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ROK

Advice Through Experience

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Be it whether you've been flying camera for many years, or just for a short time, share one thing that made you a better skydive photographer/ videographer. Also feel free to use one-liners as advice to others. Examples...."Have at least three hundred jumps", or "Don't forget to remove the lens cap"!

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Learn to tell the differnce between cameye indicating 'stand by' and 'record'. This way you don't end up shooting an entire spot and then set the cam to stand by on line up. Been there done that :S>:([:/]

“The sum of intelligence on the planet is a constant; the population is growing.” - George Bernard Shaw
He who dies with the most toys, wins.....
dudeist skydiver # 19515
Buy quality and cry once!

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Be prepared. Check everything. Be ready when you need to be, avoid having to rush. Know your equipment, have everything ready, tape queued, enough tape left, enough memory card left, full batteries, check all camera settings, clean lenses, remotes connected right. Carry a spare coin (for quick release), some gaffers tape, lens wipe in your pocket.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

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Choosing between a fun jump (no camera or using it a mere flight recorder) or actually going out to shoot a subject with attention. Not for a commercial video or anything, but just to practice in aim/filming.
Flying (wingsuit) without a wide-angle lens, slightly zoomed in. Focussing on aim and subject.

Still not completely where I want to be...but getting better and better at it...
JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

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Quote

lens wipe in your pocket.



I keep mine in my helmet, otherwise I keep losing them.
I also keep a spare CF card in the top of my helmet, as there was one time when I was showing pix to a student, and had to run for the load. I'd left my CF card in the card reader, and had no spare. Since the 1GB cards are practically free, I now carry one taped inside my FTP.

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One thing?

Early on in 4-way, I had a team with a coach (Jack Jeffries) who asked if I had gotten permission to hit the team. It made everyone think; if I didn't get permission, no one could complain if I wasn't super steep and tight. And once I had permission, I could really push the envelope. Never did hit anyone, but just having the permission allows you to fly harder. I'm not a regular tunnel flyer, but I did spend a fair amout of time in the tunnel specifically flying someone's burble. Not flying out of it everytime I hit it, but flying in it for a while to get a better feel for flying that way. Really helps with RW.

Always be ready, and have a spare everything. Video cameras, still cameras, helmets, rigs, etc. I carry a little emergency pouch in my jumpsuit that has a spare MiniDV tape, a small folding screwdriver, a CF card, and spare batteries for my still camera. In the same pocket (leg pocket so I can get to everything when I'm crammed into a jump plane) is a lens cloth, film (if necessary) and a strap for lashing my helmet to my chest strap on take-offs.

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Remember to go home at the end of the day.

What I mean by that is that no matter what else you do, no matter how important the shot, no matter who you skydive with, if you end up going to the hospital or morgue, none of THAT stuff is going to matter.

Make sure you're in a position to go HOME.
quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

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Find other camera flyers to jump with and exchange footage at the end of the day. Not only is it awesome to have your self on film, but you get to check out how other peoples cameras film. Made me realize how shitty my cam look compared to the new hot ones!

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always arrive at the DZ ,, with
1 .your rig packed.
2. your camera gear ready to go, ( batteries charged, tapes cued up, lenses and filters clean
and attached)
and...
.
.
3. a smile on your face.....

confidently strolling to the plane or to the subjects of your video, while they are preparing to dirt dive, or are gearing up, looks FAR better, than scrambling around piecing together your Cam helmet, or looking for a battery etc..

some GOOD advice, which i learned right here in this forum,,, and which mirrored the patterns which i had already established...
... check your skydiving gear. Put ALL of it on, completely,,,,:|,,,, before turning to the cameras, be sure that pre cameras ritual includes arming your AAD if you use one, turning on your audible , if necessary,
gathering gloves, goggles etc...
THEN turn to the camera helmet and go through a check list there,,, as well...

PS camera flying will require a good degree of "OFF the DZ " time and activity..
During the week, take care of cleaning, organizing, reviewing AND Cuing of any previously recorded footage, and of course boosting your batteries ( and you SHOULD own multiple Batteries)...
be sure cam-eyes are working right, check the integrity of your chinstrap hardware, be sure all your cameras are OFF,,,:S when not in use...
then when you arrrive at the DZ, you can be confident that you AND your gear, are ready to go...
.
.
oh yeah..... have fun B|:)


jmy

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