"Video" shot with a Canon 1D Mark II

There's not a second of video in this "video." Rather 1,736 still images edited together at 10 images/second.

I'd love to hear what you think of it. I've never attempted a piece like this, but am pleased with how it turned out.

I found it refreshing and energizing to break away from my regular style of video and try something new. I had more fun editing this video than any other I've ever shot.

Skiplane Fly-In

IFR to VFR to IFR - that's a wrap-up of this year's skiplane fly-in.

There was great snow, but too much of it. Not on the ground, but coming down. It let up for a short period allowing one skiplane to fly in. I overheard a bystander laugh and remark to his buddy, "Well for the first time, it's appropriately named... Skiplane Fly-in, not Skiplanes Fly-in. There's just one of 'em."

Enjoy the video.



On a technical side, this was the first video I've shot in a long time making use of a tripod. There are definite pros and cons.

It helps tremendously with panning shots (i.e. an airplane taking off, landing or flying) and for telephoto shots. It also gave my arm a break while interviewing. But as I expected, I saw great moments and missed them due to the clunkiness of a tripod.

I've always strived for steady shots, but have not appreciated the cost* of using a tripod. (* not dollars, but moments)

I'll likely start using a tripod for more interviews and some telephoto b-roll, but leave it behind for a majority of the candid action. I like traveling light. I like being mobile when I'm shooting—light on my feet, so to speak.

A professor friend of mine teaches a great philosophy on the matter. "I don't care if you use a tripod or not—just get a steady shot."

2007: all the rest

I realized a few days ago that there are a lot of videos I produced in 2007 that never made it to blogland. So, before they get buried any deeper in the archive, here they are...

First Timers Explore AirVenture




EAA Volunteers: Gathering of Mustangs & Legends



Meeting a Legend: Gathering of Mustangs & Legends



Good Ol' Days



A Memorable Evening Unfolds



A Pilot Like Any Other



Innovation @ AirVenture



30 Years in the North 40



Women Soar



KidVenture

Space Week @ EAA

Tonight will be the first time I'll get to see one of my videos on a screen larger than 20". EAA is hosting a Wright Brothers Banquet and will be showing this video before the keynote speaker takes the stage. The keynote is Brian Binnie, who is one of the astronauts/pilots who flew SpaceShip to space.

Enjoy!

Friday

Friday
another work day
email, projects to edit
eight hours till weekend

Invitation
phone call from a friend
want to go flying today?
i’ll call you back soon

Debate
Flying = exciting
but I have too much to do
I don’t know—fly? work?

Colleague
Life’s short you should go
projects can wait. fly the sky
friend, “carpe diem”

Answer
three hours of work lost
small price to pay for such an
opportunity

Skies
headset prop takeoff
fall scenery from above
a view to behold

Gratitude
thanks Owen, Kelly
for the reminder to live
life’s too short to not

Gathering of Mustangs & Legends

Here is a photo gallery of "The Final Roundup."

Enjoy!

Airplanes that are older than my grandpa

A couple hundred people and antique planes gathered at Brodhead, Wisconsin earlier this month for the Midwest Antique Airplane Club’s annual Grassroots Fly-In.

Some of these planes were used for flight training when my grandfather was being trained before WWII — and they’re still flying!