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.
World Premiere
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.
Lobsters everywhere
Spent today photographing robotic lobsters in Nahant, Mass., with Dr. Joe Ayers, Associate Professor of Biology at Northeastern University. Joe is the inventor of these Biomimetic Underwater Robots, known as Robo Lobsters RoboLobsters. These things are really cool and have been featured in all kinds of press. Basically they take advantage of capabilities proven in animals for dealing with real-world environments. Tried different lighting situations indoors with three SB-800's, including using some blue gels, but liked this image best as an overall shot. Robo Lobster is being featured at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City next year and the photos I shot today are for the catalog that will accompany the exhibit. Off to San Diego tomorrow to cover flight operations on Sea Fighter. Will post from there.
Snow time
Been a while. Anyway, I'm back in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, to do some follow up on Sea Jet and it is snowing like crazy outside. Landed at 2 p.m. Pacific and the snow started coming down around 4. Hasn't let up since. Should be interesting tomorrow as I head out on Lake Pend Oreille with an Australian film crew from Discovery Tomorrow to document underway sea trials. God I love this job.