Zee

The trick isn't really in keeping your head still, it's using your head as a solid base for the cameras while using your body as gyroscopic stabilizer Actually, there is a pretty simple trick to tracking your subject while keeping your movements nice and smooth - keep both eyes open and keep a wide field of view. A common mistake is to close one eye and focus really hard on keeping your subject dead center in your sight and you end up generating a ton of head shake in the process. Keep both eyes open, stay loose and relaxed, and and you'll notice an immediate improvement...... Action©Sports

9,800,000 yen (w/case and hood). Not bad...that's like 12 bucks or somethin'...right? Action©Sports

I use fixed focal length lenses in freefall so no need there but I do use it to secure flash cables and the focus ring on my video camera. Action©Sports

Very good info. Thank you! z That's a great article, by the way.. Action©Sports

And you'll find that practically every DZ on earth puts copyrighted music on tandem videos... Perhaps you can shed some light on this for me? #1, If I go out and purchase a CD at the store and then use the music that I just paid for, to add some flair to a compilation video that will not be sold or used for any commercial purpose whatsoever, am I in fact breaking the law? If I post the same video on my personal web page, Skydivingmovies.com, or even YouTube, am I now committing a copyright violaton? #2, I do some photo work at the track when I'm out practicing and often sell shots under a "personal use" license to a friend of mine that runs a site that sells t-shirts and he posts them on his site under the "Racing" section. It's just a link to a page that documents his progress in the local racing series. I don't have a problem with it since he did pay for the pictures, he asked my permission first, and they're really not being used in advertising....directly anyway. The same guy bought some pictures off another guys website - Unlike mine , his site doesn't offer an option to choose commercial or personal license and there is no legal documentation on his site at all. My buddy posted one of his pictures in the "Racing" section as he had done with mine, and the guy got his panties in a twist. Is he committing a copyright violation? Just thought you might have a better understanding of this stuff than most with your musical and editing background... Thanks, z Action©Sports

You can always check out the 9/11 timeline Not a conspiracy website but it provides access to a virtual ton of information.... Action©Sports

Just go with the FTP....a little extra room is a good thing if you want to hook up a flash or add an extra camera or two....or three Action©Sports

lol! Most (not all....but most) turbine DZ's have a pretty good idea of what they find acceptable quality of video and they'll usually put you through the ringer before they'll put you on rotation. But there are tons of little 182 DZ's out there that simply don't attract the talent and often they'll accept pretty much anyone with a camera helmet.... Action©Sports

you mean there are DZ's that *don't* do it this way? They're all over the place. Not gonna name names but they're most certainly out there. Action©Sports

That would be nice, but in most states cops get a little ticket happy if you do that... Action©Sports

Seriously? If it happens (or almost) all the time, I'd suggest its not just the other's people fault. You may benefit from defensive driving classes. I dont mean to insult you or anything, but I ride in traffic / commute 3 days of the week, and if you make a point of positioning yourself out of harms way, you diminish your risk, riding a bike, or driving a car. Same skills. Goddamn right, I could not agree anymore. Being a defensive (and offensive) driver can provide the required visibility to other drivers on the road. Unfortunately, my only near serious incident was prevented out of shear luck more than anything else (just happened to knock it in first while sitting behind a car at a stop-light, and was able to jump on the median after some bitch in her suburban screeched to a halt a foot away from the bumper of the car i was behind). It would have been an over, under, or in between. .jim That would be one great reason never to position yourself directly behind a car at an intersection - always put yourself to one side where you have a way out, always keep your bike in gear, and always keep a watchful eye in your rearview mirrors - just a few things that are distinctly different between riding a bike and driving a car... Action©Sports

Seriously? If it happens (or almost) all the time, I'd suggest its not just the other's people fault. You may benefit from defensive driving classes. I dont mean to insult you or anything, but I ride in traffic / commute 3 days of the week, and if you make a point of positioning yourself out of harms way, you diminish your risk, riding a bike, or driving a car. Same skills. While I may not commute to work 3 days a week, I do ride over 20,000 miles per year and I also spent well over a decade driving an additional 60 to 80,000 miles per year for work. I have plenty of experience on the road and on the track, thank you very much. I never insinuated that it happens to me on a daily basis but, it does without question, happen to riders all over the globe every single day. No matter how defensive you drive, no matter how many precautions you take, there will always be some inattentive jackass somewhere in your periphery waiting to turn you in to the next statistic, and no defensive driving class on earth is going to protect you from all of them. Action©Sports

Nearly ate a Nissan for breakfast myself last week. Some chick yakkin' on the cell phone (which is now illegal in this state) decided to change lanes without looking and nearly side swiped me. Happens nearly every day unfortunately... It's all fun and games until you end up a hood ornament on an Oldsmobuick.... Action©Sports

I can't remember if it was my student or IMGR2's but the chick requested the theme song to E.T. I don't know how she guessed that we wouldn't have it on hand but she brought her own, absolutely terrible recording, with her on CD. Action©Sports

Good to see Jeff up in the air too. I never got to film him while I was working up there..... Action©Sports

Nice vid and nice exit. Just remember to look up a little bit when you move in close to the tandem so you don't cut the t/m's head off - doesn't take much, just little bit. Another little tip would be to get just a tad lower on the tandem so you can look up - doesn't have to be that steep, just a little lower so you can capture the funky facial expressions. Nice work

Yep, should be the same as the Minolta. 3 prong connector that you can splice in with a bite switch. My helmet is set up for the Maxxum 7 and 7D, works like a charm. Action©Sports

I usually hang from the strut with my outside hand and drop with the tandem..... Action©Sports

I wouldn't really bother writing a script - just talk to them. Saying the same thing to every student gets old really quick. Not to mention the students you just filmed often hear you interviewing the next victim while they're waiting on their video..... Just turn on the camera, walk up to the student, introduce yourself, and ask them what they're up to. If they're at all animated you can just let them do the talking but that's not always the case. Ask why they're jumping out of a plane...are they doing it to celebrate something, just want to try something new, are they trying to impress some hot chick/guy, why? Talk to their friends and family and get their input. It takes a little while to get used to and you will inevitably stick your foot in your mouth sooner or later (done that many times ) but you'll get the hang of it pretty quick. You're a pretty outgoing individual and an awesome freeflier, I'm sure you'll make an excellent videographer Action©Sports

Nah, the people I'm taking about are too scared to even approach the posted speed limit yet find themselves strangely compelled to always occupy the left hand lane - put one of them on a bike they'll be dead before they make it to Burger World for breakfast - inevitably killed by one of their compadres Action©Sports

As long as we can make an anti-jackass rule when it comes to driving cars as well, I'm all for it. I see waaaaay more dumb fucks in cars that I do on bikes Action©Sports

Give Noise Ninja a try. Does wonders for removing noise from digital pics.... Action©Sports

Just keep in mind that it's a very small movement. Just apply a small amount of pressure to the clip on and inertia will do the rest. Keep in mind that there are a multitude of other things involved in a high speed turn in addition to counter steering. You also have to think about your line, proper braking technique, throttle control, and body position. If you have the opportunity to try a track day - go for it. Just practice one component at a time until you get comfortable with it - then add another, and another... Action©Sports

That's pretty cool. I've always wanted to go out on the flats and see them set land speed records (or just take one of my bikes for a few high speed runs) Can't say I have anything to compete with though - 183 mph is as fast as she'll go - but it's still fun to top out your toys in a legal setting. Action©Sports

Pull in place at break off. You don't have to pull high either - if they have a high break off, just fall straight down the middle and pull at a reasonable altitude. Who ever you're filming should be long gone by then. Action©Sports