The Truth Behind Bernardo's Videos

What it really takes to capture 'the perfect shot'

Before I take you behind the scenes, let me start with this: the struggles I’ll describe are luxury problems. So take all of this with a grain of salt and know that we’re incredibly grateful to live this life. That’s beyond question.

It’s funny how we, like so many others, chase that one perfect shot — as if it defines the entire experience. The reality is that ‘the perfect shot’ rarely comes without effort.

That became clear right at the start of our trip, in Singapore.

Bernardo wanted to kick off our adventure in style, right in front of the iconic Merlion — Singapore’s famous statue with the body of a fish and the head of a lion, spouting water into the bay. It felt like the perfect, symbolic spot to say: this is where it all begins.

So, off we went — bikes packed, full of adrenaline. The day we’d been talking about for months had finally arrived. We were more than ready.

The sun, however, was not…

When we arrived, the sky was a blanket of dull grey clouds. The uplifting, sunny vibe that Bernardo wanted to create in the video had vanished. We tried to read the clouds, hoping to find a spark of sun, but no luck. The sun had checked out for the day.

Life isn’t always what we expect, and Bernardo knows that better than anyone. He captures reality as it comes, but beyond that, he’s an artist. As much as he embraces life as it is, there’s always that drive to create something that resonates, something that sparks inspiration. It’s not just about recording what’s happening, but also about shaping what’s happening to tell the right, inspiring story.

This means that he constantly has to find a balance between capturing reality and listening to that creative instinct, that pushes him to deliver not just reality, but content that moves people. A dark, grey start to this uplifting adventure didn’t align with that balance.

So we waited. We stayed another night in Singapore, hoping the next morning would bring a little sun. And luckily, it did. That’s the version you see in the video. Bright, warm, and with the uplifting energy Bernardo had in mind to set the tone for the journey ahead.

So, what you see in the final video is real, but it’s not always the full story.

Let me take you to another moment, that shows how much work can hide behind a few seconds of footage.

On our way to the tea plantations in the Cameron Highlands, we had around 2,000 meters of elevation gain ahead of us, spread out over just 50 kilometers — so yes, it was steep. The higher we climbed, the cooler the air became. A small consolation for our burning legs, but it was still tough. Groaning (perhaps a little dramatically), we pushed our way uphill.

But of course, reality had to be captured. Halfway up a hill, it was time for a tripod shot. I suddenly found myself in charge of not just my own, but also Bernardo’s heavy bike. On these steep roads, the kickstands didn’t do much, so I squeezed the handbrakes with everything I had, trying to keep both bikes upright. Meanwhile, Bernardo hiked up the hill to find the perfect camera angle. Then, he jogged back down and we cycled up together for the shot. Of course, someone had to retrieve the camera — so we repeated our bike handover ritual and Bernardo jogged back down once more. By the end of this trip, he might as well sign up for a marathon with the amount of running he’s doing to get these shots.

We repeated this tripod shot several times, but only one clip made it into the video. By now, you must understand that we’re really hoping you, dear reader, thoroughly enjoyed this shot in the video.

In the midst of it all, I try to keep up with Bernardo’s creative flow. I help out when I can — whether it’s holding bikes, setting up the tripod or riding the same hill a few times in a row because the light wasn’t quite right yet. Filming takes time: angles get tested, mistakes happen, light changes, shots get repeated. So as Bernardo fine-tunes his shots, I mostly exercise my patience muscle. Or I eat peanut butter. I had pictured myself coming back from this trip as a fit girl, but with the amount of peanut butter I’m consuming, I might just return as a walking jar of it.

So, the road to ‘the perfect shot’ is not always as smooth as the final cut suggests, but maybe that makes the result even more rewarding.

Thank you for coming along!

Jule Noah