Overdue Update

Well I was reminded recently that folks, few that they are, might actually read these posts. So as the title indicates, it is time for a long overdue update. Travel is the theme, in fact, this is really the first night I've really had some time to update. Started four weeks ago in Norfolk aboard the USS Kearsarge, which I boarded and sailed to New York City for Fleet Week. One highlight of the transit, shown in photo below, was when the cast of X-Men III: The Last Stand, Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman and Kelsey Grammer, came aboard and rode the ship in. Not normally one to go for the hype, but it did provide something different to photograph and far more of these photos were published then those that I made for my actual job.


Follow-on trip to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and just returned from a very wet week in Boston. Was in Boston for Navy Week to shoot aerials of the turn-around cruise of the USS Constitution with the ONR Afloat Lab. Too much recent travel gave me an early out on this trip and I left the morning of the turn-around, in a driving rain. Aerials would have been a no-go and I made the right decision this time. While in Boston was able to shoot some B-roll video of Robo Lobster and interviews of inventor Joe Ayers, that will come together with exhibit later this year.



Spring is near

The cherry blossoms are out and so was I. I think the funniest thing about taking pictures around the Jefferson Memorial this time of the year is watching the other photographers jockey for position. That, and watching all the passersby stop or duck under the cameras. Last year I noticed all kinds of camera gear, from medium format, a 4x5, and plenty of good old classic film cameras. This year it was mostly digital, however, I broke out my latest toy, the Lensbaby, in order to get a different look. And for the record, I thought the blossoms were better last year

Near arrest

Two weeks ago while on assignment in San Diego, I was nearly arrested, not once, but twice, by the Department of Defense police because I was photographing on the Naval Base. Didn't matter that I work for the government and have been taking photos on bases for over 20 years, these guys simply were following the rules and in the end, I completed the job, and had a heck of time in California. Now tonight I'm on assignment at the Jefferson Memorial in D.C. photographing the LED lights that highlight the scroll work the surrounds the top of the memorial. Apparently funding from the Office of Naval Research helped in the development of these particular lights. Well my friend the security guard who appears in the photo below decided to keep me company after stopping me from using my tripod. You see, it is acceptable to use a tripod on the steps but not inside the memorial. I kept using it until the last minute, but she would have none of it. I then folded the legs and told her it was a monopod. No laughs and figured my time was running out, so I put it away and ended up shooting another half hour, hand holding. Oh well, another assignment and I'm losing the energy to argue any more.




At Sea

Just returning from San Diego and a couple of days at sea aboard Sea Fighter which I first covered during her christening and later shoot aerials at her arrival in San Diego. This should wrap up travel until January, and believe me I'm ready for a little down time. Of course there is still lots of local work to do, including wrapping up recent jobs. This job was strictly video. I was shooting footage of the first helicopter landings aboard Sea Fighter, part of a flight deck certification. This video will be used for a one hour documentary on Sea Fighter that will air on the Discovery Military channel Jan. 20, 2006. Since this was the first series of flight ops, the Navy prefered that a Navy photographer document the events, therefore, I was sent to provide the needed footage for Discovery. Armed with a series of shot suggestions from the producer of the documentary, I think I got everything covered. First day though was not the best, since I was coming off the Boston trip and then a series of flight delays put me in San Diego at 0030 Pacific time. I had to report to the fleet landing to catch a RHIB boat to Sea Fighter at 0700. Not much sleep and it showed in that first day of shooting. Next day I was better rested and re shot some of my interviews from the previous day and also had the opportunity to shoot some take offs and landings from the RHIB boat while alongside. Of course I took the opportunity to shoot the still below (one of only about a dozen stills taken on this job). Also had better luck shooting night ops by cranking gain up on camera. And did I mention it was good to be at sea amongst sailors again.