Zee

Anyone out there ever try to get Ilfachrome prints made from a Digital camera? I was just wondering - I have a few pictures that I've had printed on regular photo paper and Ilfachrome and the difference is unreal - The Ilfachrome prints have a color depth and clarity that is simply unbelievable. From what the lady at the lab told me, they could only make Ilfachrome prints from slides. I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried getting an Ilfachrome print from a digital image, or if it can even be done.? Peace, Z Action©Sports

Anyone else have the one where you have a total and the silver breaks off in your hand. So you figure, what the hell, and line up a delta track right down the runway. Right before you hit you flare out and land like a hang glider??? I think that was one of the first skydiving dreams I ever had Action©Sports

If I remember correctly, I had to do 5 static line jumps (I believe 3 PRCP's) Then there was the 5,10,15,20 second delays followed by the 90 degree turns, 360 degree turns, the barrel rolls/ back flips etc.... I'm pretty certain it was 17 jumps if you passed each level the first time around. Not an official answer but that's what I remember from when I did the static line thing. Peace, Z Action©Sports

Reminds me of "Big Daddy" - When Adam Sandler is talking about the old wrinkled balls Action©Sports

Perhaps we should all carry one of Aggie Dave's Dead Horse Beatin' Sticks with us in freefall... just in case Action©Sports

Yeah, some students freak and do stupid shit - When I see stuff like that I tend to back away very slowly I was filming a guy once who froze like that too - only this guy froze flat - arms and legs straight out. The poor TM was spinning so damned fast I backed off just so I wouldn't get kicked in the head. The TM finally got hold of the dudes hands and pinned them behind his head in the Felony Arrest position, stopped the spin, and dumped. Needless to say, I made no attempt at docking on that one Action©Sports

I don't know how many tandems you have under your belt, Dave, so speaking from my own experience, I can only say this; I've done well over 1,000 tandem videos and I can't recall a single time where a student has latched on to me in such manner that it could ever be considered as "dangerous" The student doesn't grab anything - I initiate the dock. I don't let the student put me in a fuckin' head lock, Dave - It's just a hand shake, and as such, it's only a simple matter of letting go. As for it not adding anything to the video or pictures, that's a matter of opinion. Take a quick look at the faces on the students in these pics Shake1, Shake2, Shake3 and tell me that they didn't think it was an extra bonus to shake hands with their video guy in freefall. It's been my experience that it does add a certain level of excitement for the student and to the video. In the end, it all comes down to the Tandem Master; he's the one who sets the guidlines and I won't do anything that makes him feel uncomfortable. I think we've just about beat the shit out this dead horse - anyone else agree? Peace, Z Action©Sports

I'd say I dock and spin the majority of the time. I've never had a TM say "Oh no, that's too dangerous!!" to me, and until that happens I'll continue to do so. I've had lots of very positive feedback from both paying customers and Tandem Masters alike. I don't really see it as much of a safety issue. The way I see it, if you're not good enough to perform a controlled dock on a freakin' tandem, you shouldn't be filming them in the first place. Peace, Z Action©Sports

They had a program about this guy on TLC I think it was - Master Minds - Gotta give credit where credit is due. This boy had a major operation going for him. Until he was busted, of course Action©Sports

Rough translation - Banana Peel. Forget Squashed Bananas! Banana Peel is a plastic case that protects bananas during transport. The Banana Peel is molded to fit most bent bananas. It's dish washer safe and it even has ventilation holes that help keep the banana fresh over time. A perfect gift, guaranteed to impress. Both practical and fun! Sorry - I forgot to include the reason they created this specific product: Banana Peel asked approx. 1,000 people if they had ever experienced a problem with a squashed banana? 87% said that at one point or another they had. I predict a smashing success They even have link so you can inquire about becoming a dealer Seems pretty Swedish to me Peace, Z Action©Sports

This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. Please don't answer it without giving it some serious thought. By giving an honest answer you will be able to test where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation, where you will have to make a decision one-way or the other. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and consider each line - this is important for the test to work accurately. You're in Florida... in Miami, to be exact... There is great chaos going on around you, caused by a hurricane and severe floods. There are huge masses of water forming devastating waves. You are a news photographer and you are in the middle of this great disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless - but you know that you will escape alive. You're trying to shoot very impressive photos. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is showing all its destructive power, and is ripping everything away with it. Suddenly, you see a man in the water, and he is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken away by the masses of water and mud. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. And suddenly you know who it is - it's George W. Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him away... forever. You have two options. You can try to save him or you can take the best photo of your life. So, you can save the life of George W. Bush, or you can shoot a Pulitzer prize winning photo. A unique photo displaying the death of one of the world's most powerful men. And here's the question: (Please give an honest answer) Would you select color film, or go with the simplicity of classic black and white? Action©Sports

That's some of the dumbest shit I've ever heard! Action©Sports

You'll have to ask mommy to lay out something nice for you As far as the lenses go, I use a high grade .42 and 15mm fisheye for the really close up stuff. If I'm planning on being a little further away I'll use a .6 and a 20mm or a 28mm. I'm hardly that great at freeflying though and I feel pretty uncomfortable flying a big setup like mine at those speeds and at fisheye proximity - If I were you I'd just stick with what you've got for now. You can always get something a little wider later on. Peace, Z Action©Sports

LOL! Yeah, you're probably right about that. But, that is one of those things that happens and if you're not prepared - whack!. The tandem master in that clip (Doug Jaques) has well over 7,000 tandems and I've worked with him quite a bit so he feels completely comfortable playing with the students while I'm with him. He started to spin the student really fast and they were headed straight for me so I popped up above them and they went directly underneath me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the TM - It's my job to get out of the way, and I did Not your every day tandem video, I'll admit, but it all turned out well and we did discuss it afterwards - never happened again

It all depends what you're used to, I guess. I usually don't film straight on when I shoot tandem video - I'll fly near sideways and turn my head towards the tandem - makes it easier to crank my head back cuz the yoke of my rig isn't in the way. I also arch like a bastard (not quite flying on my knees, but close) and hang on my wings. I don't know what kind of gear you're using but I find that a top-mount gives me the best results. But once again, it all depends upon what you're used to. I don't miss Texas that much but I really do miss Skydive San Marcos. It was an awesome place to work and the local jumpers are a freakin' blast. Think I might have to get my ass back down there for the annual Thanksgiving Gun Fest Peace, Z Action©Sports

Thanks mike, i have seen LOTS of your stuff, and that is what i am shooting for. I'm sure it won't take you long - Try shooting Erik a few times and he'll dial ya right in. He's likely to give you a ton of crap but it's all in good fun. And after 9,000 tandems I think he might have a few good ideas to pass along too. I don't know if you've seen it yet but I put together a tandem video that I was planning on using as part of a new running tape when I moved back down to Texas - that's not going to happen now that I landed a new job up here in Seattle but it might give you some new ideas. P.S - The music is a little different but it had to be "Phil Proof" or it would have been banned along with the rest of my running tapes Tandem Video Peace, Z Action©Sports

You beat me to it Action©Sports

You're just scared the video guy is gonna take your ass out All kidding aside though, it's been my experience that the student has much more fun when the TM and the video guy work together as a team - not just in the air but on the ground and on the ride to altitude as well. The footage turns out much better when you both have an idea of what the final product should look like (good video guys often make very good TM's) i.e facing the sun, rotating in opposite directions, shaking hands, making dumb faces etc..... If a dock works into the grand scheme of things, it looks good - If it's not done well and the camera guy flips over the freakin' tandem, well, then it ain't so good. I just think of what I would want my video to look like if I were forkin' up the dough and work from there. Just my 2 cents, Z Action©Sports

I agree that safety has to come first but, I also agree with Lew that it's also about adding some excitement for the student. A simple hand dock doesn't do much if you ask me. I almost always dock and spin the pair around a few times and on occasion, I'll flip over on my back and spin'em around while holding the students hand - great way to get extreme angles and it's also good for those priceless student expressions. You have to keep in mind that it's the TM that rules the world when you're working with tandems. The video guys at San Marcos are fortunate to work with tandem masters that have thousands upon thousands of jumps (not to mention other video guys who'll let you know EVERY time you fuck up) and, more often than not, they enjoy some extra carticluar activity on our part too. If the TM isn't comfortable with you goofin' around and isn't completely confident with your level of experience, they'll make you aware of it and you have to take it down a notch. I'd hold back on the antics until you're very proficient and you've experienced first had just how unpredictable Tandems can be. But, once you've established good rapport with the TM's and you're on the same page, let it rip and have some fun

Good job B! You're gettin' there - You have a good angle, could try to get a little steeper but they still look pretty damned good. Tell Jason to wash that dirt off his face - he's starting to look like Dave H. As far as proximity goes - it's good with the 28 mm - you want to keep the whole package in frame and you're close enough to capture the facial expressions which is the whole point if you ask me. Keep it up my man, Z Action©Sports

I took a drogue to the face on exit once. First time I ever filmed a tandem master that did a back flip out the door - Fuckin' thing whacked me square in da' face. The good thing was that it wasn't inflated yet - We played it back in slo-mo and saw that it was still wrapped up and it didn't inflate until after it bounced off my face. It was pretty funny, actually. A good tip - Arch like a mad-bastard in to the relative wind on exit - if you time your exit correctly, you'll be slightly below but only a few feet away when the TM tosses the drogue. If you're below the tandem, the drogue will miss ya every time. Peace, Z Action©Sports

Another take on that one - Does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington. Also they track her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. The solution is to give every illegal alien a cow. Action©Sports

Not much - It definitely gets the blood flowin', especially when you're wearing wings and a bunch of camera gear. I didn't have my first cutaway until jump #1253 - Comp Cobalt loaded at 2.2:1 that spun up on opening. The second and third happened a couple of hundred jumps later but they happened within 2 jumps of each other. Just make sure to practice those emergency procedures dude. You just never know when it's gonna happen again....

Are ya gettin' a little frustrated there, Dave? That must really suck knowing you can't send them the "asshat" email since you don't even have their correct address Keep up the good work, Dave - Peace, Z Action©Sports

Nice shots V- I like the way you didn't completely blur out the background on the shot of the globe. It's just enough. Good job