a reasonable drive to civilisation. With an unlikely convoy consisting of a 1998 Land Rover Defender and a similarly aged soft top Alfa Romeo we set off west from Glasgow, in search of turquoise blue waters and soft white sands. Driving the old West Highland Way through Glencoe is a must if routing towards the coast. Glen Etive and the striking Buachaille Etive Mor are impressive as you pass through and well deserved of the fame garnered from their feature in “Skyfall”. On reflection relying solely on an “intensive” recce of the coastline with Google satellite maps (and just a little bit of local knowledge) was probably not the best method of planning a weekend trip. Nonetheless we traversed west with a Landy full of whisky, beer and BBQ in hope of finding that perfect spot. Close to our target area we were hindered by roads and terrain unsuitable for the low profile of the mighty Alfa. With a quick shuttle run system in the 4x4 we managed to move the squad (and more importantly the booze!) cross country in to where we hoped we would find our untouched beach.After a short walk in we were not left disappointed. The headland opened up to reveal the most stunning and pristine cove, complete with glinting blue waters and even a small white sand beach. Tents pitched, we were straight into the water with our tinnies of Tennent’s in hand to celebrate our unlikely success. Watching the sun set low over the islands of Eigg and Rum was one of the most spectacular scenes I have ever witnessed in the UK. Turbulent dark clouds mixing in with the piercing sunbeams of the fiery red sky provided the perfect backdrop in which to share a dram or two with friends not often seen.Darkness fell and the sky eventually cleared to reveal the majesty of the Milky Way stretched out above, thousands of stars visible in the light pollution free skies. Fortuitously Mars was in its perihelic orbit and close enough to shine extremely bright in the night sky. This is what any landscape photographer craves for! Unsurprisingly it turns out that setting a tripod and capturing long exposures are much more difficult after half a bottle of the finest Scottish single malt… Iain is a serving British Army helicopter pilot with a passion for photography. Checkhis work on Instagram at @imagesbyiain.
Scotland's Top 10 Wild Swimming Spots
By Calum Maclean I am an obsessive outdoor swimmer, and I’m always on the lookout for new places to swim. I’ll swim anywhere: the sea, frozen lochs, dark caves. Tens asked me, @caldamac, to pick out my Ten Best Natural Swimming Spots and my picks are unashamedly biased towards the Highlands of Scotland! The water in Scotland is generally warmest around September, so jump in now! In no particular order... Achmelvich Beach, Sutherland In the far-north west of Scotland, down the end of a winding little single-track road: crisp clear water, sea air and white sand. You can paddle about in the bay, or even swim around the coast to explore the rocks. Beware: even on a sunny day, it’s usually cold! Allt Daraich, Isle of Skye A short walk from the road at Sligachan, away from the hordes of tourists you’ll find bright blue/green pools that invite you to slip straight in. You can slide down waterfalls, jump off rocks, hide from the midges under water. The Cuillin mountain range gives the most incredible backdrop. River Feshie, Cairngorms Very easy access for great jumping and underwater fun. At Feshiebridge there’s a deep pool directly under the bridge, and a shingle beach to walk in. But my favourite spot is hidden about 100m upstream! A deep pool that channels up to a small waterfall, with jumping and diving potential. In summer, laze on the hot rocks with friends. Glencoe Lochan It’s winter, so what? I like to swim all year and if you start in summer, you get used to the cold…(well, almost). Glencoe Lochan is a small and sheltered, and you might even have to crack some thin ice to get moving. Cold water is good for you! Or so I’ve been told… Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye As you travel in by boat, hills seem to fall straight into the sea all around. Loch Coruisk is surrounded by mountains, protected from the wild waves. Shout in joy and hear your echo reverberate around the mountain amphitheatre. Swim out to the rounded islands: they make for the best diving boards as the land disappears instantly into the water. Spend a whole day here. Tràigh Mhòr, Tolsta, Isle of Lewis Take a roadtrip to The Hebrides in summer: if you get the weather, you’d not want to be anywhere else. The sun barely sets, there are beaches all over and water that demands to be swum in. Tràigh Mhòr stretches out far into the distance: if you want a long swim, here’s the place. Clear water: beautifully cold.Image by John Matrix at Bike List. Sandwood Bay, Sutherland Wild, expansive, ever-changing. Sandwood Bay can suffer the brunt of some wild sea weather, coming in off The Minch. This is why it’s not always a place for the nervous swimmer! 4 miles from the road, the surf here can crash onto the shore, and rips pull the water back out. I love playing in the surf, slipping under the waves and letting it batter me into the sand when I miss-time it! One of my very favourite places in all of Scotland. Isle of Arran The sea between the Isle of Arran and Holy Isle is teeming with wildlife. Anemones, urchins, fish. There’s a “No Take Zone” between Lamlash Bay and Holy Isle, meaning that sealife thrives. Crossing to islands is a bit like munro-bagging for some swimmers, and what better one to tick off. Take a snorkel Loch A’an, Cairngorms Last time I swam at Loch A’an, it felt as though I was having a spiritual moment…I just hope it wasn’t hypothermia setting in! The most direct route is to a walk over a mountain - Càrn Gorm - and back. On a sunny day the water must be some of the clearest I have seen, with sand and soft grass tickling my feet. The perfect spot to camp overnight. River Douchary I have to admit, many of my favourite swim spots are far from roads. The River Douchary is about 8 miles inland from Ullapool: a long walk or cycle. But it’s worth the effort: there’s a series of stunning waterfall pools, a natural canal channel and clear water to plunge into. The best bit? You’ll probably have it all to yourself. You can follow more of Calum's adventures on instagram at @caldamac. Safety disclaimer: Always take your time getting in, go with someone else, and check out the depth before you jump!
The Budapest Café
Filmmaker Wes Anderson’s distinctive visual style provided the inspiration for The Budapest Café in Chengdu, China. The design draws on Anderson’s meticulous, memorable and magical worlds to create an inviting destination with whimsical character and international appeal. Much like Anderson’s mythical Budapest Hotel, The Budapest Café is designed to offer an experience that detaches patrons from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The interior incorporates symmetry, precision and nostalgic colour palettes; and the sentiment that infuses his films. He tends towards one-point perspectives and peering down from above; gives attention to the edges of a set as much as the middle; and frames stories with proscenium arches. Layers, elevations and design features encourage customers to explore the space. A mezzanine level provides a view from above; symmetrical arches frame recessed seating and shelving; and stairs and steps lead upstairs, lead nowhere, and are integrated into shelving, fireplaces and the long marble bar. The Budapest Café is designed to feel feminine, light and fun, despite its loftiness and exposed structure. A ball pool, neon signage and original Eero Aarnio Bubble chair inspire playfulness, and the bathrooms surprise with speckled pink terrazzo to complement and contrast with the nostalgic-green hues of the café. Designed & branded by Biasol Photography by James Morgan
49 Hours in San Francisco
“Hey do you fancy going to SF next month? My dad has a trip flying out there and we can tag along…” “Yeah, sure how long for?” “Erm… its only 2 nights” “F**k it lets do it” Having a friend whose father is an airline captain has its definite perks. Arriving late in San Fran suitably tipsy from 11 hours of continuous champagne however was probably not the best way to start out our trip and set the tone for what turned out to be a manic couple of days. With such a short amount of time in city we felt that we had to make the most of the time available to us. An early jetlagged start down to grab tickets for the day trip to Alcatraz Island after approx. 3 hours sleep + the hangover from 8 (or was it 10?) beers from the night before meant that we were probably the loudest and jovial members of the queue. Making friends with some Swedish travellers we toured the prison island. It's remarkable the views these inmates had over the Bay Area and the audio tour proved to be super immersive. We’d been recommended that the best way to see the Golden Gate bridge was on tandem bike. It definitely proved to be the most comical and unpractical way to squeeze through the crowds of tourists on the way across. The sheer size and colour of the bridge is as impressive as it looks in photos and I hope I’ve been successful in trying to capture it in interesting ways. After a late lunch and some Irish Coffee, we met up with our friend Dan who we first partied with whilst travelling in Vietnam last year. He now works for Google and was happy to show us the city. Bouncing from bar to bar in China Town (with the distinctive memory of throwing up after a shot of strange whisky) we ended up partying in a club near Golden Gate Park 'til the early hours. Dan had work in the morning and offered us a bleary eyed tour of the Google SF offices. Hungover AF we met up early to see whether they were as awesome as they’re hyped to be. Turns out they are. The entire front of the building has stunning views of the Oakland Bridge and inside it is like no other office, with nap pods, cocktail bars and one room entirely filled with 3D printers. Wandering the city, the divide between the rich and poor is evident, with SF social benefits policy requiring no fixed address to claim, meaning that the homeless roam even the most affluent streets. It’s a strange comparison to draw with the super rich tech elite who work mostly in the area and endemic of the divide we see in the US today. With a quick tram ride and trip up to the top of the iconic 8 hair-pin turned Lombard Street complete, it was time to catch our flight back to London. Total time in SF – 49 hours. Thankfully the flight home was quiet and the captain was able to upgrade us both to First Class for the journey. Finally, time for some rest! Iain is a serving British Army helicopter pilot with a passion for photography. Check his work at @imagesbyiain.
Iceland: A Road Trip on the Tundra
"I really don't know how I feel after the experience. We circled the island with broken hearts and open minds. Young souls constantly waiting for the sunrise. That's who we are. That's how we do." Follow Barcelona-based photographer Enzo Iriarte on a goosebump-inducing summer's trip through the moody tundra of Iceland. The famous Ring Road encircles the entire country covering over 800 miles on Route 1. While you could technically drive the whole thing in less than 24 hours, Enzo & friends took 10 days, stopping where they could along the way. Food was expensive, but the memories were priceless. Swipe through the photos below and see more of Enzo's work here. Models: Katia Ramos & Zakari Kunakey
City Guides: A Long Weekend in Barcelona
by Iain With its long dry summers and admirably laid back atmosphere - Barcelona has always been a favourite destination of the Tens team, whether it be with friends, family, partners or solo. As a city with limitless culture, history and cuisine - you could explore for months and still uncover something inspiring each day. Here is a quick guide to some of our favourite sights, activities, eats & drinks perfect for an escape to the heart of Catalonia. GETTING AROUND The city centre is roughly 20 minutes away in a taxi from El Prat Airport, and will cost around €25, which is reasonable if there are a few of you. Might be a bit expensive for solo travel, so you can just take the bus. They are very frequent and will get you to Plaça de Catalunya in around 30-40 minutes. If you’re limited for time, or not that keen on walking, buy what's called a T10. It's a 10 journey ticket you can use on all transport. Multiple people can also use it too, so you can put it through the machine and pass the ticket back to the next person. We would recommend just walking to most places in the city though, as you can pretty much get anywhere in less than 30 minutes, and you get to discover more of the city this way. If you are going to use transport a lot then you can maybe look at the 2-5 day tickets. The ticket machines can be changed to English and will tell you everything you need to know. TO DO You can tick off the more popular places first by starting off at Plaça de Catalunya and taking a stroll down La Rambla. This is very touristy, so I would avoid going to any bars or restaurants here. You will pass the grand Bocqueria Market though, and this is a great spot to pick up some cheap breakfast and local meats, seafood and cheese. Towards the bottom of La Rambla you can cut left into the Gothic Quarter which is a labyrinth of beautiful architecture, shops and bars. You can weave your way through here towards the famous Cathedral. Regarding the major sights I would recommend going inside the Sagrada Familia, Parc de la Ciutadella / Arc de Triomf. You can book your time slots for Sagrada Familia online to avoid queues - it could be the most impressive building you’ve ever seen. Parc Guell is another Gaudi sight, built high up overlooking the city. Great views and a nice way to spend an afternoon, would recommend bringing a packed lunch to have at the top as you’ll want to hang there for a while. Barcelona played host to the summer Olympics in 1992, and not only can you check out most of the grounds, you can also take a dip in the pool. It’s not glamorous by any means, but we love the brutalist concrete surroundings, and the pool itself is perfectly cool - a great place to relax and sunbathe for a few hours. Once you’re done you can either get the cable car, or walk up to the top of Montjuic and see the castle. Barcelona is famous for its beach right there at the edge of the city. We always started the day with a stroll through Barceloneta, past the super yachts and towards the sand. The beach gets VERY busy during the day, so either head here early for a Clara (cloudy lemon shandy) at one of the beach bars and watch the world go by for a moment. If you do want to spend a day at quieter beach it is best to take a train to go out of the city along the coast. The train is cheap and in around an hour you can be at Sant Pol de mar. You take the R1 train from Plaça de Catalunya in the direction of Mataro. Worth the trip for a nice, chilled beach day. Sitges is also a great day trip only 40mins away with some great beaches. Montserrat is also a nice trip outside of the city, well worth the trip if you have a day to spare. For some more, free, sightseeing it’s nice to walk from Plaça Catalunya up Passeig de Gracia. The Gaudi architecture there is amazing with a lot of nice terraces to stop and grab a bite to eat. TO EAT If you have time to kill during the first half of the day, check out these brunch spots: Tropico (just look at that Açai bowl), Milk, Federal, Alsur, Flax & Kale, or El Flako which is a 'trendy' novelty cereal bar. Later on, for something easy I would highly recommend trying the burgers from Bacoa and we'll let you off for eating a burger in Spain. For alternative quick bites there is an incredible hot dog joint called ‘The Dog Is Hot’ in Raval, or Rosa de Raval if you're in a taco kinda mood. For something a bit fancier try Tickets (the holy grail), or either of the two Sensi restaurants in El Born. These are the places you’ll have to book in advance, so prepare accordingly. Inside the old Biblioteca, within a courtyard you'll find this al fresco restaurant called El Jardi - ideal for date night. For more of a traditional tapas vibe, check out Quimet & Quimet (they brew their own beer), or Can Paixano (for proper Cava) - both standing tapas bars and very Catalan. For cheaper tapas, spend an evening on Carrer Blai in Poble Sec. There are lots of small tapas bar where you just help yourself to what's on the counter, then they charge you for the number of cocktail sticks / plates you have at the end of the night (Yo! Sushi style). For an incredible bargain, try La Malandrina - it’s a great South American restaurant that do MASSIVE steaks and creamy potatoes for roughly €10. On top of that they’ve got a lovely house red wine at only 6€ a bottle. For sweet things, be sure to grab ice cream from VIOKO (in Barceloneta & El Born), or eyescream and friends. TO DRINK We enjoyed every single bar we visited. Barcelona is great for just wandering around and jumping into various small bars for cañas (small beers) - as long as you stay away from La Rambla, most places are well priced. Nevermind is a cool alternative bar with a skate bowl inside. Paradiso is also well worth a visit. On the outside it looks like a standard pastrami bar, where you can sit and order small plates of meat and kimchi. However, if you open the refrigerator door on the left, you’re taken into a dark, clandestine cocktail bar with a stunning interior and wild cocktails. Another great cocktail bar is L'Acensor. A 1920s-style elevator leads you into a very old school Catalan bar. It is a bit more expensive but definitely worth it for the atmosphere. We came across a pretty special spot on top of the Barcelo 360 Raval hotel. If you walk into the lobby straight to the elevators, you can take the last one up to their roof terrace for a drink. It offers 360 views of the city and is the perfect spot to watch the sun set behind the hills. It’s not cheap, but the views are breath-taking. Words & photos by Iain. If you'd like some more tips, or want to learn more about the suggestions made, send us a DM on Instagram!
Watch: British Columbia by Tom Welsh
A collection of holiday memories from 10 days in BC, Canada, by Tens co-founder Tom Welsh. "After a commercial job I was DPing finished in Vancouver, I delayed my flight back to London and spent a thoroughly enjoyable week and a bit in the Canadian sun. I hadn't intended to shoot much but grabbed my camera right before I left Vancouver, taking the seaplane out to the Island - I thought it'd be worth shooting, and ended up grabbing little bits of the rest of the trip. I shot less than 2 cards but it seemed a shame not to do anything with it. Locations: Sooke, Vancouver Island, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, Fraser River Reaction Ferry, LOTS of Highway 99. Equipment: A7SII + SLR Magic 50/1.1 & Tokina 11-16/2.8 + Zhiyun Crane, PP8 Cine 4 + DELUTS See more of Tom's work here.
