Cashmanimal

For all my file conversions that don't need to be special I just import the file into iMovie HD then "Share" it in mp4. Work fantastic. and it's free. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Advertising photography/photojournalism. I owned all my cameras and lenses, including wide angles, prior to even beginning skydiving. The video camera was used to document work/locations for later reference. I even had the switches laying around, as they come in handy for tripod photography/ night photography, and is extremely convenient for studio photography, although I primarily use a wireless switch for that. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I agree that video jumps pay a relatively small amount. If it made life easier for everybody, I think it would just be wiser to have every camera flyer act as their own private contractor. Of course, like any suggestion there are many ups and downs. For smaller dropzones like the ones I jump at, it would be fairly simple to have video/stills as an option, and then have each individual camera person work out their own deal. Where there are only a couple camera guys jumping, i don't think too big of a price battle would ensue. For example, I (of course) started by lurking groups, and eventually lurking some AFF jumps all on my own $$. Then, as my confidence and abilities grew, I worked it out so I would film it if they paid for my jump ticket, then we would review it and that's the end of it. Now that I am doing paid video jobs, I have been extremely content with the financial situation at the dropzone. All my video/stills equipment i already owned for my every day job. I had to purchase helmets, camera suits, blah blah blah. But being fairly fresh to the sport they just feel like necessary expenses to do the thing I love. My point being I would happily video/still a tandem and edit it for the price of my jump ticket plus $20. The $$ helps cover gas to the DZ, tapes, and discs, because if I wasn't doing THAT video job I would probably be doing the same thing for experienced people for MAYBE my jump ticket, or a sandwich or something. On the other hand, guys who have been doing this for a while could be charging more than me, where they have the right to. But this, I realize, would never work at most medium/large dropzones, because inevitably every paying student/passenger wants the cheap guy would will do a fine job as opposed to the even slightly more expensive guy who will do a stunning bang-up job. So, basically this applies to a DZ with only a couple/few camera flyers. Typically I will go to the dropzone on saturday and fun jump all day. I leave and come back the next day and do a couple fun jumps and 3-4 paid video jobs. Said and done, my account usually comes out to somewhere around +/- $20. If I am ahead, woo hoo. If I am behind, then $20 feels a whole lot better than the $200+ the weekend usually would cost me. Of course I say all of this knowing that I am not a full time vidiot. I casually edit a handful of videos during the week when I normally wouldn't be doing anything anyway. I don't hate it YET. But for me, photography is a passion, and so is skydiving. When I can go have a weekend completely packed with both of them together and the worst case financial scenario being it cost me $20, I am very content. Of course, I never wanna sell myself short either. It's not easy, nor is it the safest discipline in the sport. There needs to be some hazard pay in there as well. This is a point of view from an in-betweener. If I were at the DZ 3-4 times a weeks filming mad tandems and AFF, I would expect a bit more hefty cushion as well, so I see where everybody is coming from. And of course, there is always the canopy/helmet cutaway combo lurking in the corner. If my helmet ever has to get chopped, I will put forth a serious effort to raise the pay 7-8 hundred percent for video/stills. /end novel edited for spelling/clarity It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

not that it is very useful input, but I use the BH d-box for my HC-30. Also, I top mount it. But if it is any help, I like it very much and have no real complaints with my setup. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I don't see any problems with the gaffers tape. Although I ran out this weekend, and yes, used duct tape. I wasn't going to, but the first jump I made, every photo was out of focus. (Getting bumped in the plane, and I even think the wind resistance was enough to adjust the focal length with the lens I use). The duct tape, although it was only for a couple jumps, was an absolutely terrible idea. Just those few minutes out in the summer sun was enough to leave a goopy mess when I went to work on monday. In the future, I will just jump with AF on, and take that gamble asw it appears as though tapeless was no better... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

yeah, as logical order would follow, I decided to scower (sp?) the SIM AFTER my previous post for some info on skyball and didn't find anything. I was using the downloadable PDF form, and didn't really have time to search for any other form (skydive ball, or something like that). I had brought that up lately when flipping through the FAR/AIM and applied it directly to skyball. AS a balloon pilot for three years, we were always sure to let passengers know that throwing anything out of the balloon was illegal, as it was quite tempting. However, for all our ballooning competitions we use bags of sand with very long tails on them and throw them out of the balloon at targets. Or for those of you who have made it to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, this applies directly to the key drop. (You are given a house key and must take off at least 2 miles away, then try and fly over a house parked at the Fiesta field. Then, you drop the key, and if you make it in the chimney, you win the house). Every day the Balloon Fiesta attracts thousands upon THOUSANDS of onlookers, especially on competition day. (Pole grab, etc.). There i a small buffer zone, maybe a couple hundred feet for onlookers. But I always wondered about pilots making desperate throws (which always happens) from a few hundred feet + up in the air. Balloons are not the most precise flying machines, so when pilots get close, they know it is probably their only chance. To date, nobody has been hit by flying keys or sandbags (knock on wood). I figured this applied directly to skyball, as the pilot was aware of what we were doing, and precautions being way out over the desert. Now, I am assuming skydivers are considered an object being dropped out of an airplane, with proper precautions? (parachute). So, this would be why not much technical preparation is required past DZO, S&TA and the pilot for skyball? (Such as including it in a NOTAM?) Edited to add some details. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Well I guess I couldn't be completely clear in MY rambling response.... While I agree with some in that the SIM needs to be brought up to date, I in no way meant to put it down, in that case I was specifically referring to verbal pushers. Now, don't let that lead you to think I have any better suggestions at the time... I don't feel I have anything to offer for the SIM that is much better than what has governed the skydiving community for plenty of years now. I mean along the lines of, you know, at least some pictures. If any sport is over-documented on film, it's this one. But that is for another topic. I respect the guidelines and requirements the SIM puts forward. Stressing specifically the guidelines. 200 jumps is a GREAT number to suggest to start flying a camera. It gives way to experience, but allows younger people to the sport to have their shot too. But once again, a guideline, not a law. Students are required to have an AAD, licensed jumpers are not, by a law in the SIM at least, not referring to specific dropzone laws, of course. It's a bad idea, but not against any law. Students may not jump a camera, licensed jumpers are suggested to wait til 200 jumps. As stated before, I wanted to be sure of my flying ability before dawning a camera. Once I was sure of my abilities and spoke to as well as JUMPED with countless experienced people, made the decision to do so. There are a number of people on these forums who have openly admitted to not being able to stand up landings after hundreds of jumps, flare evenly, or have ever even touched their risers on Canopy flight. Hence guidline, not law. Maybe camera before 200 is a bad, or not-so-good idea. But not law. Personal choice. There is no law saying we can't get permission from our DZO and S&TA to take a tennis ball filled with BB's and a pull-up chord out over the desert and throw it back and forth. Until there is, I assure you we are not the only people doing it. The SIM is not full of bullshit, cocky inconsiderate posters are. For all I know, these people could be some 45 year old fat guy sitting at home that learned everything he knows from watching Real TV and browsing the DZ.com forums while flipping through this month's parachutist. OR, he/she could be an absolute badass that hasn't made a mistake since his/her first solo on jump 14. If so, I would love to see them jump... and would specifically avoid ever jumping with them for fear that my inferiority would be enough for them to reem me on the ground , no matter how successful and fun the jump was. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I would have to say the blatant answer is no, of course it does not LOOK planned. I think it was our prior planning that allowed us to instill some degree of safety into this. I am sure had the ball been weighted correctly, or if we had a vladiball or whatever prior solution that could have been applied were present, it would have been a happy skydive with many passes of the ball, conservative flying and everything done by the book. My personal opinion (in my now 168 jumps) is that there has to be some settling done in every situation. If I threw the ball and it went down and all 4 of us gave up and I posted the video I would have received 10 posts telling me that my/our decision to let a catchable ball go was idiotic and could have killed somebody and crashed 7 feet underground and killed a whole herd of cattle on the way down. BUT, I chose to chase a catchable ball which played into one possible out discussed before the jump. And in doing so, I have now created a situation where I am being told I have no flying ability, I am retarded, and have no business in the sky. Thanks to whoever posted on youtube that I would have no business handling jell-o if I met you in person. (deleted, by the way). Example: Do you deploy on your back? I would assume that most people around here would agree that no, that would not be considered a good idea. But lets say for some outrageous reason you have a cutaway and are spinning on your back at 1000 feet, or lower? (IT'S AN EXAMPLE). You are not supposed to deploy on your back. BUT, you are not supposed to hit the ground either. This would be an (extreme) case of what I mean by give and take. Basically, no matter what we did on this jump, somebody would have had something to say. So I agree... there is constructive criticism, and then there is blatant flaming. Yeah, I almost DID get hit with a skyball in a head down. Do i 'know' a headdown? I would happily look you in the face and say no. But with one other person in my airspace, one of which was in my field of vision, I made the decision to use it to the extent that I know to chase the ball. And hey, what do you know, I got there. Perhaps it wasn't pretty, correct, or what some would consider 'safe." But I was on a Cessna load with 4 jumpers, two of which had tracked away, and one in my field of vision. I was not in an otter load with the danger of back-tracking underneath or into the 6-way that exited before me. So, people will say what they will say. I feel I am mature enough to see through the overwhelming loads of bullshit and find the learning experience in what people say. I don't have 1000 jumps. I don't have 500, or 200 jumps. But I would be willing to guess that anybody who isn't hard-headed and stubborn will tell you they learn something on every skydive, ESPECIALLY those with 10,000+ jumps. I just hope that flipping through these forums doesn't discourage any student who might, and most likely is browsing the forums because they think every time they do something someone will be crawling of their ass instead of teaching them what they can do better. I don't know the people who do it personally. They don't know me. This is a forum on a website where people can hide behind an alias if they choose. I have never jumped with most of the people here, and probably won't. I have made no claims to being a sky god or anything close to it. I have been told in person by highly experienced people that I fly like somebody with many more jumps than I actually have. I don't let it go to my head, I take it as a compliment and continue on the learning curve I am on. Sure, I fly a camera and have been for a handful of jumps. I don't meet the suggested number of jumps. I don't doubt my ability to fly reasonably, otherwise I wouldn't do it. Of course I don't have the experience of others, and in understanding that I have assumed the risk of having to deal with a malfunction, snag, or whatever else may come along and plan to deal with it to the best of my knowledge, abilities, and experience. I am used to hearing about it on the forums. The forums don't run my life. They provide some very useful information once you sift through it all. I just think some people could take a step back and look at their approach. So I guess I will just take all the fun out of it for those and say that yes, this was a horrific skydive. It happens. All four people who left the plane landed in the landing area and had a good laugh about it. 'Tis part of the sport. Have you ever had a bad exit? Ever been a little unstable on an exit for no reason other than it happens? So anyway. Vladiballs, huh? Been lookin into them. They look like a worthwhile investment! Thanks for the suggestion. And for those who provided PM's with specific weights for freeflying vs. belly flying, thank you very much, it was all very helpful. And to those who have nothing better to say than horrific criticism, ruthless flaming and in general provide nothing positive or even remotely useful to this forum, people's advancement, or possibly even the sport in general: What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. Thanks! It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I haven' taken the time to research this yet... My grandfather just finished building his own little plane and I was wanting to do a jump out of it, but was not sure on the logistics (or lack thereof). I assumed it would be a "bandit jump" as it is 200 miles from the nearest DZ, and it would just be me bailing out over out lake house... Would it just be a matter of him being in contact with other traffic, as far as technical aspects go?.... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

As a former balloon pilot turned jumper, this is what we have always done: -We gather in the morning and make sure the conditions will be good for the balloon flight -Wait til the sun comes up (as it can dramatically change wind speed/direction) and then start sending up pie-balls (helium balloons) and watch where they go, where wind layers are, etc. -Then we decide where we are going to launch from. i have never had to file to notam myself, but it seems once we have decided we are going, is when that is taken care of, something along the lines of "Skydiving activity approx. __ miles south of ___ airport begining at ___ hour until ___ (usually starting about 20 minutes after the call, until about an hour after that... it is usually quite quick to altitude) That's how it always seems to go around here. Like I said, I have never been fully in charge, though. Around here, the only responsibility for the jumper is to show up,and HELP THE BALLOON CREW! (If you can, try and land and store your gear, then try and catch up with the crew to help put the balloon away, it's a lot of work. Especially if you are getting to go for free!) It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

AH, I understand what you mean now. I had done this on the previous jump, with this result: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MgyFbIX4-7c Probably should have kept my other hand over it in anticipation.... I figured our second one would be a little closer... I guess a little anxiousness set in with the second ball. Until we get it dialed in, I will wait til we hit terminal to test it out. I wasn't saying you were grillin me I thought what you said made sense... but it did happen, and I am, as usual, completely over it. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Your right on about inevitable. I'd say 1/3 of dz.com is just grillings. 2/3 of my dz.com career has been grillings. but contrary to popular belief they actually piss me off. The outcome of the situation would be much different if you were meeting these guys in person. (DSE) I agree. Although it is hard sometimes, I tend not to take anything that is said here personal. Although most people here are far more experienced than I am, they tend to use the ability to hide behind a username and play the odds of never meeting in person to stroll about on their high-horse. That is not to say, by any means, that a lot of the people talking big couldn't fly circles blindfolded around me. I have taken much advice from the site, with many grains of salt. I have received a LOT of useful info. I have received many grilling as well, though! Anyway, now that this thread was derailed... I basically posted it to accept about 10 flamings to every "Wow, what were the odds! Neat!" It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Experience level: First out- 800+ jumps with countless ball jumps, second out was me with 165 jumps, ~10 Ball jumps, third out has 250 jumps with 2 ball jumps, last out has 200 jumps with ~15 ball jumps. I guess you would say the "ball master" would be me, as we decided if any chasing was necessary or possible, it would be me going after it. As far as who has it at break off, whoever has possession at 5500 or below keeps it. (the last throw was made between 6000 and 5500... I assumed having to chase the ball down was an obvious clue to NOT throw it again... he didn't) Yes, the DZO and S&TA knew about it. Our landing zone is about a mile from the nearest sign of civilization, in addition to spotting well outside the landing zone. (Hence the high break-off for a bit of tracking or high pull if necessary). Our jump van usually parks in the landing zone, but waits a bit down the road on jumps with toys. The winds were between 5-10 all the way up, in the opposite direction of the nearest sign of life (a pool of irrigation water). We established ahead of time if the ball was going to be chased down, who was going to do what. I as well as the last guy out would chase (yes, aware of the chance of collision) and the other two would track towards the landing zone, as we would obviously be at much different altitudes, and that would make their life a lot easier as far as getting back. As I am sure someone will ask why the most experienced jumper wasn't on the chase team, it is because he simply doesn't like to do anything outside of simple belly-work, due to previous injuries and laziness. As far as the last guy's exit went, it was just funky. He is actually rather skilled and reliable as a skydiver and cameraman, he claims it was just funky how he exited. I think that's just an excuse . I agree it was rather disappointing. Anyway, being a Cessna DZ, we have plenty of time to pre-plan these things while we wait to actually jump. The only real random part of this is building the ball, despite what the video may convey. I love these DZ.come grillings! They are inevitable. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

We spent a while making a number of skyballs on saturday. Nobody really knew an ideal weight or tail length, so we just kinda felt it out. Our first one was far too light, and upon releasing it, shot straight up. This video is of our second attempt, in which the ball turned out to be far too heavy, for belly-flying at least. The fun part about this one is right after I threw the ball (which I will admit, isn't a perfect toss to begin with) it shoots straight down. I initially wrote it off and assumed we just lost another ball, but then decided to try and chase it down, as did the fourth guy out of the plane. The other two turned their jump into a cross-country dive (pre-planned in case something exactly like this happened). I went into a real steep track to go after it, as did the other guy. Just after passing him I put my best effort into what little knowledge I have of a head-down, just to try and get a little speed boost, which it turned out I didn't need. But as I passed the ball, my frantic effort to grab it actually caused me to kick it, and against all odds, it went right to the other guy! It was all really fun. Despite learning many things from the video later (such as the fact that my bite-switch cable had come un-tapped in the plane, or that the last guy out needs to work on his dive-out a bit) it was really exciting to watch such a crazy occurrence on film. Then,for some reason, he decided to throw it to me one more time, about 1000 feet before pull time... then it was gone for good. We'll have it right next weekend (as we now have access to the internet, and some guidelines!) Sorry for no clicky (feel free to PM me on how to do it) http://youtube.com/watch?v=jiK5Zxz9pg4 It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Ah... I apologize for missing that. The link was very helpful, many thanks! It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Well that is just dandy info now. I have obviously accepted not having it ready... no biggie. What type of dye WOULD it use? It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

A while back I posted asking if it were feasible to dye a jumpsuit, as I had recently purchased one and wanted to dye it to match like everything else. The jumpsuit is a navy blue Tony Suit. I set it in a bucket with a double-strong batch of black dye for twice the required amount of time, and the only parts that came out an even remotely different color were the tag (which is a fantastic black now) and the booties (which are just, fairly black). I called Tony suits, but they are closed. I was really wanting this done by tomorrow... is there a technique I missed or am unaware of? Is this just something that is not possible? (I received so many repies saying it was possible, I got my hopes all up!) Thanks for any help.... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I recently picked up a camera suit for a pretty good deal. I received it and tried it on... it fits... okay, although the legs are too small. The thighs are just way too tight. Aside from that, it fits nicely. Does anybody have any experience with tailoring a jumpsuit? It seems like a pretty simple fix... just need to increase the diameter of the thighs. I got such a good deal on it, I would rather try to make it work than resell and wait for a new one. Would it be worth my troubles to go get it professionally re-fitted? (Like I said, it doesn't seem like an extremely difficult fix...) Thanks! It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I just spent two weeks there. I can sum it up for you. Modesto is a dirty piece of crap of a town. Traffic sucks, the people suck, the town sucks the scenery sucks the social life sucks and anything that can be hotwired or lifted by three or less people will get stolen. But hey... maybe that's your thing. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

I noticed they were hiring, no experience needed.... would there be slightly higher pay for experienced people? I go to San Jose State, and was considering this as a possible job... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Skydive New Mexico (my home DZ) Eloy- Arizona Hollister - California lodi- California Davis- California Monterey- California Not a whole lot, but I only have a handful of jumps... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

NOOOOO. Hot chicks are already stuck up enough. Dont do this. If you do then dorks like you will never ever have a chance of bagging one. Trust me, I bang hot chicks all the time and it is because I have never ever asked one for their autograph!! Well, of course by autograph signing we mean strip show. Except for free to us, just to fuel her ego specifically. She is a dance major, and goes to Tulane. I never have to see her again-- what a way to end it! It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

You saw a hot chick you know naked and that's horrendously awkward? Blues, Dave Well.... yeah! I am not saying I am not appreciative or slightly turned on... but still! I guess I can't really describe it. But don't think I am not extremely excited... just an awkward excitement. My buddies and I are trying to organize an autograph signing... It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

Well in that case... there are some details that I would hate to see prior to editing. I am talking about things such as nipple/boob ratio and such. Because just flipping through, there are some that possibly were photographed too close to the deadline for Hugh. I guess the thread need to be renamed. Sorry for getting so many hopes up, just to have them gunned down by my horrendously awkward situation! It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye

yeah, I completely agree and am not going to argue that point at all. But to be honest, I don't think they spend much time on anything but faces in the issue. I mean, tan lines and such are an easy fix, and they are all there. Of course, that could be some of the lure... i don't know. She was always one of those girls who had it, knew it, and flaunted it. Of course, after being around her for seven years... we (the guys at least) were pretty much over it. But agreed, I am sure she isn't so bronzy in person... and almost positive she doesn't give off a luminescent glow as she takes her shirt off. But you know all the details they tend not to edit too much... the permanent body details... they all are superb. I have to go brush my teeth after saying that. It's all fun and until someone loses an eye... then it's just a game to find the eye