Kjeld 0 #1 September 20, 2004 Is it just me or do other camerapeople also think that a lot of new skydivers want to strap a camerahelmet on their heads pretty quick? I am very well aware of the fact that some have more talent than others, but experience with situations in the air is a different experience than flying skills. I started camerawork with 430 jumps and sold the videos right from the beginning, but I have been in situations where I had 800 or so camerajumps and needed all the experience I had to bring the jump to a good end. How will new skydivers with 1 or 2 years in the sport and 200 jumps respond to serious shit? As far as I know you have courses for everything, but a serious camera training course before you start doing it, I have never heard of it.... I think a lot of guys want to start too early. Who agrees and who doesn't? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevePhelps 0 #2 September 20, 2004 I agree, but I started around 200 jumps with camera (fun freefly and RW jumps) and the tandem videos around 300 jumps) Jump #s matter a lot for safety reasons, but lately I have seen guys with a thousand or more jumps that can't keep a tandem in frame for the length of the skydive. So, flying skills are important too. So, while I agree #s should be "a" measure if a flyer is ready for camera, I sure don't think it is "the" measure. Nothing helps more than having a mentor or a DZO who can jump with you or who knows your skills -- who could best determine when you should fly the camera. JMHO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #3 September 20, 2004 I totally agree. I know of someone that straped a camera on before he got 30 jumps, and another that started filming tandems with about 120 jumps. There is a lot of skill needed to get a good video to sell (I know, I have been in my Birdman suit too much and my videos looked too bad so I quit doing paid video ). Framing, light conditions, avoiding the drogue... those are all skills that are critical to have. You can do most those fairly well at low (less then 200) jumps, but when shit hits the fan is when you need all the experience you can get. I once had to chase down a tandem that had a partial drogue entanglement. It took every bit of freeflying skill I had not to lose the tandem. If I was a new flyer with out the skill set to do that... It could have been bad since I might have ended up way above the tandem as they pulled. At the very least I would have missed the entire skydive and would have had to send a customer home with out a video. RWS used to hold tandem tickets on the line for TM's that were jumping with video people that did not have a TM or AFF rating.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
