Canon G7X is going back...

I was excited to get the new Canon G7X. I had heard a lot of good things about it. It was purchased to be mounted in the rear window (for the Rear Window Video sequences). The image was great, the color was great. The battery life was NOT so great. This tiny battery only lasts about 45 minutes at most. Also another drawback is that when the file size reaches 4Gb, the camera shuts off and you have to stop the car, get out, climb into the back seat, lean over it, and push the button again. I'm not against exercise, but it seems a bit unnecessary and it could ruin a perfectly great section of video footage if it stopped right in the middle of something interesting.

So, farewell, my little G7X. It was great to know ya.

REAR WINDOW VIDEO: Episode One

As a Baby Boomer, I have fond memories of the laughter and silly situations shown on Alan Funt's television hit - Candid Camera. Perhaps it was that memory of such a unique concept that led me to this point. While Candid Camera aired on television, and that was their primary marketing channel, the new technology of the 21st Century provides creators with a whole lot more options.

With the advent of YouTube, cell phones, Instagram, BEME, Snapchat, Twitter, and other social media, a video creator's world has expanded exponentially from the single television channel outlet. So, after some careful consideration, checking legalities of putting people's images on the internet without permission, and the potential viewership this type of concept might generate, I decided to create the REAR WINDOW VIDEO feature on my YouTube channel.

Here is the first video containing the rear window footage that was captured yesterday near Raymore, MO. This should become more fun once people catch on to what's going on, realize they are being recorded, and act accordingly. I'm expecting some animated responses soon.

The Rear Window Project is underway...

This idea came to me a while back. Perhaps I was remembering the old Candid Camera show from the days of my youth. Anway, I figure out how to get the camera hooked up. And I got some signage for the Magnum Mobile. We shall see if we get any interesting videos from those who are following us.

The camera I've been looking for...

I didn't expect to be so amazed and impressed before I got my hands on this Canon G7X. But I was. This is an amazing little package. Check out the video, especially the night shots. Wow!

COMPARISON VIDEO...

This video provides a comparison of the test footage from the Canon 70D DSLR and the HF R700 camcorder. Although it's no match for the $1,500 70D, at only $250, this little camcorder is a bargain for the quality it delivers.

Our 45th President

A tribute to Donald Trump. Destined to become the 45th President of the United States.
Despite the doubt that everyone had from the start, billionaire Donald J. Trump has proven everyone wrong so far.

I Shot an Elephant in my Pajamas...

This is a short video showing how to set up a multi-camera video. I'm using the Canon 70D with the 50mm lens and an iPhone 6. Edited with iMovie. Leave a comment or question, and I will reply.

iPhone Mount for Car

This is a test video to see how well the iPhone performs in a mobile situation. Also showing the iPhone mount I picked up at Walmart. Seems to work pretty well.

Corvette C1 - The Legend Begins

This video is the first in a continuing series exploring the history of the legendary Chevrolet Corvette.

Our story begins in 1953. The war in Korean is winding down, and it will be over by the end of July. In Hollywood, California, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently awarded Humphrey Bogart the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Charlie Allnut in The African Queen.

And if you happen to be listening to a radio anywhere in America, it won’t be long before Jo Stafford’s voice can be heard singing You Belong to Me. 

In Washington, D.C. plans are in the works for the televised inauguration ceremony for Dwight D. Eisenhower, who has just been elected the 34th President of the United States. But that celebration won’t receive the viewership that will occur on the prior evening when 71% of American televisions will be tuned in to watch the episode when Lucy gives birth to Little Ricky.

But two days before that event, on January 17th, the big reveal takes place. The executives at General Motors have been waiting a long time for the unveiling of their newest design. The crowd at the GM Motorama Show being held in the Waldorf Astoria in New York City is impressed with the new model known as the Corvette.

It’s touted as fast and maneuverable, like it’s namesake naval escort vessel. No one realizes at the time, but this 1953 Corvette is destined to become the first of seven iterations (so far) that the model will go through as it evolves from a somewhat underpowered debut model to the legendary icon representing the quintessential American Sports Car. 

Of course, every new car needs a unique identity, and the Corvette was no exception. However, the emblem that would eventually adorn the hood did not end up as it was originally created. Robert Bartholomew, an interior designer at GM, developed the original logo, which consisted of two crossed flags – a checkered racing flag and a United States Flag. 

At some point before it was approved for production, someone, whose name has now been lost to history, discovered Public Law 77-623, also known as the National Flag Code. Unfortunately, this law made it illegal to use the American Flag in any form of advertising, marketing, or branding. Bartholomew made a revision and created the version shown here, which ended up as the final hood emblem. Obviously, this logo has evolved over the years, but Bartholomew’s original concept of the crossed flags has remained.

The Motorama Show was only the beginning. Let’s move forward in time to take a closer look so we can become a little more familiar with some of the details surrounding this first model year Corvette.

Six months after the Motorama Show, on June 30th, 1953, the first of only 300 units rolled off the assembly line at the GM Plant in Flint Michigan. These were the only Corvettes that would ever be built in that plant. The following year, production was transferred to St. Louis and remained there for the next 27 years until 1981, when it was moved to Bowling Green, KY, where it still remains.

(EXTERIOR SHOT)

Unlike today’s models with a multitude of versions and varieties, aside from their unique serial numbers, all 300 of the units were identical. Each was created with the same exterior paint color known as Polo White. 

The interiors were identical as well and were all produced with the Sportsman Red vinyl bucket seats. All 300 of them were convertibles.

If you raised the hood, you would find an inline six cylinder engine known as the Blue Flame. This motor was  connected to a 2 speed Powerglide transmission controlled by a sporty, floor-mounted shifter. Unlike the more aggressive power plants that would follow as the Corvette evolved, this initial engine only delivered a somewhat wimpy 150 hp. 

The options available were equally mediocre and included only an AM radio and a heater, which really didn’t heat anything, but actually only recirculated the air inside  the cockpit. Those two options weren’t actually options as we know them today, because each new Corvette had both items installed at the assembly plant, and the customer was charged for them, whether they wanted them or not.

The MSRP with no options was $3,490 (which was $90 more than the annual salary of the average worker in 1953). But, after the addition of the non-optional options, the actual price came in at $3,734. 

Of the 300 original units, there are over 200 of them still accounted for today. And, since rarity typically dictates value, these remaining models have become highly desirable. 

As shown on the Barrett Jackson flyer, Production Number 3 (Serial number E53F001003) sold at auction in 2006 for $1.1 million dollars.

And that’s how the legend began, on June 30, 1953.

Audiotrack: The Curtain Rises by Kevin MacLeod.

Audiotrack: In Your Arms by Kevin MacLeod.

This presentation contains copyrighted material incorporated under the Fair Use exemption of the U.S. copyright law.

CANON 70D PANORAMA. EASY TO DO.

If you have a Canon 70D (or any of the Canon DSLR recent models) you can create a panorama in no time. The steps are easy. Just make certain you're using a tripod. Set your camera to MANUAL MODE. (I know, most newbies are stuck on the AUTOMATIC MODE) but his will give you an opportunity to use that manual mode and get more familiar with it.

Once you get your tripod set up and your camera switch to manual mode, check to make sure your camera is level before you start shooting. I would suggest using ISO of 100 and set your aperture at a relative high number so you can get more of the shot in focus by having a longer depth of field.

With your lens set on AF, press the shutter half way so the lens focuses. I would suggest picking focal point that's about halfway into the image (vertically). Once the camera focuses, switch the lens to MF so that your camera doesn't keep focusing during the sequence of shots.

Take a shot of the far left end of our landscape. Check it to see if the focus and exposure looks good. If not, adjust your shutter speed to get the exposure where you want it. Take another shot and check. If everything looks good, start shooting. The sequence should go from left to right, with about a 25% overlap on each image.

Once you have your shots, take the images into Photoshop and perform the Automate/Photomerge process. Then you can crop your image at the points you wish for the best result. Any questions, leave a comment. I'll be happy to answer them.

Instragram transfer of videos... EASY!

If you're looking for the easiest way to upload your YouTube videos to your Instagram account, this is the simplest method I have found. No additional apps to download. If you need to increase your marketing channels to get more views on your YouTube videos by uploading to Instagram, this is the video you've been looking for. Give it a try and expand your views and market penetration.