Saturday, February 25, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Night
I'm in a night photography mood tonight. I'm too damn lazy to actually go out, but luckily, I do have a few pix from last month when I made my intrepid trek across the 59th Street Bridge a.k.a. the Queensboro Bridge. I was ready to fight, face down big killaz, thugz and murderers. Instead, I came face to face with cyclists, joggers and a granny with her folding shopping cart. Whew!
I could have TOTALLY kicked her ass.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sitemeter
Within a few hours of my arrival in BTV, Bill had set up Sitemeter for me so that I can see if anyone actually visits my blog. Apparently people do. This is good news.
I made a passing comment about finding out of people are reading my blog and Bill was off the couch and typing away at his Mac, showing me all the different stats, ways to see who's checking out the blog and the wonders of Sitemeter.
I was a bit worried that no one was reading, but according to Sitemeter, I have readers as far away as Singpore and Kuala Lampur, Lithuania and around the U.S.
I encourage everyone to please leave comments. While you do have to jump through a couple of hoops, it's not a huge deal. I have the word verification turned on because I was getting spam in my comments, so this is a small step so that real humans can make real comments. I don't care what spambots have to say, it's all crap. Death to spammers and spambots. If that makes me a bigot, well, so be it.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Music Video weekend in BTV
I was supposed to leave Queens Friday and drive up to Vermont, for a weekend of music video making with Bill Simmon, shooting a Blammos vid with our old pal, Arthur Adams. I was busy trying to get a gig for this week and a few other things. I didn't get the gig.
I, of course, didn't end up leaving until Saturday morning, but I made pretty good time, being able to do about 80 most of the way. I like to drive fast, especially on the highway. I did have to slow down a bit when I encountered snow squalls. I drive fast, but I also drive sensibly. I really don't want to kil anyone, nor do I want to die. You don't speed when you are in a white out. Gradually drop your speed by letting off the gas completely and put your flashers on so that hopefully some idiot who IS speeding sees you and doesn't rear-end you.
Many years ago, while covering a multi car accident on I-89, in S. Burl., I watched as my car got rear ended by some stupid driver who wasn't paying attention to the road. She hit the same patch of ice that caused the initial accident, slammed into my car, pushing it into a woman's car with enough force to wreck my car and the third car. My car was way off the road, on the grass. Moron. I used part of my monopod as a splint for the driver's boyfriend, who had broken his leg. This was on a clear sunny day.
I keep a sharp eye out for bears and anything that may hamper the progress of a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed. I have to move into the right lane to make way for someone going about 85, or 90. I always like it when someone drives faster than me, because then I can let them be bear bait. I'll hang back a bit and match their speed. That way I have enough time to react and slow down if a cop sees them.
As I mentioned before, I took a different way to Vermont and it was much quicker, course it might have also been the fact that I didn't pull over fifty times. I only pulled over twice.
As one of the snow squalls was clearing, I drove past a minivan that had gone off the raod and was on it's side. It must have flipped, because the roof was dented pretty badly. Luckily, everyone seemed okay and someone was pulling suitcases out of the vehicle, while another person stood by the side of the road, waiting for the cops to come. I had thought about pulling over, or saying something to the guy standing by the road, but already, there were several other vehicles puled over to the side, so I thought it best to keep moving and not add to the problem.
Shooting was pretty mellow. Bill hadn't really done much pre-pro. He had kicked around some ideas with Seth and I assume Arthur, but we hadn't spoken much about it other than we'll make it up as we go along. The basic concept was Arthur relaxing at home, playing video games and generally slacking. The song is Bye, Bye, Bye.
The best part, for me at least, was the Fly Girls: Alex, Ashleigh and Emily. The Fly Girls are Arthur's imaginary backing chorus as he sings in his jammies.
I, of course, didn't end up leaving until Saturday morning, but I made pretty good time, being able to do about 80 most of the way. I like to drive fast, especially on the highway. I did have to slow down a bit when I encountered snow squalls. I drive fast, but I also drive sensibly. I really don't want to kil anyone, nor do I want to die. You don't speed when you are in a white out. Gradually drop your speed by letting off the gas completely and put your flashers on so that hopefully some idiot who IS speeding sees you and doesn't rear-end you.
Many years ago, while covering a multi car accident on I-89, in S. Burl., I watched as my car got rear ended by some stupid driver who wasn't paying attention to the road. She hit the same patch of ice that caused the initial accident, slammed into my car, pushing it into a woman's car with enough force to wreck my car and the third car. My car was way off the road, on the grass. Moron. I used part of my monopod as a splint for the driver's boyfriend, who had broken his leg. This was on a clear sunny day.
I keep a sharp eye out for bears and anything that may hamper the progress of a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed. I have to move into the right lane to make way for someone going about 85, or 90. I always like it when someone drives faster than me, because then I can let them be bear bait. I'll hang back a bit and match their speed. That way I have enough time to react and slow down if a cop sees them.
As I mentioned before, I took a different way to Vermont and it was much quicker, course it might have also been the fact that I didn't pull over fifty times. I only pulled over twice.
As one of the snow squalls was clearing, I drove past a minivan that had gone off the raod and was on it's side. It must have flipped, because the roof was dented pretty badly. Luckily, everyone seemed okay and someone was pulling suitcases out of the vehicle, while another person stood by the side of the road, waiting for the cops to come. I had thought about pulling over, or saying something to the guy standing by the road, but already, there were several other vehicles puled over to the side, so I thought it best to keep moving and not add to the problem.
Shooting was pretty mellow. Bill hadn't really done much pre-pro. He had kicked around some ideas with Seth and I assume Arthur, but we hadn't spoken much about it other than we'll make it up as we go along. The basic concept was Arthur relaxing at home, playing video games and generally slacking. The song is Bye, Bye, Bye.
The best part, for me at least, was the Fly Girls: Alex, Ashleigh and Emily. The Fly Girls are Arthur's imaginary backing chorus as he sings in his jammies.
I'm back
Got back from VT, last night, er, rather this morning at about 2am. Got a late start, leaveingBTVat around 8:45 after dillyinh and dallying. Mat McD told me a faster way to get from NYC to BTV by going up I-95 to I-91, to I-89. That did the trick. I made really good time and was able to go at a pretty good clip. Usually I go down VT22A to VT4 to I-87 and that seems to take about 6-8 hours, depending on how many gas, food, or pit stops I make.
I have to go and get something to eat, but I'll be back to post photos and write a bit more about my trip to BVT and the music video and the fabulous FLy Girls that were on hand to help make the vid a hit.
Fly Girl Emily, reflected in the VCAM studio control room window, practices her moves. Emily asked me the color scheme of my blog, so that she could wear the right poutfit. Teh Hott.
I have to go and get something to eat, but I'll be back to post photos and write a bit more about my trip to BVT and the music video and the fabulous FLy Girls that were on hand to help make the vid a hit.
Fly Girl Emily, reflected in the VCAM studio control room window, practices her moves. Emily asked me the color scheme of my blog, so that she could wear the right poutfit. Teh Hott.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)