It's good to post something again Jim. My life has taken several interesting twists and turns over the last year and a half. In thirteen months time, I bought a business and married off two daughters. :-)
I've still dropped by here from time to time, but without much by way of photons to share. I guess I could share a few non-aviation stuff, but that would be like boring my friends with my fold-out wallet album!
I've enjoyed watching the old names and faces continue to ratchet up the bar here and see new names joining right it.
Good to have you back, don't ever think you could bore us. Come by every once in a while and say "Hi". Once you get to stand back up after two weddings and a business you can go back to shooting airplanes .
Had a nice exchange with Stephen Frink this evening, he seems to think that I'd be happiest with his Seacam line of underwater housings and accessories. He seems like a great guy, I remember him cutting his teeth way back when I first started diving. He's kind of the Paul Bowen of underwater photography, and the same kind of quality human being.
Anyway, regardless of what brand I choose, he's going to help me get properly equipped. I'm guessing that you can't go wrong with advice from the best of the best in any field, and Stephen is certainly that.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Had a nice exchange with Stephen Frink this evening, he seems to think that I'd be happiest with his Seacam line of underwater housings and accessories. He seems like a great guy, I remember him cutting his teeth way back when I first started diving. He's kind of the Paul Bowen of underwater photography, and the same kind of quality human being.
Anyway, regardless of what brand I choose, he's going to help me get properly equipped. I'm guessing that you can't go wrong with advice from the best of the best in any field, and Stephen is certainly that.
Well .... I had a quick look at that Seacam stuff and I have to say that it looks a lot more "right" than some of the other UW stuff. Not that I know a thing about taking UW pictures - but just looking at it with an engineering eye. Looks less like a housing and more like a system, if you see what I mean.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Good to have you back, don't ever think you could bore us. Come by every once in a while and say "Hi". Once you get to stand back up after two weddings and a business you can go back to shooting airplanes .
I've been meaning to get your thoughts on my cinema stabilizing rig, and the new version that I want to build myself. I like the one I have, but the more I use it, the more I think it's not rocket science and there are probably a lot of ways that it could be improved upon. The reason for the sequel is to accommodate two Kenyon 8x8 gyros, mounted in vertical orientation on the bottom of the head platform. This feature, and incorporating a little wider base with vertically adjustable columns, will allow for cameras like my Sony FS/7 and F/55 to be stabilized. The existing unit doesn't work with a 15 to 19 lb payload. Seems that there must be better ways to suspend the head platform too. Any thoughts?
nickjohnson wrote:
Well .... I had a quick look at that Seacam stuff and I have to say that it looks a lot more "right" than some of the other UW stuff. Not that I know a thing about taking UW pictures - but just looking at it with an engineering eye. Looks less like a housing and more like a system, if you see what I mean.
Hi Nick,
I agree. I had a long conversation this morning with Stephen and he told me all of the reasons that Seacam is his choice in U/W gear. Apparently the quality craftsmanship, ergonomics, smooth/precision controls and available accessories are top shelf, but at a premium around a factor of 4. I'm sure it's worth it. The difference between a full Seacam system and a comparable Nauticam outfit is a couple of grand. The Frink's invited me to a seminar they are giving in 2018 in Key Largo, which might be a lot of fun.
I agree. I had a long conversation this morning with Stephen and he told me all of the reasons that Seacam is his choice in U/W gear. Apparently the quality craftsmanship, ergonomics, smooth/precision controls and available accessories are top shelf, but at a premium around a factor of 4. I'm sure it's worth it. The difference between a full Seacam system and a comparable Nauticam outfit is a couple of grand. The Frink's invited me to a seminar they are giving in 2018 in Key Largo, which might be a lot of fun.
I'm so sorry to hear that you won't be able to make it to the Key Largo seminar - I'm sure that I will be able to represent you in an appropriate fashion - thanks for thinking of me ....
Speaking of photography that has water in it...............a math or so ago a gentleman called me asking me about swimming pool photography. I sent him some commercial/residential samples with a small blurb on how I approach that work. Last week he called me and it seems that he has a backlog of beautiful pool renovations/installations that he has had on hold while he found time to look for just the right guy to shoot them. This is going to be fun, the next project has 200K in landscape alone and he's working on one where his client is spending close to a million dollars, just on the landscape, plus the pool. He's a relatively small, high end custom designer/builder that focuses on the North Dallas and Park Cities areas. Should be some incredible outdoor living areas to capture, very exciting!
See why I have a hard time pulling the plug on this, "Life is like a box of chocolates.................." F.Gump
There must be some way that I can put a 5DSR in a Seacam enclosure to work on these projects........
Actually, the more I look at this U/W stuff, the Seacam rig, capable as it probably is, becomes a monster with the wide dome port and a couple of flashes. I think i have to get some of this stuff in my hands to decide what works and what is too much.
I've laughed a number of times as I finally got all strapped into the T-6, saying that it was the only activity that rivaled diving in that by the time you were ready to go, you were to tired to do it! How 'bout adding a photo or video rig to that?
you can go back to shooting airplanes .
