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Senator's Plane Crash The Associated Press reports that New York junior Senator Hillary Clinton narrowly escaped injury in the aircraft that she was piloting when she was forced to make an emergency landing in Southern Texas because of bad weather. National Transportation Safety Board officials have issued a preliminary determination that pilot error contributed to the accident, and that the senator was flying in IFR conditions while only having obtained a VFR, single engine land rating. The absence of a post-crash fire was likely due to insufficient fuel on board. No one on the ground was injured. Pictures taken at the scene show the extent of damage to Senator Clinton's aircraft. Action©Sports

Don't start slippin' now, buddy. I've seen what chemo can do to people first hand and I know it feels worse than the cancer itself. This is the time you need to amp up those fighting genes and show what you're made of. It takes a great deal of courage just to start that sort of treatment and now that the bad stuff has begun it's really important that you keep your eye on the prize. Pretty soon the bad stuff will be over and you can get back to jumpin' out of planes with the rest of us crazy bastards - Hang in there, TrippleF - you know we're all pullin' for ya

It's unfortunate how many chicks find that t-shirt insulting. My ex actually stole mine - Not that the bitch ever admitted to it but I find it strange that two of them could disappear in a matter of two weeks Action©Sports

Hey Dave, You must have the seen the "other" biker T-shirt. "If you can read this, the bitch fell off" Action©Sports

Oh shit Dave - I've actually jumped with you a few years back and I don't recall your ass being that big. I mean, not that I was paying much attention to your ass or anything but, when somethin' like that climbs in to a Cessna, people notice Action©Sports

So who else thinks this guy has cash coming out of his eyeballs? Action©Sports

Hey Zak - If you're really interested in finding a good used replacement, check out some of the local photo shops and look on the consignment rack. I've found some great deals on everything from lenses, flashes, battery packs, and camera bodies. Something as common as a Rebel 2000 shouldn't be too difficult to find. If nothing else, check the used gear at B&H clicky I've bought tons of stuff from them and I've never had a problem or complaint. Hope ya find some new stuff Action©Sports

The problem you're running in to is caused by the position difference between your eye and the camera. Mr. Quade has an excellent write up about Parallax on his web site that you should check out - Clicky Peace, Z Action©Sports

Good luck TripleF - My father has just finished his 4th and final round of chemo after what appeared to be, well, it was simply really bad news. Now he's feeling great and the doc thinks they either have, or will be able to get it in to remission. We won't find out until next week for sure. He's just gone through what you now have to look forward to and I certainly hope you fair just as well. Keep your head up and your attitude charged - remember, giving in IS NOT an option. Peace and good vibes - Z Action©Sports

So if I send in a picture to Parachutist I'm contributing to the demise of the professional photographer? What professional photographer relies on a freelance income provided by Parachutist? For starters, Parachutist is a MEMBERSHIP PUBLICATION. It only exists to inform and share information with it's members. Do you see Parachutist on the shelf in the grocery store or the airport news stand? Does Parachutist sell more copies when a cover shot is provided by the likes of Mike McGowan, Norman Kent, or Tony Hathaway? The answer is a resounding NO. Comparing Parachutist with large volume commercial magazines is simply ridiculous. In the case of advertisers and commercial publications I totally agree that the photographer should be fairly compensated for their work. But let me ask you this - How often do you see a skydiving picture in a magazine other than the industry related ones? The answer is not very often at all. The market just ain't that big. In addition, if I were Josh Hill, I'd be mighty pissed off. Nobody has the right to take your work and design a half page ad around it without your prior consent. It may take months to cut a check but why would you get the impression that that was their intention when you didn't even negotiate compensation prior to the ad being published? I wouldn't threaten with a law suit just yet but, if they continue to ignore your e-mails and phone calls you should definitely move forward with some form of legal action. Otherwise they'll get the idea that it's ok to do it again. Peace, Z Action©Sports

What's up Chachi - I understand and agree with the fact that we are the ones who make all of the sacrifices and take all of the risks involved in capturing these images and it's only fair that we receive fair compensation when a major publication wants to publish our work. Fully understandable and even more so when dealing with advertising. But let's be realistic here. Take DLB's pics that he posted - He said that he's tempted to hand some around just for the attention - What's wrong with that? Look at those images and tell me he'd be better off waiting for Sports Illustrated to knock down his door? I've been doing this a while now and one thing I've found out for sure; I get more satisfaction out of certain pictures by giving them away than I'll ever get out of the checks I get from Parachutist. Peace, Z Action©Sports

Hey DLB, First off, learn to use your equipment properly and effectively. There's no shame in coming down with a roll of mediocre pictures as long as you can understand what you need to change and adjust in order to make your work better. Second, don't expect people to pay you a bunch of money so you can learn your craft on their skydive - It ain't right. What you can do is find people (a starting 4-way team is always a good one) who will cover the cost of your jumps if you'd like to practice filming theirs - I did that for quite some time and it's a GREAT way to learn. If you want to learn how to shoot tandem video, ask some of the experienced video guys to give you some tips and teach you about the dangers involved with shooting tandems (there are many you haven't even thought of yet). Then ask the S&TA for permission to film some tandems at your own expense. Once you've got the S&TA's permission it's time to talk to the DZO and then finally, the Tandem Master. All of these people have to feel comfortable with you and your prior experience before they'll ever let you near a tandem. Many times they'll make you do a few practice runs without camera gear just so you can show them you are as safe and capable as you say you are. After that they'll usually let you shoot some tandems at your own expense. See how this works - Once again, they won't pay for you to learn the trade, the money comes once you've learned enough to produce a product that will sell. The same goes for the pictures - Don't expect to cash in while your still learning the basics - show some good will and make a few friends - Once you've figured out how to produce some quality pictures people will happily pay to get a few copies. As for shooting fun jumps - you'll figure out what your work is worth eventually. Personally, I like to film fun jumpers but I usually keep the stills myself. I still enjoy shooting slide film and it's not cheap so If they want some copies I'm more than happy to sell them. Often, I'll give one or two away just because it makes me happy to do so. Don't get so hung up on the money thing just yet. If you practice and get good with the video and photography thing the money will come. For now I would seriously consider handing out a few copies and making a few friends.

As my buddy, Tod Larsen, once said after hearing somebody talking about a guy who frapped and someone replied "At least he died doing what he loved". Died doing what he loved? You mean screaming his as off while hoping for his reserve to open? Fuck that! I wanna live to be 100 and die in my sleep Peace, Z Action©Sports

I'm sorry but I really have to chime in here - Is there no separation between a true "Professional" photographer and the rest of us mere mortals? How many people haven't you seen who have gone out and purchased a 10D without having the slightest clue of how to operate the damned thing or even a minute understanding of basic photography? The first thing they do is post this question " I just bought this camera and I was just wondering what settings y'all use in freefall??? The next thing you know, they have a site on Shutterfly filled with off center and out of focus pictures and now they're a "professional" and they have to protect their images and their "rights" and they want the big $$$$ for their so called "art". What a crock. I'm not saying that I'm a pro at this photography thing but I DO know and understand the basics and even some more advanced concepts of photography and I most certainly understand how to set up, sight in, and operate my own gear. I've made enough money from shooting tandem videos on the weekends to pay for all of my photo gear and skydiving gear many times over and yes, I too have received the ridiculously small checks from Parachutist for published work. I do this work for personal satisfaction and because I truly enjoy being able to give back something to a sport that I've loved for many years (not to mention that I can't even remember the last time I paid for a jump ticket). I don't send in pictures to Parachutist or Skydiving Magazine because I need the cash - I do it because it's fun to share some very unique moments with others who share my love for the sport. Real professional photographers have issues to deal with when it comes time to sell their work for fair market value because they have managed to acquire a talent that allows them to do this for a living and that's something I truly respect. As for myself, I'm just happy that I've found a weekend job that pays for all of my jumps and all of my gear and in the end, still leaves me with money left over to pay for my trip to Rantoul.

You wake up in the morning, look out the window, and see this Action©Sports