Everything About Cardio
I really enjoyed shooting this video for Palm Springs Fitness Center. Actually a little long for social media, but it really explains the good and bad about “cardio machines” for weight loss. Everybody wonders about why they can march on that treadmill for hours and hours and never lose a pound. I know this is a hot topic; very quickly it was watched by a few thousand people. Check it out…
Would Have Been Playing Video Games
Face Posing
Face posing with Shauna Toerner. From today’s photo shoot at FD Studio, downtown Los Angeles. Makeup and hair styling by Natalie Lyle.
Air To Air
Just some thoughts on air to air photography. Flying with the Palm Springs Air Museum, we were doing July 4th celebration flyovers. Alongside the T-28 Trojan, I was in the backseat of the Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. The Mustang is at best, somewhat short on room in the back. There is also a curvature to the canopy that lends itself to a lot of distortion. My choice of gear here made it all work out easier.
I was shooting the latest Fujifilm mirrorless camera, the X-H1 and the Fujifilm XF50-140 lens. The 5-axis in-body stabilization works in conjunction with the lens stabilization, perfect for this kind of shooting. It is also physically smaller and lighter than a full size DSLR which in tight quarters or pulling a couple of g’s makes a huge difference.
This time out I also especially appreciated my camera strap choice. From Vulture Equipment Works especially made for aviation use. A tougher strap does not exist. It is designed with carabiners connecting the strap to the camera. The ability to easily disconnect them helped in easily getting the strap out of the way of my headset cable. When you are getting in, you are buckling up your parachute, shoulder harness and seat belt, camera and headset, so wanting to change how you set things up from when you got in does happen.
At the same time, I was also running two GoPro’s. Each mounted inside to my left and right, pointed 45 degrees front. Got some great video I will show you later.
Anyway just thought I would share. It was great fun! Thanks!
Found The Garage
Now I know where it is… Old roadside sign in Yermo CA. On a photo excursion last week.
Going Fast Enough With The X-H1
Truly outstanding… The Fujifilm X-H1! I am really liking this camera the more I shoot it. Image quality is incredible, viewfinder is breathtaking! It does it all. I use it with a very serious camera strap from Vulture Equipment Works. I don’t get the idea of using those pretty straps unless you are shooting babies and weddings. Just not for me. I like my gear tough!
Yesterday I was shooting something simple enough but in not great lighting. Behind the scenes at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Michael Ripley was “Air Cav” and flew AH-1 Cobra helicopters 50 years ago in Vietnam. Here being interviewed by Dominik Radwanska from DIGICOM Learning. DIGICOM teaches teachers and here he was showing elementary and middle school teachers how to make movies with simple equipment. Skills that they then take back to their classrooms in the Fall.
Next I was off to the BMW Performance Center at the Thermal Club. An incredible facility where you learn and drive the “Ultimate Driving Machines”, high performance BMW’s. We drove various models all out on three different tracks and I had the chance to do some quick shots as our instructor Christopher Hill took some students on a very exciting run around a track. As Chris said; “If the tires aren’t squealing you are not going fast enough”. I did make them squeal myself and then some! The X-H1 camera did not squeal and handled it all!
Takeoffs
Some of the fun I get to have with the Palm Springs Air Museum. Worried about it being too hot in Palm Springs for the Summer? Almost 100,000 sq ft of four hangars all fully air-conditioned. You really have to come visit.
National Military Appreciation Month
May is National Military Appreciation Month and May 19th was National Armed Forces Day. buzzbox premium cocktails joined with the Palm Springs Air Museum to honor the so very many by celebrating the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Watch and listen as Air Museum Volunteer and United States Air Force Veteran Al Crossley tells his story and takes a flight in the “Red Tail” P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. Thanks!
It’s A Secret
I really enjoy bringing the Palm Springs Air Museum to so very many people around the globe and here more locally. CNN named it as one of the Best Air Museums In The World. So please come visit and also just follow along!
And a secret, don’t tell anyone… I am having a lot of fun! This is me in the backseat of the Air Museum’s P-51 Mustang “Bunny” taking off from March Air Field on Sunday. Our Museum visitors get to fly too! It is Living History whether in the backseat of “Bunny” or in our WWII Paratrooper C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”, watching our weekly flight demonstrations, sitting in the pilot’s seat for “Open Cockpit”, or touring inside our giant four engine B-17 “Flying Fortress”. It is a first hand experience, always exciting. Thanks!
This video was shot on the new Fujifim X-H1 camera body and the Fujifilm XF18-135 lens. Even better, kept on me with a beast of a camera strap made for aviation by Vulture Equipment Works. That is what you don’t leave home without!
Smokin!
Shooting at the equivalent of 600mm super telephoto and handheld through the haze of smoke oil as the airplane almost hangs in the air. With the Fujifilm X-H1 camera body and 100-400mm lens. Braced with the camera strap made for aviation by Vulture Equipment Works.
Always front and center in Air Shows and Aviation, Hangar 24 Craft Brewing on proud display at the March Air Field Air Show this past weekend. And myself there with the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Enveloped by a haze of smoke oil and flown by the extreme aerobatics pilot Jon Melby! The Pitt’s S-1-11B Muscle Bi-Plane has 350 HP, cruises at over 195 MPH, and Jon’s airshow routine is anywhere from 9 positive to 4 negative G’s. Wow!
Visit Hangar 24 Craft Brewery in Redlands CA. “Beer Crafted with Purpose”. And be sure to catch the huge Hangar 24 Airfest coming up on May 19 & 20 right at the Redlands Airport!
F-86 Waves Of Energy!
C-17 Globemaster & Fujifilm X-H1
Nothing says March Air Reserve Base as much as these giant C-17 Globemasters! Doing a fly by over the weekend for the for the 2018 March Field Air Show.
I was there with the Palm Springs Air Museum. You would have seen us flying the aircraft that was the “Globe Master” of it’s time, our C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
Great fun shooting with the latest Fujifilm X-H1 camera body with power grip/booster and the super telephoto Fujifilm 100-400mm lens. Thanks!
Fujifilm X-H1 WOW!
The first use with a Fujifilm X-H1 camera body and I could not be more excited with the results! Photographed in less than optimum conditions. I was in the backseat of the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang shooting backwards over my right shoulder. I could just tilt the back screen of the camera around enough to just see that I was getting this P-63 KingCobra in the frame. Also I was shooting through the curvature of the canopy and the X-H1 still got focus. Wow!
Clear To Taxi!
I really do get to do some fun things with the Palm Springs Air Museum! Like fly in warbirds to airshows and then shoot photos and video!
Clear To Taxi! The Blue Angels head on out for their season opening flight demonstration yesterday at NAF El Centro. Truly an overwhelming and incredible display of powerful aircraft and piloting skill.
We travel to airshows with a fleet of our own incredible aircraft to share the Palm Springs Air Museum with those who have not visited with us here at what is “One of the best Air Museums in the World!”.
Watch here and on the Palm Springs Air Museum Facebook Page for more of our weekend at the NAF El Centro Airshow and the Blue Angels! Thanks!
T-34 “Mentor” Fly In
We had fifteen T-34 “Mentor” military trainers at the Palm Springs Air Museum for a few days of meet up and flying excitement. This was very fun!
Ale Plane
I have been busy over the last few days. Here is the “Ale Plane” visiting at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the Hop Growers Of America Convention. A jet just like this one was in the James Bond movie “Octopussy“! And the serial number on this one is “007”! Top speed is 320mph, empty it weighs 435 lbs. Sponsored by Virgil Gamache Farms. Let’s raise a beer to that!
Posing In Black At Bombay Beach
Posing in black on Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea with Xtine. Behind the scenes in our photo shoot.
For The Opera With Xtine
A look at posing with model Xtine at Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea during our photo shoot just the other day. You might ask “Why is that boat there?”. Well, for the opera, of course!
Video shot on a Fujifilm X-T1 camera. The actual photographs from the shoot, previews soon. The photography with a Hasselblad digital camera system and Broncolor lighting. Thanks!
Love Doing These!
Have I mentioned that I love doing these short videos for Palm Springs Fitness Center? Maybe I have but I really do, they are so fun and worthwhile. Spend a few moments. Thanks!
Fly In A C-47
This was just decided yesterday afternoon. So to all my friends you are getting the flight news first…
This Saturday, Nov 25 at the Palm Springs Air Museum there will be flights available on our World War II D-Day C-47 paratrooper aircraft “What’s Up Doc?”! Truly a favorite!
Starting at 10am and hourly as we will fill the seats until last flight at 1pm. Great fun and only $195 per person! Please call in at 760-778-6262 ahead of time to reserve your flight esepcially for the first at 10am Saturday. After that call or please come on in as early as you can. Again call 760-778-6262 and Thanks! You will love it!
And yes I shot this video 🙂








