Looking for a Mentor!

[bigG 0]

Hi,

I have got 270 jumps and have just started jumping camera. I am interested in getting into camera flying for RW/Tandems in the near future.

Now how does one approach a experienced Cameraflyer (most likely busy!!) at DZ and ask them to be their mentor?

Any experienced Cameraflyers in Florida looking to pass on their knowledge?

Isn't Camera flying another area of Skydiving, which is like "You are on your own now"?!?

Any helpful suggestions?

[bigG 0]

May be someone should start a camera flying school. It may not be financially feasible to begin with but who knows... Or may be a write a book..."the Bible of CameraFlying"

What do you experienced cameraflyers think?

[rredman 0]

I have just over 300 jumps, and have about 60 camera jumps. What I do is have the questions I want to ask about ahead of time, and pick a time when the Camera guy I want to ask is not busy (end of the day, weathered out, etc.). So far, anyone I have talked to has been more than willing to help me out.

Good Luck!

[Deuce 1]

Well, I'm on the rotation at my DZ, and we're proud of our product. We don't have much RW competition, so the money is in tandem video. I do both, and I think good tandem video is a litle harder than competition RW video, but the consequence of error in RW video is WAY, WAY, higher. That said, I learned both at about the same time. I got a camera suit, and a video stills setup put together and told the video concession owner I wanted to work for him, and asked what was the price of admission. At the same time, I told the RW God I wanted to learn RW video, and could I video him and his crew. I also had a start-up 4 way team I worked with a dozen times. If RW competition is big at your DZ, learn that, focus on it.

Lurk tandems for free until the passengers offer to buy the tapes. Listen to the tandem masters! They watch camera fliers all day and can be great for feedback. Show the video to experienced fliers and ask what you can do better.

You have to have a camera suit to be really effective in either discipline.

Offer to video RW for free. It's best if you can latch on to your RW organizer, cause he or she usually knows what they are looking for in video. First off, it's no "video busts" meaning you can see grips from exit to breakoff. After a while you will be good enough for them to offer to pay your slot, maybe.

Check out Quades' website. He has several very informative essays on the subject. A couple of them are answers to my questions when I got started.

Good luck, be safe and have fun.

JP

[vdschoor 0]

And talk to Deuce ;) ha ha, that's what I do.

Deuce is right, working with experienced RW people does help, they tell you what they want out of the video.
I was leading on the exits, but the RW god at my DZ (and Deuce's) told me to follow them off the plane, so the points that were going to be made on the hill were in the picture much better.

Anyways, practice practice, and pay for your slots, offer people to fly video for them and wait untill they think its good enough (I am waiting for that one still, I've got about 30 video jumps now)

Iwan

[Deuce 1]

Quote

the RW god at my DZ (and Deuce's) told me to follow them off the plane, so the points that were going to be made on the hill were in the picture much better.

Hey, Iwan. Quade describes this better than anybody I've read yet on his website, if not here in the forums. I think he describes it as the 'semi-peel'.

Those essays are really the best place to start. Then practice camera flying until the way it's described makes sense.

[quade 4]

Find the guy at your DZ that everyone else looks up to. Ok, maybe not in his personal life , but at least in his professionalism and his ability to get the shot. He's most likely one of the guys that gets invited to shoot the DZO's loads or big-ways. He probably has paid his dues and has learned quite a bit about what does and doesn't work -- for him at least.

Approach him carefully, from down wind, after sunset and with a beer in hand.

Say something to the effect of, "I've seen your work. I'd like to be able to do some of the things you're doing. Can you teach me?"

Then, shut the fizz-uck up and listen to what he has to say. If you don't agree with something, resist the urge to say anything negative until you've actually tried it yourself. Remember, you asked for his advice -- it's only polite to actually listen to what he has to say.

Resist all urges to say something to the effect of, "Well, that's not the way Joe Jumper does it! He said . . .blah, blah, blah." Trust me, whoever you approach will have a slightly different way of doing almost anything. You've asked for someone's opinion, do NOT minimalize the experience by suggesting that the information you're seeking is somehow invalid! It's ALL valid -- at least it is in the mind of the person saying it. There must be a reason for that.

This isn't paint by numbers. You don't get "the shot" by setting the camera to so and so and then doing this and that. The way you get "the shot" is to learn as much as you can and use what is useful at the moment. So you really need to take it all in.

Eventually, you'll find your own style. A synthesis of many techniques and bits of wisdom passed down from here and there.

However, never stop learning.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[blazetailman 0]

VERY WEL SAID QUADE.

www.canopyflightcenter.com
www.skydivesac.com
www.guanofreefly.com

[pcalandra 0]

Nicely said Quade!

[bigG 0]

Thanks for the advise Quade. Its a pity I don't jump at Perris, otherwise I would had bought you a lot of beers!

Seriously, why don't you consider writing a book..I think you are the right person to do it.

May be after retirement..?!?

Thanks again everyone.

[PhreeZone 18]

Why when there is already a good one wrote? Flying the Camera

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[quade 4]

Yeah, Patrick already wrote a pretty good book. Certainly good enough to get anyone started. I have a copy and it's a good reference.

Doesn't really cover a lot about competition or big-way stuff and could be updated with stuff about digital video and stills. Then again, stuff changes so damn fast that I think that if anyone really wants to stay on top of it, this forum right here is probably one of the best places on the planet.

Fluid and constantly being challenged and updated.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[bigG 0]

Quote

Why when there is already a good one wrote? Flying the Camera

Great! I was not aware of such a publication. I will try and get my hands on a copy ASAP...

Thanks once again..

P.S. These forums are just perfect..with tons of information..and for free.

[rjf98 0]

Is Amazon's site screwed up? New was $40 and used is $190?!? I'm not even paying that much for textbooks. Surely if it's in that much of demand they would re-print.