Laszloimage

Here's a few pics of the Kodak V-570 after modificatin. I have to mount the jack out side since there's no room for it inside what so ever. The V-705 has an exactly same body and same wide lens (23mm in 35mm equiv. !!!) except 2 more MP resolution. Personally I don't think that makes a difference anyway... The camera can take 15-20 pictures during a skydive. (which is plenty). Some of my friends made few houndred of jumps with it without any problem. The altimeter is a reference for the size of the camera. -Laszlo-

...what ever pill you're prefer.

Bad ass shot man! Congratulations! -Laszlo-

Here's some... -Laszlo-

Oct 11th and Santa already? Very nice shot Doug! -Laszlo-

Of course I did.

Phil, Thank you very much for the compliment. We have to be realistic though, not everybody is like us and can appreciate the value of a photograph. Unfortunately most people only see the price diffrence between $4-5 at Walmart or $15 at the DZ. Lately I've been turned down a lot because of the price of an 8x10 print. Top of that these people were FIRST TIME TANDEMS! The only physical evidence and memory of their jump (I try to sell landing shots for those who don't buy video) and they still think $17 (I pay $2 per pic to the DZ) for an 8x10 is way too expensive. The attached picture just another "No Sale" example. Pretty nice shot of an first time jumper ...it was too expensive. This photo is his only "evidece" as well. In the other hand I'm not crying, I accepted that some people just can't afford to spend an extra $17 after they spent $189 on their TM jump. Or some just really don't appreciate the value of a picture or any kind of art. If I want to make more money I need to sell my photos out side of skydiving. I guess we all know that... -Laszlo- Sorry about the off topic

This is my own "abnormal growth"... actually this was taken witha Sigma 15mm fish eye so the distortion is even more. The second image was taken with the same lens too only from 8-10 inches but she's lot hotter than myself... -Laszlo- ps. You guys more than welcome to scare kids during the Helloween season with my "abnormal growth" image

I use Arca Swiss and Really Right Stuff style. They're not cheap but good... -Laszlo-

I don't think Walmart, Walgreens, or any other of these places can produce a quality print as I (not only me but anyone else too) can make on the Epson R-1800 or any other pro inkjet printer at home. The reason is because they just have no clue about photo printing.These places produce quantity vs. quality. Next time just ask any of the empolyes about ICC profile, color gamut, or differences between papers... Other wise you're right it's not cheap to print photos at home or at the DZ... that's why I charge for it. $15 for an 8"x10" -Laszlo-

If you guys can share lenses then answer is simple... get the Canon. Why make it complicated? -Laszlo-

Nice ones Arvel! I like the 3-way exit shot the most. Here's mine just from few hours ago when I jumped from a B-17 bomber. -Laszlo-

I use the Epson R-1800. This one can print up to 13x19 borderless, or 13"wide roll paper. It's also very fast. It has a "smaller brother" the R-800 which uses the exact same kind of ink (8 different colors) and printing head except the max paper size is 8.5"x11". Canon and HP printers are very good too, but the Epson a bit better. -Laszlo-

DSE, Thanks for the info. My VX-2000 worth $600 according with them, plus I can get another $300 for my more junk I have. Would it be smart to trade in for an HC-7? Can the HC-7 perform better (beside the HD) than the VX-2000? They selling the HC-7 for $1400 (lot more than other places) so I would still spend $500. Thanks for your advice. -Laszlo-

Dave, These are very beautiful shots. No doubt even the 18-55mm lens can take some great pictures (I took some nice ones too with that). But there's too many things have to be just right to get the desired result. Without any experince of photography it will be even harder. With a better (and of course lot more expensive) lens) things just became easier, significantly less missed out shots, and on the long run it pays for itself multiple times (not only financially). It worth the investment. Also as long as an expensive lens functions properly it can be sold for a good price. -Laszlo-

Thank you Mike! Also thanks for the landig shots!

For landing shots (and generally for all kind of shots as well) the most important thing is a GOOD LENS. Today's digital SLR cameras all have the necesarry features to take nice ground photos. Landig parachutes are fast moving objects so a fast focusing motor and the image stabilizer is the most beside some experince. Unfurtunately these lenses aren't cheap. That's why I charge for my photos... Canon has real nice USM IS lenses. Also there's a 80-400mm lens from Sigma with stabilizer (they call it OS ) with fast focus motor. (hyper sonic) I never tried that lens though... but seems to me OK for the price. Does Nikon have image stabilized lenses? Personally I own a Canon 70-200 f2.8 USM IS lens. I love it! (at day light you don't really need the f2.8 unless if you want to take pics with very shallow DOF). Get a nice piece of glass for ground shots! -Laszlo- the first two photos were taken with the Canon 70-200 f2.8 USM IS lens, and Canon Rebel XT camera. the second two were taken with the same camera, the Sigma 15mm f2.8 lens, and the Canon 580EX flash. Everything was set manually.

I know (cause I've been cheking it out personally) the ARRI 235 cost $800 per day to rent(including magazines and accesories) plus $150 per day per lens. It's about 35-40 grand to buy one. It's deffinetly "skydiveable". ARRI also has the the D-20 (35mm digital cine-cam) but that one still a bit too big and heavy to jump (but not impossible) Same with Panavision's Genesis(I guess this one is better than the D-20). Evantually they'll get smaller and lighter. -Laszlo-

There's one thing I wouldn't do. I would NEVER put on my camera helmet during the take off. Imagine what would happen during a crash. That extra pound or two would become lot havier caused by the G forces and my head would be just torn off from my neck. I don't think to wear a camera helmet on my head during take off is a smart choice... I try to keep my head attached to my body even if the plane crashes. -Laszlo-

You'll get it, you're a good skydiver with plenty of experince and good atitude.

I do tandems as well (made over 2,000) TM/I camera person should work as a team! Unfortunately there are lot of TM/I's who not capable to work with the camera person, in that case we just have to be a bad-ass videographer and do our best. In your case Doug for that television shot I would have made sure the person not only a TM rating holder, but also able to work with the camera guy. I always selected instructors when the video was going to the media and I organized the jump. Even when I'm not in charge I let the DZO know there's a preffered TM/I for a lot better outcome. The good shot requires good acting not only good camera work...I guess. -Laszlo-

Pia Darling, If you show me those exit shots I'll be more than happy to tell you how to improve it. From the OTTER for tandems front float is the best and safest bacause this way you're always under and front of the tandem. The TM/I can see you all the time. Plus the costumer appriciates the face shot during the exit. See the attached pictures. I took the first one from the door as the tandem exiting with a front floating camera person (Carol Sternberg) The second shows how it actually looks when you froont float (Debbie&Bernadette) -Laci- -Laci-

Nice shot. I made my first jumps from AN-2 12yrs ago...

Awesome view of the landscape in the back ground

I used a similar effect on one of my DVD menu video 2 yrs ago... I just made this http://laszloimage.com/Edge.wmv in a few minutes on my ULEAD Media Studio Pro (very similar to Adobie Premier). The effect is called "Pen&Ink" in the video filters. There's lot of setting on this filter but I guess it's still demonstrates the idea. As DSE said it could be made on any descent NLE system. -Laszlo-