Blog for Wilkinson Visual, aerial and documentary video production and photography services in Lexington, Kentucky.
Over the past 12 months, we've been plugging away at a few different tourism video and photo projects in Kentucky, through an agency that hired Wilkinson Visual to create content. Patiently waiting for them to go public, the wait is finally over! Here's a brief writeup on the two jobs and the final videos.
Read MoreStand up paddleboarding is booming in popularity these days, as both casual and avid outdoor enthusiasts seem to enjoy the calm, relatively easy looking way experience some adventure on the water. In response to this growth, companies like Endless Summer Paddle Company are staying busy every weekend with classes and paddle trips. This summer, I worked with ESPC to craft some new photography for their digital marketing and social media.
Read MoreThis past weekend saw the return of one of our favorite non-profits to the Bluegrass, Paradox Sports. Paradox runs adaptive adventure programs across the United States, and they hosted a rock climbing clinic at Torrent Falls, where Wilkinson Visual was asked to be a part of the action.
Read MoreEvery spring, various land management agencies and natural government groups, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy, come together for controlled land burns. These burns are done to prevent the buildup of dead brush and reduce the chances for large wildfires in the future.
Read MoreThe Nature Conservancy works to protect natural lands and water, and in 2017 I had the opportunity to work with the Kentucky chapter of TNC to create imagery for their 22-page case statement.
Read MoreI spent two days taking stills of competitors at Peabody Ice Climbing, in Fenton, Michigan, for the 2018 North American Ice Climbing Championships.
Read MoreIf you know me at all, you'll know that every winter season I migrate to the southern shores of Lake Superior in search of ice and adventure. 2018 was no exception, and as is often the case, this year was full of its own unique series of events.
Read MoreAs the leaves of fall hit their peak colors, I scrambled to get out and shoot as much as possible. In between hiking the gorge and driving around horse farms, I got asked to jump on a zipline and shoot photos for Lexington’s Boone Creek Outdoors.
Read MoreA brand new adventure photography backpack was recently released, and I was one of a small number of creatives who got to test one out before they went on sale. Check out my full review on Fstoppers.com!
Read MoreStoke. Encouragement. Beta. Guacamole. These were just some of the things that were shared at the recent Chicks Climbing and Skiing clinic in the Red River Gorge this September. I had the opportunity to work with and capture photos of a bunch of these awesome ladies putting their skills to the test at MFRP.
Read MoreDon’t get me wrong, I LOVE what I do. I’m my own boss, set my own schedule, and routinely edit videos or write proposals while wearing pajamas. However, with the advent of social media, and people projecting this image of, “look how awesome my life is” I find it important to take a moment and reflect on the reality of this profession.
Read MoreIn this article for Fstoppers, I discuss how the National Park Service in the United States is one of the few organizations with clear policies regarding the use of drones, or small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) on their property. There are some pilots who ignore these rules, and it makes doing business as a licensed operator very difficult. Be sure to read the comments for some very interesting speculation about future developments, changes, and what other people see as a solution.
Read MoreFor a week in June, I based myself out of Boulder, Colorado, and sought out classic moderate trad climbs. I made it to Estes Park, Mt. Evans, Eldorado Canyon, Lumpy Ridge, and a few other places in just seven days, completing 33 pitches in total. Here's a brief look at a few of the climbs and areas I visited.
Read MoreVideo production takes an audience member to a place that they could never imagine going to. Whether it is climbing up Mount Everest or even watching a high profile soccer game live, the philosophy behind the technology is giving the audience a new experience.
Read MoreEvery winter I make the drive up north to Munising, Michigan, to spend a few weeks ice climbing and taking on a few video and photo jobs while there. 2017 was no exception, as my activities included climbing with athletes to flying drones for a Japanese film crew.
Read MoreAs a filmmaker & photographer, you might only see pressing the big red RECORD button on my camera and setting up a few lights, but trust me when I say there is a lot that goes in to what it takes for me to have even gotten to that point. Business costs, time, maintenance, training, are just a fraction of what it takes myself, and other working professionals, to operate legally and at a standard of quality that enables us to (try) and make a living.
Read MoreOver the last five months or so, I have enjoyed many days in Red River Gorge, spending hours on Kentucky's finest sandstone routes. Besides climbing, I also had some photography objectives in mind– including capturing images for a new guidebook.
Read MoreJust released is an e-book I co-authored, entitled "Tips for Shooting Professional Video Interviews."
With over 100 pages of content, the information in this e-book has been created to help videographers and filmmakers produce professional video interviews.
Read MoreThe Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K RAW Camera is a high end video camera that I was fortunate to check out for a few days while shooting some climbing and documentary b-roll around Kentucky. The technical specs are out of this world: 4608 x 2592 pixel capture, RAW recording, and a whopping 15 stops of dynamic range, all in a $5,000 package. Read all about it in my full review on Fstoppers.
https://fstoppers.com/gear/fstoppers-review-blackmagic-ursa-mini-46k-raw-cinema-camera-155172
Read MoreThis November, I passed the UAG exam and earned my Remote Pilot Certificate, which gives me the legal license to operate a drone commercially in the USA under the Part 107 rule. I am pleased to offer this service to all of our clients in Kentucky and around the United States. So what does be licensed even mean? Why does it even matter? In this post, I'll explain why this is serious stuff and outline the reasons you should only hire licensed pilots to provide aerial video and photo services for your business or project.
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