Discovering Life….

My little nephew discovers there are other little people in the world.

Best Damn Weekend: Great Sand Dunes National Park

Spent the better part of last weekend playing around in Great Sand Dunes National Park and got a few shots. For the full album check out my Facebook page, but these are a few highlights.

26.2 Miles and a Two Older Ladies

Yesterday while lying in bed nursing one of the worst hangovers I can remember I got a text from a good friend showing her son crossing the finish line of the Big Sur Marathon in Big Sur California. Justin’s journey had started a few months back when he asked me if I had a training schedule he could use for an upcoming race. We were at the bar (big surprise there I know) and I told him I’d email it to him in the morning. He was stoked and bought me another IPA. Let the fun begin I told him. And now he’s done it. Check out his blog for a write up of the event, including how two older ladies saved his ass.

Congrats man!

Photo © Jared Russle 2009

What the heck is this hat doing on my head! And other infant thoughts…

Thoughts of my nephew. (Note: Since he is my nephew I figure I’ll take the liberty of translating the following photos)

“What the heck is this hat doing on my head! Does my mom even know that it totally clashes with my spit? Seriously while I’m at it I might as well just spit on the bear as well. Should have been a Tonka Truck.”

“What do you mean I’ve got to mow the lawn, do the dishes, and pull the weeds when I get older? Isn’t that what dad’s for?”

“Yes I am a badass and that scar came from some sick freestyle crawling. Lets just say stairs, a wheelbarrel, and a chew toy don’t mix.”

“Practicing my ‘why can’t I have my swiss army knife back mom’ look.”

On Details and Creativity

Food for thought this Sunday afternoon:

“The details are not details, they make the product.” ~ Charles Eames

and

“You can’t put a price tag on creativity.” ~ Walt Disney

When Life Comes Crashing Down

Last night on the eve of one of the most aggressive deadlines I’ve ever had to meet, a close friend sent me three photographs from back home. The man in the photo is a close friend, mentor, and spiritual father. Last night my life came crashing down. Not because of death, but because I was 1,500 miles away and wasn’t able to help my friend with an extra arm as he walked across the empty church. Instead he had to use a cane.

Lord have mercy.

- Photo ©Wendy Russell 2009

The Bar Has Been Raised: 127-Foot Waterfall Dropped By A Kayaker

Just like everything else in life one crazy soul has raised the bar to unbelievable levels. This time it was Brazilian boater Pedro Oliva, who destroyed the previous record of 108-feet by hucking himself off a 127-foot waterfall deep within the rain forests of Brazil. Rumor is he reached speeds upwards of 70 mph. Makes the 30-foot fall I dropped a few years back seem like child’s play. Damn.

- Outside

Food For Thought: Flip Cameras, Video and Production Quality

I spent a few minutes tonight following #journchat on twitter and one conversation in particular stuck out. It was between a few PR pros who were discussing using video as a potential new avenue to pitch journalists. Now I must make it clear that even though 99.9% of PR Pros on Twitter seem to think this is a new idea, it’s not. Not even new to the tune of a few years. Video has always been in play, it just hasn’t ever been this easy or cheap.

I entered the conversation partway in.

jenwakefield: @jamiefloer but flip is so awesome i’ve bypassed video pros

(FYI, a Flip is a new super cheap HD camera which came out a few months back. It should be noted I own one and love it, but it’s hardly a video camera for professional use minus natural disasters or breaking news.)

Jamiefloer responded:  jamiefloer: @jenwakefield I know you love your Flip, but for things like time lapse, complex editing etc. we hire pros #journchat

Jen answered: jenwakefield: @jamiefloer yeah my video editing is pretty ghetto. but it’s free. tight budget=free is good #journchat

And that’s what got me thinking: “pretty ghetto. but it’s free. tight budget=free is good.” 

I’ve found myself in a lot of conversations lately over quality vs. quantity. Several media pros have weighed in with excellent opinions, and while I don’t agree with all of them, one thing seems to remain the same: publications won’t put crap in print, but a majority will online.

As a multimedia journalist competing with professionals who own $5,000 video cameras and $3,000 microphones, I’ve had to come up with unique ways to stay professional without selling my kidney. Sure my budget is tight, but that does not mean I revert back to “ghetto editing skills.” It would be hard to imagine I’d have a job much longer if I did. As video becomes cheaper, and editing software easier to use, we will no doubt continue to see low budget video on top tier sites. The big question however, is what happens when advertisers see the video? Will they spend the money to advertise? Or will they tell their six-year-old to go out and shoot their friends playing outside in branded tee shirts and then just throw it up on Youtube? Either way time will tell.

Have a favorite online video or video site? I’d love to hear about it. Thanks.

 

Rocky Mountain National Park During Winter

Took the morning off and headed up to the park. Brought along the video camera with the goal to capture wintertime. 

The Joy of Conversation

It’s midnight and I’m standing in the only open line at Safeway. I’m holding two bananas, a carton of juice and some gummy bears. The checker, born sometime during the last major recession, is moving slower than molasses reminiscing about the last time she tried to give up cigarettes. 

“I gave them up once, but you know had this health problem,” she told the elderly man buying ten packs. (I think they were on sale.) “But you know, once you start you just can’t stop.”

It seemed like my bananas were getting heavy. 

“Gotta love Safeway at midnight,” I muttered to the women standing in line in front of me. She was buying a twelve pack of Sprite and reading US Weekly.

“Tell me about it,” she muttered back. And then a strange thing happened. The kind of strange thing that comes out of two people standing in line sometime around midnight waiting for the checker to shut up and just ring up the sale: we started talking.

“Sonoma State hugh?” She asked. It took me a second to realize I was wearing my college sweatshirt.

“Oh yes went for college. Native Californian — you know this whole 0 degree thing not too sure about.”

“I understand,” she laughed. “Where are you from?”

“Santa Cruz.”

“No way. I used to live in Los Gatos.” (This happens to be twenty minutes from where I grew up. “I love it there.”

And then we hit a stride. For the next five minutes we reminisced about the beaches, beer and food. We talked about the sun, the calm winters and overwhelming amount of SUVs. And then, just as fast as it started it was done.

She paid for her Sprite, said goodbye and went on her way.

Safeway at midnight, who would have known.