Laszloimage

Yes I did. I also shoewd the pictures to a TM-I/E who asked the "BOSS" (DZO) to do something, but somehow the whole thing just got derailed... I showed a similar pic to the "person in charge" earlier this year at different DZ. He took action. The only problem was I asked the "peson in charge" not to go directly with the photo to the TM-I (who didn't know how to adjust the harness), rather have a TM-I meeting to discuss he problem without names. But he did... The result was the actual problem got fixed, but now I was a dick who tried to drill his co-worker. Of course I showed the photos to the instructors who're involved in these pictures. One of them dosen't really understand what's the problem, the other trying to understand, and sometimes he's doing alright and sometimes just repeats the same stupid thing. ...I could do more, I could be a "whistle blower" but then I would create enemies what I don't want. The rules and requirments should be re-tightened to obtain any instructor rating. As far as I see all these problems are coming from the new system. Enough jump number (only numbers and no check on the quality of them)>>>Coach course>>>Instructor course>>>Start to work with a very little or no supervison. ....and all these can happen in 4-5 days!!! -Laszlo-

"with students falling out of the harnesses and the TI that recently had a leg strap fall off from a sticking latch i think we all need to rethink our aproach to tandems and start to do more training with the student." Yes I agree but those guys deffinetly don't belong the category I called "BAD ASS" These days way too easy to get the tandem rating. Free fly(without coaching and debriefing)=enough jump number>>>Coach course>>>Tandem course (the very next day, without actually working with students)>>>and please check the attached photos for the result. Guys like them perform same during the skydive as well. All of them have at least 500 TMs!!! Also I took these pics in the last 4-5 weeks, but obviously these TM-Is (are they really?) never paid attention what happened with students recently just becouse their harnesses were adjusted the same way. The real f*&^-ed part of it is NOBODY does anything agaist them. The idea to make a linked exit with the camera man while making a tandem skydive isn't the stupidest most dangerous thing, it all depends who's doing it. Somebody CAN somebody CAN NOT! But I deffinetly try not to promote such ideas, and trigger some "self appointed Bad Ass" guy to do something stupid who otherwise belong to the "CAN NOT" category... -Laszlo-

Thaks Tony! That's a very nice shot from you, I can't take one like that. Not yet...but soon. I gonna have a full frame camera too (5D)

It's maybe not the best idea, I don't want to encourage it. BUT with the right camera guy and of course with right TM-I it works and it's fun! (I did it from both sides) I still remember DZ's with the "No Hook Turn" signs and, now we have canopy piloting as a new disciplane becouse a few ignored it... Everything can be done a smart way or a stupid way. -New TM-I + bad ass camera guy= no good -Bad ass TM-I + not soo good camara dude= still no good -Bad ass TM-I + Bad ass camera guy= It could work OK as long as they make plans including if the student does something stupid (...and they always do). "Bad ass" dosen't only mean flying skills and jump numbers, it's also being aware of all possibilities. -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Thank you!

They're all for sale... -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Very nice Gary! I always see your pics and they're great! -Laszlo-

Friday the 13th...

Thanks man! Right now I use the Canon EX 580. There're lot cheaper flashes, but this one rocks, it has every feature what a flash could have, very easy to change settings, and very POWERFUL. -Laszlo-

Thank you! I just tried to make the point with my question and maybe I was too sarcastic (maybe even a dick...). I guess to get a good exit shot requires the fallowings: -Good performance from the jumpers (the subjects in the image) -A same good performance from the photographer. -Good Light -Good lens -The most suitable camera setting for the planned skydive and light conditions -...Of course a flash -And maybe even a good luck. I totally agree the performance of the camera can help a lot (like 5f/s rate) but my expirice with that the result is just 5 times more digital junk. Blue Skies! -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com the attached photos were taken with a single shot mode

Is there any flash out there which can go off 5 times in the second(at least with half power)? Photos look lot nicer with a flash... -Laszlo-

I agree you made the point man! -Laszlo-

If you don't like him then tell him to get the 1Ds MarkII, becouse that's more expensive and heavy not a best thing to walk around with all day long. If you like him, tell him to get the 5D. That's a very nice camera approx the same size as the 20D. The big advantage of that camera is (beside 13MP) is full frame image sensor, and a very good low light performance. Using ISO 400 with the 5D is just like the ISO 200 on my XT! I was lucky to use one a few times. I hope I can buy my own soon... Otherwise FreeflyDrew is right, the photographer takes the nice picture not the camera. If your buddy dosen't know about photography really dosen't matter what he's going to buy the result will be the same, except the bad pictures will take more space on his computer with higher res. camera. -Laszlo-

Yes, I agree. But there would be another problem. I know Tandem Examiners who are pretty good at what they doing, but they don't have expirenxe on high performance canopies. Also I met a guy who had ONLY 100 (yes one hundred) TM jumps and he was TM I/E on the Strong system becouse (I guess) they needed someone in that country where he was from to train TM I's. Very heads up guy, but that 100 TM he made just not enough expirience to teach others (I videoed him). Anyway... I try to be short. Nothing is impossible including the use of heavily loaded cross-braced TM canopies. But things like that deffinetly would require new standards, rules, manuals, and ect... -Laszlo-

Well the Sky Hook won't make the cutaway easier for sure. But the reserve deployment will be fast and clear sice the malfunctioned main becomes the reserve pilot chute as soos as you realese it. I never had a TM mal but I'v seen a lot of them (avg. 1-2 every week this summer due to the crappy pack jobs) and the rigs equipped with RW's Sky Hook worked very well. Yes I agree fast spinnig malfunctions with a siple RSL can be a problem, I heard stories from colleagues seeing the free-bag when they chopped from a bad spin on the TM. The problem isn't the high performance TM canopy. The problem is coming from the attitude towards to it. A person with both lot of tandem and HP canopy expirince (not only expirince but also very good at it) probably won't have any trouble with the high performance TM canopy. Also it requiers up to date TM rigs with additional safety features (like Sky Hook). And very important, understanding the princicipals when the TM rig is packed. The lack of any of these above can end up bad even with a more conservative parachute. Higher performance TM equipment requires higher performance TM instructor and more "precision" and it's possible safely. -Laszlo-

You didn't know? I always been...

I think the "Sky Hook" from Relative Workshop makes a big difference in the spinning mal. (Of course things like that don't exist on the Strong). And the most important thing is DON"T pack one! I have over 2000 tm's and no chop so far. I pack for my self when I'm allowed... (Some DZ's they don't let you). Every single close call on the TM came from the high school kids kind of packers.

Lot of places the priority is the price and the durabilty is the most about student (tandem) jump suits. I think the "baggy style" is not always the best idea from the TM I's aspect. It deffinetly can make the jump more difficult than it needs to be... In case of short and heavy passengers it deffinetly makes easier to the camera guy. -Laszlo-

Yes, 2-3 of them to catch dust.... weigth limit is 235lbs no extra buck Since my lower back is f*&^%d up I'm a pussy, so my personal limit is 180lbs period.

Congrats Randy! That's not how we doing it at the Ranch...hehehehe. -Dr. Laci Linetewist-

Doug, I have a question about the Video Seminar in NYC in end of October. You mentioned the avilabilty of guest passes. I'm really intersted, please let me know about the details if it's possible. Thank you very much! -Laszlo-

I think real time editing is the way to go for tandems. Personaly I don't even use a video mixer board. All I use is an audio mixer with two sources of music plus the cameras original sound. The video editing is basicly done as I shoot. The "Time Line" is my head and I use the video camera features like (picture effect BW, and Sepia and some Negative) Also the "Flash" digital effect set to the very first bar gives a 16mm film like feel to the video. Further more the use of the zoom and proper "filming techniques" are very helfull too to make a better loking tandem video. I will upload an example vid. to my web site right away. Only the 30sec leader is computer edited which is pre-recorded to my video camera in every 6 minutes. Please check it out on www.laszloimage.com http://www.laszloimage.com/Video_page.htm Of course we can make a lot better video if we're using computers. But doe's it worth it? At the places I work normally I have 20minutes to pack (I always do) , come up with the DVD, and make it to the next load...and they prefer to have the "production" right away instead of mailing them out. Blue Skies! -Laszlo- www.laszloimage.com

Try the "Pro Mouth Switch" It has a Canon plug version (20D, 30D, D60 ect....), and a stero plug version (Digital Rebel, XT, XTi...) They available at www.TheRanchProShop.com and at other major gear dealerships. No "rigging", just pull it out of the bag and use it! -Laszlo-

a spectator, the Porter, and a camera Crew. -Laszlo-

...Then are these two shots aren't so good becouse the angle is kind of flat and a knee is missing too? There's no such a rule what angle is the best. The best angle is always whatever makes the photo look the best. Otherwise very nice flying in that steep angle which is more required by 4-way teams for the video debrief. But photos are different... I have to agree with "iamsam" In additon I recommend the use of flash (if possible) and RAW files. Blue Skies! -Laszlo-