Case in point… the 2012 edition of Key West Race Week abounds with change, from the title sponsor to the number of entries. And the video set up.

For the first time in 5 years, I am switching up my game and starting a new video system. For as long as I have been the official videographer for Key West Race Week, I have had a system in place that favors stability and ease of delivery. Don’t get me wrong, I know the name of the game is to satisfy your client and obligations and in this case I have, for the last 10 years. But this year, with change being the focus of my marketing and business mantras, I am starting with major change at my first event of the year, Key West Race Week.

The rig…

In the past, my video rig has always been hand held. Not this year. I took the plunge and picked up a gyro, shoulder mount, and a new camera. Before, the main objective was to keep the lens clean and the camera dry, get my footage, edit, deliver and run to the rum tent. Now, I am pushing for more dynamic shots, clean backgrounds, tight, amazing action sequences and better edits which requires more time in front of the mac book pro and less in the rum tent. To help, I have employed the services of a Kenyon KS-6 gyro, a Red Rock Micro shoulder mount, a Sony NX-70 camera and some custom brackets.

Kenyon KS-6 gyro, Sony NX-70 and Red Rock Micro shoulder mount

Two days were spent testing and configuring the bracket and placement for the gyro. The rig feels balanced and  stable, on land. Who knows how it will feel on a rocking boat in 6 foot seas chasing a Melges 32 down wind at 18 knots. If anything, bringing the camera up to my shoulder and adding the extra weight at the lowest point should help with stability even without the Kenyon gyro turned on. The downside… the rig weighs in at a staggering 9 pounds! I hope my shoulders are up to the challenge of filming all day off shore.

More to come…

sunset on Anna Maria Island

I had the chance to do some portraits with two Olympic swimmers through Arluck Promtions during their Swimming Champions Fitter Faster Tour stop in Fort Myers. The challenge of the day… make high contrast overhead, mid-day sunlight look compelling. My solution… a high key set up using grip gear.

8x8 overhead 1 stop silk

Lacey Nymeyer

I saw this set up on location while assisting on a commercial shoot in South Beach. Simple, effective and highly compulsive. The downside to this set up is the definitive need for an assistant. And the weight of the equipment. Benefit: since grip gear is 3 times as sturdy as photographic stands, when a breeze rolls through it helps relax you a bit at the thought of a background tumbling on your subject’s head , letting you stay focused on the image.

GEAR LIST:
4 C-Stands
1 C-Stand with head and arm
1 8×8 overhead with a 1 stop silk
1 8×8 background with unbleached muslin
10 30lb sand bags

Peter Vanderkaay and Lacey Nymeyer – Images by Chris Odom

Boston was host to Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series. Intense and fast, the Extreme 40 is a $700,000 high performance sailing machine. And so much fun to watch, much less take a ride on.

I was on location covering a few Kaenon Sunglasses sponsored athletes, mostly Terry Hutchinson with Team Artemis, The Wave Muskat and Oman Air. As usual, everyone was extremely helpful. While the weather didn’t quite cooperate in producing carnage on the race course, it did produce blue skies and a clear night to celebrate Boston’s famous 4th of July celebration with the Boston Pops on the Charles.

Extreme Sailing Series – Act 4 Boston – Days 1 and 2 – Images by Chris Odom

Extreme Sailing Series – Act 4 Boston – Day 3 – Images by Chris Odom

Extreme Sailing Series – Act 4 – Boston Day 5 – Images by Chris Odom

Being the curious type, I drove over the Newport Shipyard to check out the vessels. While the light was good, it was coming from a difficult angle for shooting the J’s. I tried a couple of angles but in the end, it was a lift to the middle of the marina provided by a SeaTow captain that proved to be the only angle worth shooting. With the sunrise golden hour behind me, it was time to caffeinate. This time I used google places on the iphone to find the closest Starbucks, no need to dillydally.

The day proved to be classic Newport… bloody mary’s while watching 2 J class yachts do battle in front of the Newport Bridge while hitching a ride with Dan Nerny and Daniel Forster. Epic, and uniquely American. It’s moments like these that I find myself waxing poetic about the lines and craftsmanship from an era bygone. At least I’m in the kind of company that feels the same way.

J Class Regatta – Newport – Images by Chris Odom

Trading the classic sailing yachts for modern racing machines, Antigua Sailing Week provided close racing action in 8-10 foot seas with 18-24 knots of breeze. Epic…

Antigua Sailing Week – Day 2 – Images by Chris Odom

Antigua Sailing Week – Day 3 – Images by Chris Odom

Antigua Sailing Week – Day 4 – Images by Chris Odom

The trip started in grand fashion as all trips bound for this region are prone to do. The San Juan Airport reminds of the US traveler that Puerto Rico is indeed a cherished territory of the United States but this is definitely not Hartsfield International. You are now officially in the Caribbean, and while TSA’s familiar white uniforms everywhere, things move at a pace more appropriate to the banana republic it truly is. Our accommodations were more disco than indigenous but the meal more my speed Comida tipica was served up -mofongo, sancocho, tostonies y una medalla. Perfectly Puerto Rican. This place is what I imagined South Beach was before it became ultra hip and expensive. Think more 70′s less 90′s…

Our travel plans brought us to the Land of Sea and Sun, settling just outside of Jolly Harbour, and just like any job in the civilized world, mine involved a daily commute to the yachting capital of Falmouth Harbour. A 30 mins drive during rush hour here though typically involves following a combi billowing blue black diesel smoke for at least 2 miles or 10 mins., whichever occurs first. In my unscientific research conducted during the commute, I came to this conclusion after following one such vehicle for the last time. And to think I originally rented a dune buggy for this trip only switching to a moped after being told I was crazy by the car rental agent. Promptly after being advised to “take it easy on the gas mon,” I thought better of my transpo choice and settled on a Nissan Sentra. Smart…

Day 2 brought a bit more breeze and a better shooting platform. It seems that most of the ‘photographers” that show up on the first day are of the point and shoot variety. A bigger boat with less people equals happy photographer..