ArcherVision

Yellow Snow

2011-11-07T11:20:00.001-08:00

Yellow Snow, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Leaves and snow don't mix. This is something that New Englander's know, but few recal anything like the freak pre-Holloween storm of 2011. Several million were out of power, and some still are from Ma to Ct and NH.

For me, it was 6 days.

6 days without heat, lights, decent food, internet, editing software, battery charging and what else, oh yea, income! Blast.

Fall Storm 2011

2011-11-07T11:11:00.001-08:00

Fall Storm 2011, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

The trees around this area of Forest Park were already snapping and crackling as the first hours of snow started to stick. It was coming down enough to make shooting anything hard, unless you were under a tree. After a few started to come down, I thought it was a good time to pack it in. Had I known I was about to start 6 days without heat and lights, I might have stayed in the woods a while longer.

Music Video Casting Call

2011-06-07T09:49:00.001-07:00

Wharehouse, a set on Flickr.

Details:
Now casting for a music video for artist Aimee Allen.
http://genero.tv/aimeeallen/

This is a Spec/Contest opportunity being taken up as a labor of love for a group of seasoned pros looking to do something stand-out. There is no money in this project, but we have a great concept and location for this shoot which will have up to 6 cameras including Del Padre Digital's RED ONE. The location is intense and sure to be visually stunning. The look will be dark, apocolypitic and engaging. Lots of 120 frames per second slow motion and cinematic effects wrapped in an edgy edit.

Here is the song we have chosen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjy0LSVC5Lo

Here are the web sites for the Director, Nino Del Padre and DP Mark Archer.
www.delpadre.com
www.archervisionphoto.com

Location Test shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archervisi … 903282832/

Contact:
Mark Archer
413-221-8258

Serious inquiries only, please.

Tornado - Springfield MA

2011-06-01T19:26:00.001-07:00

Tornado - Springfield MA, a set on Flickr.

A rare New England tornado touches down and wreaks havoc in Springfield MA area June 1, 2011. Wide swath of damage including 200 year old trees in the citie's court square area, overturned trucks and cars, missing billboards and missing roofs.

Stuff on my Desk

2011-05-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

Stuff on my Desk, a set on Flickr.

If the oddities that you keep around you are any indication of who you are, then it might appear that I am a tad out there. Each items has its own origin, and it's own story. I won't bore you with the details, but rather let the images speak for themselves.

Pin Up Time

2011-05-18T12:27:00.001-07:00

Pin Up, Kt, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Inspiration comes to me from many sources. I just love retro pin up and have been dying to experiment in this genre for a while. My new big white studio gives me plenty to work with, just add models! In this shot, Kt has some fun with it and makes the idea her own, while striking a classic pin up pose.

Denver, Boulder and Arusha.

2011-05-04T22:05:00.001-07:00

Denver 5/11, a set on Flickr.

Just back from a terrific trip to one of my favorite places, Denver. Plenty of perfect spring weather, seeing some old friends , meeting some new ones, lots of photos taken, and major headway on the Inspire Me Africa documentary. Was able to visit Boulder, Baily, Central City and Red Rocks for a night visit with my tent buddy from Africa, Scott and his girl Heather for some fun large scale light-painting experiments.

Trips like this remind me why its great to get away, get a little change of scenery, and breath a little thin air for a while. The mountains, like the ocean seem to call out to us. They make us want to explore. See around the next corner. And see into the past.

Of course, I can't go anywhere without a camera. And I wouldn't want it any different.

Trifecta Wines & Cellars

2011-04-01T16:03:00.001-07:00

Trifecta Wines & Cellars, a set on Flickr.

Some new commercial work recently created for Trifecta Wines & Cellars. The Napa Valley boutique private label is involved in many great charities, often creating custom magnums and offering support to such causes as The Tug McGraw Foundation, the National abilities Center and One Revolution. ArcherVision Photography and Del Padre Digital has worked with the Nyarady Family for 4 years, and earned a 2009 TELLY Award for a branding video we created for the label.

Ball field in winter

2011-03-03T14:37:00.001-08:00

Ball field in winter, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

This loney baseball field awaits spring, along with the rest of us

Unwinding to some Police

2011-02-11T14:08:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Got to take a break once in a while, right? Well, I figure the best way is to fire up Pandora and play to some cool music...Peter Gabriel, The Police, Pink Floyd, Sting and Talking Heads all spew out on their own, I just play along, play over the top of in a totally different style, or just use the timing to woodshed some chops. Kit is sounding great, and the new year brought along a slightly new set up with the ride taking a position more like a conventional right-handed kit. Two floors, both with pressure tubes, and then two more rack toms, separated by the hat. Then, over the the left of that is a homemade octoban, a DW popcorn snare and small REMO Rototom rims used as a set of hats. Makes for some good ergonomics, and lots of stuff to hit.

Just the way I like to unwind.

Porter Lake at Dusk

2010-11-28T23:34:00.001-08:00

Porter Lake at Dusk, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

The sun dropping fast, my trusty dog Justice and I trotted off in the direction it was setting, and finally got to the lake just in time. Dusk, and a not so fast lens forced me to push the ISO a bit, which added a nice grain to the image, and a very painted look, that I often think can better capture the subtle colors and textures of a fall setting. Crisp is always better in an image, unless it feels more warm, more real and looks more like what your eye sees.

I could have turned around, chalking it up to a late start and quick setting sun. But, instead I pushed on and took in what I could in those last minutes of light where things change moment to moment. Funny, seems that photography is often like life....stay on the trail and you don't get your shot. Assume the sun has set, and you miss the best part.

The best photos are the ones taken.

Nature's Pallete

2010-11-27T13:00:00.001-08:00

Nature's Pallete, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Sometimes, when you look close, you see things you would just walk by. Getting close to nature and taking your time to follow the light can often reveal more detail than you can imagine. Shooting photos in a familiar setting can force you to take a different approach. I often purposely take one lens, a long one, with macro ability. It sort of forces you to look at your surroundings much differently, and although you might come back with less shots they may often be an interesting take on a spot you have been to many times. For me, I turn to the details, the light and the textures.

This particular shot was almost walked past, but the light hit this leaf, close to the ground and caught my eye. It turned into a bit of a waiting game, trying to get the wind, sun and my dog to all cooperate long enough to focus and frame. But I was struck by the color and texture of this one huge oak leaf. It shows the incredible process that New England foliage is known for.

Thanksgiving Carnage

2010-11-24T20:02:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving Carnage, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Sun and Wind

2010-11-22T00:41:00.001-08:00

Sun and Wind, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Rapture

2010-11-22T00:24:00.001-08:00

Rapture, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Contrails, Rocky Mountains

2010-11-12T14:16:00.001-08:00

Contrails, Rocky Mountains, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Yes, they can appear to go straight up.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T18:40:00.001-07:00

halloween, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

No snacks were harmed in the making of this image. It may not look like it, but many of them were not only eatable, but tasty as well. This was not intended to represent actual treats given to kids but rather an attempt to bring light to the epidemic that is the potential for hazardous household items to be mistakingly entangled with candy intended for consumption.

Reflecting in Hawaii

2010-10-04T01:45:00.001-07:00

Reflecting in Hawaii, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

I took a long walk on the beach tonight on Oahu. While headed back to my $110/night hotel, about 100 yards from the Waikiki Yacht Club, I came across one of the many homeless that call the streets of Honolulu home. I had seen this same 60ish year old gentlemen a few nights ago, in the same place, sleeping against a wall right across from the multi-million dollar Hawaii Convention Center.

He looked up and asked for a dollar for some food. I was on the way to the 7-11 so I brought him back a bag of food. A sandwich, some granola bars, a few bananas...the kind of thing we often would never think might make a difference. The kind of thing most of us would wolf down while watching some TV, comfy in our living room. But to him, it did make a difference. And the appreciation was obvious.

To me, it reminded me that any of us could be in his place. A little bad luck, a bad year, a failed business, no prospects for work, no help from the government. It reminded me that to many of us, ten bucks worth of food is a snack. A meal. To him, it was more than that. Might have been his only meal today. Might have to last him through tomorrow, if no one helps...just keep walking.

To me, it is reminder that nothing is for sure. Nothing is given, except that we all have a wall waiting for us. A doorway to sleep in. A sidewalk to watch the people just walk on by, headed to the beach..headed to their yacht... headed to their meeting or hairdressing appointment.

Sure, tomorrow I might walk the same way towards the beach, and Magic Island and the Yacht Club. But I won't be able to just walk on by.

Would you?

Devil's Hopyard, Salem CT

2010-09-22T19:38:00.001-07:00

Devil's Hopyard, Salem CT, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Life is upstream.

The Creative Process waits for no man nor beast

2010-09-13T17:51:00.001-07:00

Mars_video_working_1, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Creative endeavors are never done. They are just out of time.
Houston:
T-Minus: Tonight!

Feeling Crabby ?

2010-09-13T10:13:00.001-07:00

feeling_crabby, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

American Heroes

2010-09-11T23:55:00.001-07:00

American Heroes, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

As we have just started the tenth year post 9-11, I am reminded of the consequences of that day. And the fact that they still are being faced by our braves troops, everyday. I met one of those solders today. He was enjoying a nice early fall day in New England, a picnic, some smoked chicken and had about 3 days before he returns to Afghanistan.

I have to wonder about Americans across the country today, enjoying their picnics and their freedom. Wonder how many of us do remember. How many of us do, in fact realize that as of today, a reasonable estimate of the amount of lives lost due to the war on terror, since 9-11 stands at roughly 146,000 lives.

Twice the number of American boys lost in Viet Nam. When the war in Viet Nam finally ended, I was about nine years old. The same amount of years since that day in 2001. And conflict ended in large part due to the activism and relentless Americanism of a generation that at the time was considered deadbeats. Well, I have to say that in no way does it seem that the same devotion to right exists today in the younger Americans.

Today, our 20-Somethings are more likely to be playing video games , ironically often war games, then they would to decide to get out and protest something. Like 146,000 lives lost. Of course, who do you protest against in this case? The terrorists don't seem deterred by large crowds with banners, regardless of what the banners might say on them. The wack-jobs on both sides that use religion as a convenient reason to keep on killing are the ones to blame.

But, they are scattered . Like rats. In hills and mountains of Afghanistan, the dirty suburbs of Baghdad, in the terror-friendly places like Pakistan, and even right here in our cities and towns of America. I often fly through the same gates those terrorist went through in Boston. And on Tuesday, while your at work, or at the grocery store, a brave young man named Brandon, and others like him, will board planes in Boston and Baltimore, Los Angeles and Louisville.

They will be headed back to places like Bagram and Tirkrit. They will face perils that match any that Americans have faced in war. Does not matter if the battlefield is a marketplace or random road through the dirt somewhere 7000 miles away from our picnic baskets and beer parties. It's the same battlefield as always. It is the battle for freedom. Freedom from tyranny, and freedom terrorism.

In a way, it is the same battlefield that Daniel Dodge fought on. Same battlefield a countless number lost their lives on in the pursuit of freedom and peace around the world, and here at home. Here in America, September 11th has become a day to remember, and a day to be thankful for our freedom, and the ones that make that possible.

It should also be a day to remember that peace is fragile and needs to be preserved. Yes, sometimes through might. But it is also though our collective determination to continue to be free, while always keeping in mind the price.

Leaf with light

2010-09-09T13:45:00.001-07:00

Leaf with light, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Almost time to enjoy the fascinating process of chlorophyll production in New England!

BURNING MAN

2010-09-04T22:36:00.001-07:00

BURNING MAN 2002 025, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Tonight, maybe right about now...many many miles from here..then 70 more miles down a twisty road leading into the Nevada salt flats...a Man Burns!

I have regretting not returning to the most incredible scene on Earth every Sat night on Labor Day weekend, for the past 8 years.

Put it on your bucket list. You have not lived a full life until you experience Burning Man. And, your missing out every year you don't return.

2011....?
Here's hoping.

Pay it forward.

2010-09-04T12:22:00.001-07:00

Teaching while sleeping, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

4 hours sleep, 2 hour talk, 20 students, 5 staff, only a small coffee?

I took a slight break from the biggest and most challenging deadline in the history of the company to visit some design students at American Career Institute. 3 or 4 all nighters into the last functional production weeks of a three year project, I was clearly on auto-pilot. However, this is always the way I like to talk to students, actually. Let them see the real-world of media design, complete with it's lack of sleep and beta testing, which I actually did a little of during the talk.

Great attentive crowd, lots of good questions and I stayed on a stream of consciousness, which is always a great time when it all goes well. I also got a treat by being able to watch my old friend (and Burning Man pal!) Dave Hibshire all grown-up and teaching. Thanks for asking me in Dave, and glad to see you putting all those degrees and miles of experience to good use: Inspiring kids to learn.

Well, as I said, still in production. So, one phase down, a few days left to finish Mars Interrupted..and then it is on to Space Center Houston...and of course...
Hawaii!

Sleeping Dogs

2010-09-04T11:42:00.001-07:00

Sleeping Dogs, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Archervision punk banner

2010-08-28T22:25:00.001-07:00

Archervision punk banner, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Ended up being big for a banner. But, spins a good yarn if you look close.

View from Poet's Seat, Greenfield, MA

2010-08-24T11:50:00.001-07:00

Greenfield in yellow, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Fall is in the air. My favorite time to shoot photos, and one of the best times to be from New England. You can go far and wide, see all kinds of wonderful places, but fall in New England is at the top.

mi mi ni mpiga goma

2010-08-22T11:45:00.001-07:00

gooving, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

I am a drummer.

Africa, One Year Later

2010-07-07T20:57:00.001-07:00

Looking back to this week one year ago reminds me that you never really get to finish, till you have done as much as possible...seen as many places as possible, met people with different backgrounds and experiences. And experience life for yourself.

And chances are, before your done, you will fail. You will fail, and get up, brush off the dust and try again. In my case, is was volcanic dust. Ancient dust of Kilimanjaro. And I guess I will have to try again as altitude sickness forced me to turn back about 1,500ft from the top. I have had a full year to ponder if I should have pressed on that night, in the dark with another 4-5 hours to go. Then of course there is getting down. The hard part, and the part you don't want to spend on a stretcher.

Being a flatlander from Western Massachusetts, I had a tough time getting over 1200 ft. above sea level for training. Red blood cells, this does not make. And red blood cells are the key to altitude. So, in the end my hernia surgery seven weeks before the trip did not stop me. Loosing my mom the day of that surgery did not stop me. But the thin air above 17,000 ft did.

This was my first picture headed down the mountain. First time I felt good enough to take one. This was most likely around 14,000 feet, and about where I stopped feeling like eminent death, and only felt like I "might make it down". I kept going, "pole-pole" one step at a time. That tiny path is actually a very long road, part of the "Coca Cola Route" most people take up and back. We came over the North side of the mountain, called the Rongai Route, not far from the border of Kenya. With this longer route we got to see a little more of the mountain than some trekkers experience with the more direct Southern Marnagu Route. However, when it comes to getting down, fast is super. Get down to where the oxygen is. In this case, that means Horombo Hut, at 12, 200 ft. Still a respectable altitude after 3-4 days above 10,000.

But the view at Horombo Camp was just incredible. I got my first cell call home in days and tried to put things into perspective. An actual Coke helped, along with a meal, lots of water and finally a good nights sleep way above the clouds. I felt much better the next morning and would have loved to just turn back up hill and take on the hill again, but we 28 trekkers and about 90 porters, guides and cooks. And they were all headed down.

So we loaded up, and headed down the rest of the mountain in a pretty grueling but incredible 10 mile hike down the mountain and through the rain forest to the lower camp and pick up spot at about 6,000 feet. Every 1000 feet, although you are even more tired and sore in places you never knew you could be sore in, you get more oxygen and feel better and better. By the time we made it down to the Marangu Gate, we had trekked 50 miles of one of the most interesting places on the planet.

I did not make it to the top, but more importantly, I made it to the bottom. But, that's ok. That is one Big Mountain. My first time hiking over a few thousand feet above sea level. But of course it was the chance of a lifetime, and I took it. And it led to a lot of changes in my outlook, and ability to believe in myself, and a great reminder of why I love my job. Some days more than others, of course. But this day last year I was still on my feet, shooting footage of the Mundai Crater that spills into the rain forest below.

Now, as I look back, I also look forward, and plot and plan to somehow find a way to get back to Kilimanjaro, and finish that last couple of thousand feet or so. Might take some doing, but I have time.

Three Floors Down

2010-06-27T21:08:00.001-07:00

DSC_0033 copy, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Face Off

2010-06-27T21:04:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Roman Relic, Artist Unknown

2010-06-27T21:03:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Day at the Museum

2010-06-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

The Quadrangle area of Springfield Massachusetts includes plenty of culture and art, and is amazingly free for city residents. We rarely take advantage of this geographic anomaly, but a showing of LEGO art by Nathan Sawaya pulled us in. As cool as the LEGO art was, it was the pieces that have been in the same place since I was a kid.

I graduated from Technical High School back in 1981, not long before the school closed. My whole family went to Tech, including my Mom, back in...um, I 'll take a stab at 1957. Situated on the eastern side of the Quad, it used to be a favorite way to get downtown and to the store, McD's, the civic center and buss route home. But it was also a favorite haunt for photo assignments while in school and taking Photography with Mr. Cook.

Armed only with and iPhone and a small Sony camera lite on battery power, I just had to shoot a few images of the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, as well as the The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, one of two Springfield Museums dedicated to fine and decorative arts. It represents the personal taste and Victorian aesthetic of the collector whose name it bears.

I returned with a Nikon or 2 and tried to get some shots of the aging school that brought me through the courtyard that is now filled with large bronze characters taken from Springfield's own Dr. Seuss. They are tearing the old girl down. Since 1905 Springfield's finest learned math and machining, drafting and drawing, and even a little English and History. They even had an ROTC program my sister and one of my brothers were in. And of course the legendary football program. All that will be history, and I am determined to go find some of my old black and white images from my tenure as a Tech Tiger.

The home of the Tigers will be no more and I am going to have to get over that fence to get some better shots. I am pretty sure the auditorium is still in tact, and would love to capture that. Urbex is fun, but you just don't always have bolt cutters on you, so getting close is tough.

My drums

2010-06-12T17:08:00.001-07:00

My drums, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Got to love drums. They are always ready to be played. Especially if they are tuned. I think my kit is pretty much as ergonomically set up as I have had it in a while. Continuous tinkering, adding, subtracting and creating new things that like to be struck has been basically an obsession. I suppose I could have worse vices.

At any rate, they are signed Keller shells assembled by Springfield Drum Company and finished with Electric Turquoise, which was used for a time by DW. I found a DW popcorn snare in the same finish, so if course I had to get that. 13 inch solid maple snare, also by Springfield Drum Company has surprisingly won out lately over my other 6 snares, including my 14 Tama Warlord. Something about the 13 is just really nice. Gives you a little extra room, and sounds incredible with the snares thrown. I suppose it is that solid shell, the only solid drum I own, sadly.

Lots of cymbals, mostly Zildjian A Customs, including a flat top ride, a set of Platinum Hats, a set of vintage New Beats, an 18 Sabian Fast Chinese, and Dave Weckl 17 inch Evolution Effecks Crash provide some nice mellow low end. Low and slow.

Gadget run from a brass door bell, chinese cymbal stack, Lenox Hole Saw Kit, a 20 inch classic Rogers kick drum, 8 inch hi hats, oh and the better part of a vintage 1985 Chrome Slingerland kit I am restoring. That really seems to be enough, no?

Perfect Storm

2010-05-28T16:32:00.001-07:00

lightining2, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Sometimes a tough week can still have some merit. Got us off our knuckles. Taught us how to keep a fire going. And to quote the great Roger Waters,

.."You wake up in the morning, get something for the pot
Wonder why the sun makes the rocks feel hot
Draw on the walls, eat, get laid
Back in the good old days

Then some damn fool invents the wheel
Listen to the whitewalls squeal
You spend all day looking for a parking spot
Nothing for the heart, nothing for the pot."

Ah, the good ole days!

Houston, we've had a problem.

2010-04-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

One of the most famous radio communications ever transmitted is also often miss-quoted as "Houston, we have a problem". Small difference, I know. But it does show that the crew of Apollo 13 knew immediately that their mission had changed. On a recent late night visit to the mission control room that received that famous five words, I could imagine the mood instantly changing to one of determined and shared focus: to get those 3 men back safely.

Just walking into this control room gives you a chill. You get a serious sense that you are in a special place. I was whooshed right back to 1970. It smells like 1970. It looks much smaller than you would think, given the incredible amount of amazing firsts this room witnessed. It was this day, April 17th back in 1970 when this room finally erupted in applause and handshakes and sighs of relief when after 4 long and tense days, the crippled Apollo 13 Lunar Module made it back to Earth. This successful failure, as it was called, was not only possible due an incredible amount of luck, but an amazing crew on the ground that made it possible.

Out of all of the amazing things you can see at Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston, the most human and touching thing was mounted on the wall of the mission control room. It was a small mirror, mounted in a frame with the following inscribed:

This mirror flown on Aquarius, LM-7, to the moon April 11-17, 1970. Returned by a greatful Apollo 13 crew to "reflect the images" of the people in Mission Control who got us back!

James Lovell John Swigert Fred Haise

There has been lots of talk lately with the possible cancellation of the Constellation Program and the fate of the Human Space Flight program for NASA. It is hard to imagine the U.S. not being the leader in space, and in technology. There is so much science that comes from the manned space flight program that the loss of not continuing our program could be, for lack of a better term, astronomical. People quickly forget where much of the technology we take for granted comes from. Air travel and communications as we know it, medical breakthroughs and new materials that will save lives and energy are all possible directly from the space program. If we could only limit our wars and put those billions of dollars saved into educating our next generation of scientist and engineers, we would all be so much better off.

John Bonham

2010-04-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

I was just starting my senior year of high school when John Bonham died in September 1980. Looking back now, so many years later, it is hard to believe he was only 32. Just like now, even way back then I was a drum fanatic, and big Bonzo fan. At the time, and still now it is true, he was clearly one of the best drummers of all time. Listening to In through The Out Door today, I was thinking that although it is always a huge loss when a great artist or musician dies before his day, in John Bonham's case, it is hard to imagine what he might have done.

For sure, he would have raised some hell, raced some cars, raised some cows and played some incredible drum parts that we would all still be trying to mimic. He produced a drum sound that is still to this day hardly matched. But is was certainly more than just a huge 26 inch kick drum that made his drum sound possible. Bonham had as much control and dynamics to his playing as he did power and incredible timing. It was all in the feel. The groove.

And although In Through The Out Door might not be the most popular Zeppelin record, it hinted at what could have been. It has a huge variation of playing styles, including some ethnically influenced grooves in Fool In The Rain, some huge classic John Bonham grooves on In The Evening and the heart tugging slow tempo and incredible drum tone of I'm Gonna Crawl. Only Led Zeppelin could have done that record and I remember thinking "I can't wait to see what they do next".

Well there were no blogs back then, but I did write about it in a journal and I ran across it recently. There is a yellowed newspaper article about his death, accompanied by my own prediction that there wouldn't be another John Bonham any time soon. While I was right, you can hear his influence on so many drummers which is pretty cool in itself, but I would rather he were around to see it.

And no doubt he would still be the best.

From my Motivational Series

2010-04-14T20:53:00.001-07:00

Make the world your amusement park, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

see the rest on flickr

RED ONE Demo

2010-02-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Over a year in the making. No one ever said it would be easy. And then again, then I suppose then everyone would have demo reel of RED ONE only footage. Not done yet, but here is a look.

Inspire Me Africa video.

2010-02-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

This is a very rough cut of some of my footage from Tanzania.

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

2010-02-14T19:23:00.001-08:00

mark's drums, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

OCD, Hording and Drums. When does it become something you need to talk to someone about? And who would you go to? Maybe I could run a drum shop that has a licensed therapist on staff.

But seriously, I guess it is because I have not been gigging lately, but I have been pulling out every drum and noise maker I can find. Some going back a decade or so, I am pulling together metal plates and bed pans, stainless steel strainers and drainage pipe. I'm certainly not done adding things I have laying around waiting to made into something that can produce some sound. And, I can hardly leave the house without looking for objects that might want to get hit.

You find them in the oddest places. Metal buckets, water cooler bottles, stove pipes and industrial filter housings. I can honestly say that I have never met a piece of metal or plastic that I did not want to smash. And like any decent war of attrition, I think if you add enough sounds then some interesting poly-rhythms and melodies can start springing up.

Stay tuned for some recording in the future, and I think I am going to get back to adding some of my electronic drums and trigger devices into the mix. It's been a while now that I have been concentrating on acoustic and found material instruments. I spent more than a decade working on melding the two, going back to the beginning of Simmons and later KAT products triggering MAC-based Sample Cell, Emu and Roland sound sources.

About another decade has whizzed by since using much electronics, so it should prove fun to see what I can do with a little more modern technology, and a whole lot more stuff to hit repeatedly.

Fall Colors

2009-10-18T21:42:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

My favorite shooting spot turns again adding new colors.

Forest Park

2009-10-18T21:41:00.001-07:00

Forest Park , originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

New England in the fall is much too short.

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream will never die."

2009-08-29T19:43:00.001-07:00

flags at half-mast for Senator Kennedy, originally uploaded by writerjax.

A simple white wooden cross and marble footmarker will be added to Arlington National Cemetery tonight. It will mark the spot where Edward Kennedy will rest. As the country lays to rest one of it's most influential public servants, I remember back to one time where I could actually say that I was moved by a speech and by a politician.

My story takes place at the Democratic Convention of 2000 that took place in Springfield, Mass. I was called the day before by a friend that ran the media department at the Civic Center. They had a teleprompter problem for the convention that was to take place the next day. They asked me to come by and see if I could make it work, and that they were in a terrible bind as Senator Kennedy was going to be using it for his keynote speech at the convention.

Well, I had worked with them a bit at Connecticut School of Broadcasting, so I said I would run over. I was met by several of Kennedy's aides who were anxiously waiting to call it a long day, but one with a working teleprompter. They were as pleased as I was only several moments later when I had the script running correctly on the monitors and lined them up for the podium. Turns out of a full day of speakers, only Ted Kennedy would be using the prompter, so they had no one running it. His young but extremely appreciative assistant asked if I would please come the next day, a Saturday, and run the thing for the senator's speech? Of course, I was billing them so I said sure and headed home with a last minute gig that would end up being pretty interesting.

The next day I made my way through the security net that included city and state police, and a large amount of what looked like secret service agents, complete with microphones, and remember, they were not yet stuck to everyone's head like the blue tools are now a days. So, there I waited until the very loosely scheduled event culminated in the senator's speech. He had not yet arrived at the venue, so I had plenty of time to watch the action and listen to the speakers from the unique position pretty much ten of twelve feet away from the podium.

Of course, there were plenty of mid-level state politicians that spoke and plenty of party line getting stoked with the packed house of believers. I was becoming one of them when an incredibly small Michael Dukakus walked up and asked my name. I could hardly believe I was actually looking down on the former Governor and all I could remember was the image of his goggled head sticking out of a tank. And, his eyebrows are truly something out of Mothra, but he is a very nice guy, and I think had all the best intentions for the state, and the nation. So, of course I told him my name and we chatted for a few minutes as the secret service looked on. Did I mentioned how short he is? I mean, I am not tall, so for me to notice, jeez, you got to be pretty short. He looks like a former jockey or something.

Anyways, a few hours later, it was time. He is in the building, I am told, and they are bringing him right over to meet me. Me. I was a little taken back, and I understood that I was helping them out a bit but I was pretty surprised when his handlers did in fact bring him right to me and introduce me as “the guy that saved the day with the teleprompter.” So he very loudly clears his throat in a way that I imagined he had done right before countless speeches, and shook my hand. Thanking me for handling his teleprompter, I assured him that I would keep pace with him. So he shakes a few more hands and goes up the short staircase to the stage to a huge amount of applause.

Now, if you have never run a teleprompter, let me tell you it is kind of cool. You are sort of reading along with the person, allowing them to keep their own pace, including dealing with rounds of applause that tend to break out at these political events. Well in this case, I realized at the time it was one of the most recognizable figures in the world and I was dolling out his script. Seeing ever line a few ahead, keeping pace with the Lion of the Senate as he spoke of President Kennedy, his legacy as well as that of his brother, Robert Kennedy. I thought being at a Democratic Convention, those were especially poignant words.

It was right around this point when I sensed someone looking over my shoulder and caught a glimpse of another Kennedy, and in fact I’m not sure which one it was. But he had enough physical traits for me. Of course, at the time I was paying close attention to not screwing up, which can really kill a speaker’s delivery. But all went well, and it was an excellent speech that evoked all the important issues that Ted Kennedy was known for being a tireless supporter of. One of those issues, interestingly was health care. Let’s hope we can pass reform without him.

Following his speech and plenty of applause, of course, he again thanked me and was whisked away into a van. This ends my brush with a Kennedy, one that I hope history remembers for what he contributed and stood for.

maneater workflow

2009-08-18T16:12:00.001-07:00

maneater workflow, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

The trip getting to Africa and back is huge. But, it almost pales in comparison to the work it takes to deal with the the RED ONE work flow. Oh, don't get me wrong, the shots are great.

If the hard drive does not fail.

But I am all about the instant gratification, and the suspense is killing me. Now I am uploading an update for CS4. It's over 800 meg. Good thing it is not a big update I guess. So, we will see how that works out. The claim is I can work direclty in the Premiere and After Effects environment with the R3D files.

Here's hoping!

Hey Pal, can you lend me a hand?

2009-08-12T19:13:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Next time you get a chance to help someone out, and it can be small, that's o.k. It's the thought, they say. So if it's throwing a quarter in a meter to save a stranger a ticket, to giving away your gum, before the mint flavor has run out by all means do the right thing.

Lake Natron

2009-07-20T19:35:00.001-07:00

Lake Natron, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Ah, Lake Natron!

This is a place that I always wanted to visit. This shallow salt lake is famous for it's pink color and an incredible amount of flamingos. As a perfect breeding ground, Natron is host to the two and half million of them that live in the Great Rift Valley.

My Masai friend Thomas, did a great job of sneaking close to the birds and waiting until I gave him the signal. Brad and John offered some blockage from the persistent wind oscillating the camera on what was never a perfect tripod. Once I had the RED ONE video camera set up with a lens filled with pink birds and the 4k sensor set for 120 frames per second...I was ready. I gave Thomas the signal and he scared up the flock, filling my frame with so many birds that I knew it was going to be a good shot.

The ground was pretty soft, and reminded me of a soggy version of the Playa at Burningman. Anyways, two out of three rubber leg caps decided to stay in the mud and were plucked out by Thomas. After getting a bunch of additional shots, I decided to head back to the truck, which was by this point good half mile away on what was the last of Terra firma. Not wanting to see my new Kata backpack camera case sink into the caustic pink mud, I instead bent over with the pack on while Brad and Thomas helped get the RED tucked away.

I would have liked to stay on the water's edge there following the birds and getting more shots. But with the solid feel of a RED ONE on my back, and the 8 person Land Rover looking much smaller than a Matchbox, I got walking. But, not before putting on the album I finally remembered I had on my new iPhone, Big Whiskey & The Grugrux King. Well, it was pretty sweet as you can imagine.

You know how music often becomes associated with trips. Well, this one will have a bunch of music from orphans to Masai Warriors, from organized groups with dancers, to an impromptu acapella treat by the porters on Kilimanjaro. But I will also remember this trip by DMB and Leroy Moore.

RIP.

Kilimangaro, First Look Back

2009-07-18T10:22:00.001-07:00

Kilimangaro, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

This is one huge mountain! I was pretty much just concerned with getting down, so I did not get a pic until this shot at somewhere about 14,000 feet, which is where I started to feel a little bit like I was going to live!

Although only 7 weeks post surgery, it was not my hernia that kept from the peak of Africa's tallest mountain, but the altitude itself. Of course, I knew I had a battle going in, being from about 300 ft and all. In fact, my tallest training hike was only about 2000 feet. Ironically, about the distance I came from the top. But, even though often the mountain wins...all is well.

I went to Africa! I climbed higher than any mountain in the lower 48 states! and, most importantly, I made it down under my own power. The rest of the story, is a long one. Many pics, posts and video to come!

Jambo!

10 days and counting

2009-06-16T07:38:00.001-07:00

summit, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Mount Monadnock serves as good training ground for Africa.

2009-06-14T10:41:00.001-07:00

Mount Monadnock, originally uploaded by A glimpse of life.

With Kilimanjaro only a bit more than 2 weeks away, my friend Shawn and I drove an hour and a half to get some training in. Being in New England might end up being one of my weak points, once the altitude comes into play. I can train hard, but we are still only a few thousand feet above sea level and you really can't tell how the thin air above 10,000 feet will effect you.

The rugged terrain of New England, and New Hampshire in particular are hard going, especially with a pack and camera equipment to haul up the hill.

2009-06-14T10:31:00.001-07:00

Mount Monadnock, originally uploaded by A glimpse of life.

The view is incredible, including three states. On a clear day you can see from Mt. Washington to Massachusetts.

Shooting the Summit

2009-06-14T10:26:00.001-07:00

Mount Monadnock, originally uploaded by A glimpse of life.

We found what looked the like tallest rock outcropping on the summit. There was a good amount of people there, this being one of the most climbed mountains in the area. Mount Monadnock stands about 2000 feet above any other peak within 30 miles and is the tallest peak in southern New Hampshire.

Headed for the Summit

2009-06-14T10:22:00.001-07:00

Mount Monadnock, originally uploaded by A glimpse of life.

After several long off glimpses of the top, we finally got there, only to find yet another drop off and gully, then a hundred feet back up. The view was worth the work. Getting back was pretty tough though. Took a few extra hours with the packs and all. But, we did make it in the end.

africa or bust!

2009-05-19T20:29:00.001-07:00

africa or bust!, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

It's official! I'm actually going to go to Africa, and climb Kilimanjaro. I know, sounds crazy. But it's true.

Mom, this one's for you.

The Photographer

2009-05-12T21:08:00.001-07:00

The Photographer, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

So my friend, Dave and I went to NYC to find him a new dejembe. And of course I bring my small Nikon with me where ever I go. We had 5 or 6 music stores marked off on Dave's nifty printed map of Manhatten. We also wanted to go up to The Top Of the Rock, and see the city from the 70th floor.

I came across this interesting photog on 50th street near the entrance and asked him if I could snap his pic. He did not even hesitate and said, cool as can be: "You got one shot". I thought it was pretty cool, turning the table on a guy that most likely has taken more photos from this very spot than I have taken anywhere. But something tells me he has found him self on the other end of the camera plenty.

I really should visit the big apple more frequently. Thanks, Dave. And enjoy that drum!

Reflection

2009-04-18T16:43:00.001-07:00

Light Reflection, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Getting in one last hike before my hernia operation, the light was just right. I kept a quick pace, but stopped for a few shots on Porter Lake. The operation went fine, I am will son be back to training for my trip to Kilimanjaro this June.

Stay tuned for more training pics!

Out Cropping

2009-04-11T17:09:00.001-07:00

Out Cropping, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

This shot was taken from the top of Mt. Tom during a recent training hike. Although it amounts to little more than a bump when compared to MT. Kilimanjaro, every step gets me a little closer. I head to Africa on June 26th and will be increasing my training up until then. Getting my camera equipment to 19,400 ft should end up being an adventure.

Rocks, Red River Beach

2009-04-06T19:18:00.001-07:00

Rocks, Red River Beach, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Pumping Iron Roadster

2009-04-04T20:49:00.001-07:00

Pumping Iron Roadster, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Built for Mike Katz, this cool 32 just got paint from Bodyworks Unlimited and artwork by Richard Markham and Ed Gross. The car was headed to be unveiled by Katz, Lou Ferrigno and The Governator himself , Arnold Schwarzenegger.

We all need a hero. And some fiber.

2009-01-17T18:18:00.001-08:00

Wheaties Box US Airways flight 1549, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Super cool, US Airways pilot C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger has the right stuff. Not only does he calmly land his stricken Airbus A320 jetliner in the frigid Hudson River, and saves all 155 people aboard Flight 1549, but he also knows a good breakfast cereal when he tastes one.

O.K. I am just guessing about Capt. Sully's choice of morning food stuffs, but I am certain he is one great pilot. As a frequent flier and avid aviation buff, I hope to get a pilot like him on my next flight. And I hope that he started his day with several bowls of Wheaties.

Blue Boat

2009-01-01T19:38:00.001-08:00

Blue Boat, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

49 Grille

2009-01-01T19:32:00.001-08:00

49 Grille, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Red River Beach

2009-01-01T19:28:00.001-08:00

Red River Beach, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Christmas on Cape Cod

Calm Before The Storm

2008-10-26T12:08:00.001-07:00

Calm Before The Storm, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

This was taken moments before all hell broke loose on flight 3472 from Washington DC to Hartford Ct. After 2 grueling hours for a 45 minute flight, 3 hair-raising attempts to land and my reconsidering religion, we diverted to Providence RI for a scary landing. After several passengers called the police once we landed, demanding to be let off the plane, we joined them. No way was I about to stay on for "another try". Happily, we rented a car and drove two hours with a very nice retired couple, getting there only about 30 minutes after the plane made it to Hartford. Either way, the return flight must have totally sucked, as the weather did not improve much. I will certainly fly again, but next time the clouds look like this, I will wonder how horrible it might get.

Del Padre Digital shoots Johnny Saxx video

2008-10-08T19:32:00.001-07:00

4k RED ONE, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

I took our brand-spanking new RED ONE camera out to Detroit to shoot a music video for Hip-Hop artist Johnny Saxx recently. Including a shoot in Blue Sky Studios, an office set and club scene in Lansing and a moving car scene on Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe, it was a very full couple of days.

The rig was fitted with The Redrock microMattebox which we got a few days before to write a review on the product for Studio Monthly Magazine. You'll have to wait for your issue to find out the full story, but I can say it was sweet!

The video is for the song "Take Me Away" and is now in editing. Of course, the RED workflow is, let's say...a challenge, but the image quality and dynamic range is just astounding. Paired with our Nikon prime lenes, we had excellent depth of feild control and plenty of light. Incredible support and lighting from Dave St. George of Advanced Multimedia. I literally would not have made it through without him, and his parents, who put me up for a solid four hours of sleep per night, and wonderful breakfast in the morning. So much better than a hotel.

The footage is ready to go, so I get to editing tomorrow, after Nino DelPadre spent the last 6 days and nights working out the kinks in the notorious RED workflow. Talk about "Bleeding Edge", at this point we are ready to get to the fun part, seeing it come together.

The video is headed for MTV, BET and ANT1 in Greece, so of course we plan to pull out the stops and get pretty extreme with the edit and postproduction. Johnny is a very cool guy, and his crew are all righteous dudes, so we are looking forward to heading back to Detroit soon.

First, let's finish the video.

2008-09-11T23:11:00.001-07:00

Barney Family Mausoleum, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Standing Guard

As a photographer, you constantly want to find new subjects and new places to shoot. But more often than not work, weather, traffic jams or missed air shows (see post below) lead you to what is available to shoot. At least you get out, right? I am fortunate to have a pretty cool spot called Forest Park right at the end of my street. I hiked into the park from the Washington Street cul-de-sac after taking this quick pic of a very cool house at the end of the street that has a very out of place Antebellum type of look.

I don’t have any idea about the house, but I can imagine the original owners most likely, being the closest neighbors, knew the Barneys pretty well. Everett Hosmer Barney, whom made a fortune with his famous Barney and Berry ice skates, donated his incredible 110 acre park to the city of Springfield. It is one of the nicest city parks in the country, and has many rare plants from Europe, Egypt, China, Japan and India.

And it also has a very interesting subject to shoot, the Barney Family Mausoleum. This sun-draped sphinx guards one of Springfield’s most interesting and generous figures. It was also a subject of one of my Grandmother’s favorite photos of mine, a black and white from when I was in high school. I will have to dig that up and scan it.

Air Show

2008-09-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

Air Show, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

After about 2 hours of horrible traffic attempting to get to the Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Force base I just plain gave up. It was the first air show at Westover in 4 years, and the first one I almost got to see in more than 10 years. I had really been looking forward to shooting, so I bailed out of the traffic and headed to one of my stand-by photo haunts, Forest Park.

While shooting the Barney Family Mausoleum, a place I have shot countless times but keep going back to, I looked up and realized that 40,000 feet was about as close as I was going to get. I kind of like the shot I got. Sort of minimalistic, I'll admit it but it does give you the feeling that some things are just way out of arms reach.

Del Padre Digital goes RED!

2008-09-06T21:04:00.001-07:00

Nino's RED Camera, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

RED Camera, that is.

Over a year in the waiting, we finally took delivery of our RED and gave it a test drive. It is absolutely incredible at 113 frames and the image is flawless.

Nino is currently out in Denver shooting with it for clients Proficient Audio and Speakercraft. We produced video elements for both company’s booths at this years CEDIA show, the "Big One" for the audio industry. We created 8 new product videos for Proficient that included some new 3d renders and studio photography of their new line of sub woofers, electronics and in door-out door speakers.

The Speakercraft video, playing on a 17 foot screen, has interviews of the SC crew talking about business and audio gear chroma keyed onto some wacky footage, ranging from cattle drives and cowboys (Last Stand At Apache Pass, 2005”) to Roman epic footage (Romulus, 2007). And don’t forget Duck and Cover, which coincidentally was made way back in 1952 by Archer Productions (unfortunately no relation) and plenty of Godzilla. And all that is intertwined with footage of the incredible "Goth du'Sole-like" troup Lucent Dossier.

Although it was full HD and we had about 2 weeks total to go through about 5 hours of source footage and edit down to a 40 minute loop with music including the Doors and Rage Against the Machine, it turned out killer and one of the funnest projects we have had in a while.

If you are looking to shoot with a RED camera, you can rent our services through-out the North East and pretty much any where else you want to shoot. Check out our site for more info and keep an eye out for samples from the RED soon.

www.delpadre.com

Stank Puss

2008-09-06T19:54:00.001-07:00

Stank Puss, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

O.K. Even I can't make this up. This was an actual product, on sale at an actual arts and craft fair and were actually scratch and sniff panties. Made by Dirty Britches, these would make killer stocking stuffers.

Face In The Crowd

2008-08-19T21:22:00.001-07:00

LEGO Crowd, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

We are all individuals. All have our quirks. Good points and bad. But we also all have things that make us different. Sure, maybe we all have the same type of arm sockets and hand shape. But we can wear a different helmut or possibly a full face war mask. You might not be able to bend at the waist too well, but give the head a full Linda Blair turrn, and you really stand out.

So, next time the pegs just dont fit and you feel like a brick remember this: what fun would it be if we were all the same?

Big Brother & the Holding Company

2008-08-03T13:03:00.001-07:00

Big Brother & the Holding Company, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

August, 2 2008
Mill Street Blues with Big Brother & the Holding Company
millstreetbrews.com, South Bridge, Massachusetts

Great show and nice folks. Mary Bridget was incredible and did Janis proud. I took these shots right after my own band, The Concoction warmed up the crowd. The set was fun and the drum kit sounded great on stage, one of the factors that I judge gigs on. Had fun seeing David Getz lay down some nice grooves. Drums and Photography. Two of my favorite things.

Besides having low light and shivers up my spine from Mary's intense vocal performance, I think I got a few shots that I like. Hopefully, you agree.

If you get a chance to check out Big Brother...do it. It's a great night of masterful music and if you close your eyes, you can picture Janis, belting out some serious classic rock.

check out:
http://www.bbhc.com/main.html
http://www.theconcoction.com/

King of All Frogs

2008-07-15T18:44:00.001-07:00

King of All Frogs, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

When given a choice of a quick shot out of a moving car with an unfamilar, very slow point and shoot or no shot at all....I have to go with whatever I can get. And sometimes you get a really interesting image.

I was on my way to Mohegan Sun to see Rush with my friend Shawn when we came on this bridge adorned with some pretty fancy frogs.

Not the shot I would have liked to get, but not a total croaker either.

Why Ducks Float

2008-07-13T21:49:00.001-07:00

Feather floating, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

When shooting in a place that you have been to countless times, you need to start finding new things to capture. Today, that was the case for me at Forest Park. One block away and also one of the largest urban parks in the country, I have hiked, biked, walked and shot my way through every inch of it by now. So, today I took only a long lens and went after the small things. The less obvious. I took a little more time. Occasionally standing in one spot looking for something with detail, or an interesting play on the light.

A wire mesh and stone block wall keeps the far edge of one of the duck ponds from totally backing up into the outlet of a small stream that I have been going to for so long, the edge of the pond has filled in about 30 feet. I guess that would do it, about a foot a year.

Anyways, while I was on that stone wall, crossing to the other side of the end of the pond I found this nice single white feather, most certainly from one of the ducks I shot a little earlier. Maybe it was even from Whitey Beakman. This one lone feather was floting on the green film of tiny little pond things. You know the ones. The ones that look like green scum from a distance, but are really little green floating things. (I would get more specific, but I’m tired.)

Looking closely at this picture you can see how little of the feather is actually touching the surface. Now, I’m no specialist in North American aquatic plant studies, or how the upward force on an object produced by the surrounding liquid or gas in which it is fully or partially immersed, due to the pressure difference of the fluid between the top and bottom of the object, enables the object to float but I think this may have something to do with why ducks don’t sink.

Flowers. Everyone is doing them.

2008-07-13T19:49:00.001-07:00

Yellow Bloom, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Does this sound familar?
You spend countless hours of searching for new places to shoot, tons of expensive fossil fuels to find them. You take photo after photo, retouching and cropping. Experimenting and learning. You buy expensive cameras and test lens after lens. You then only put up the good ones. The ones worth pushing get into Flickr groups and maybe, if you're lucky someone notices.

Or:
You take a small point and shoot, grab a close up of a flower, and "Zing...!" you're being invited to groups left and right, favorited, blogged about and might even end up on a kitchen wall some where in Sheboigan.
Go figure.

Caves at Grotto Bay

2008-07-09T10:41:00.001-07:00

Caves at Grotto Bay, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

So much to talk about....so little time.
Here is one of many images from my recent honeymoon in Bermuda. Like most die-hard photogcouples, it turned into a great photo safari with the areas incredible views, colors and locals being around every twisty narrow road.

You can check out some of my Bermuda images here

Our Sewer Cap

2008-05-08T16:11:00.001-07:00

Our Sewer Cap, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

And no oxygen in sight!

My studio set

2008-04-27T18:55:00.001-07:00

Studio set, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

My kit while recording at Bat Cave Studios, Southbridge MA. The Concoction finished up our cd "Sonic Elixirs Served Daily" and you can rush right over to www.theconcoction.com to get a copy. It is also up on www.cdbaby.com .

UH-60A Black Hawk

2008-04-27T10:56:00.001-07:00

UH-60A Black Hawk, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

One of my favorite shots from a shoot I did for Barnes Aerospace while shooting the Connecticut Army National Gaurd.

GT2 @ Lime Rock Park

2008-04-21T17:09:00.001-07:00

GT2 @ Lime Rock Park, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Spent a day last weekend at Lime Rock Park, a unique and historic road racing track in Connetticut to take in some racing and research for a documentary I am thinking about making.

Being an open track day there were plenty of cars from daily-drivers to classics to high-end highly tuned sports cars. Although this GT2 almost looks like its parked, it was actually wizzing by at about 100.

This is great track for spectators, offering rolling green lawns instead of grandstands and more trees than billboards with oil company logos. You can also learn to race there at the Skip Barber Racing facility.

I really need to go back and do that!

Eco 8 Royal after test flight

2008-03-07T20:03:00.001-08:00

Eco 8 Royal after test flight, originally uploaded by ArcherVision.

Weather still cold, but still getting out flying a bit...in between crashes, that is.

ArcherVision Helicam

2008-03-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

Not entirely finished, but it is flying....well, sort of. All I need now is a new Bell-Hiller Mixer Arm, which I broke.

Need....bigger.....heli....!

The Concoction

2006-04-17T11:19:00.000-07:00

Mark Archer is in a new band! Check out www.theconcoction.com