Welcome to The Camping Machine Multimedia Gallery. Once
I was a former TV News Photographer - now I'm just a dad with a video camera. Currently
there are over 25 videos on this page. Enjoy them for what they are worth.
If you
have questions, comments or observations about any of these videos please send a note to campingmachineguy (at) gmail
(dot) com.
The Exuberance
of Youth
I am an old man with two young kids. Boys, to be precise. How old am I?
Let's just say that I'll be trying to retire when it's time to put them both through college. So when I talk about The Exuberance of Youth, you can be sure it's not me I'm talking about. Still, even though
I haven't felt The Exuberance of Youth myself for quite some time, I know it when I see it.
And when I see it on the face of one of my sons, it makes my day. So watch the clip below, all 20 seconds of it,and
see if it doesn't bring a smile to your face the way it did to mine.
I've done all sorts of Easter egg hunts in my days,
but never have I seen an Easter Egg hunt in the snow. It just happened to dump 6 inches of snow the night before our
church held the annual kids Easter egg hunt. I thought most kids would skip the event. I thought wrong.
Watch the video below to see for yourself!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
My
youngest son sang in his elementary school Christmas Choir. The clip below is a reminder of the real joy of the Holiday
season.
SOCCER HIGHLIGHT REEL
Those of you who have read text or posts here in the past may remember that I have two sons who play on two differen soccer
teams. I coach both teams. While I love the involvement I have with my sons and their teams, there are times when
I'd rather just watch them play and take pictures or video. As coach, that never happens.
However in
the last game of the season one of the other parents did shoot some video. Some of it was bad, some was good.
Why the parent didn't do this earlier in the season, so I could have used it to help show the kids how to better play
their positions, I have no clue. However, I appreciated access to the tape and enjoyed watching it.
This
particular game we lost 4-1. And as much as I am sure you will all think I'm favoring my son, the truth is he is
one of the stronger players on the team. I cut together three clips of him, which you can view by clicking on the link
below. He's wearing #10 in the red jersey. He's good. For a 7 year old he knows the game, has some
footwork skills and knows when to dribble, when to pass and when to shoot. So at the risk of being 'one of THOSE
parents', click the link below and watch him go.
And please feel free to forward to Division 1 soccer coaches
looking for players in 2018.
Back in 1987 I was a TV News Cameraman and had just relocated from Great Falls, Montana to the hopping, exciting metropolis
of Reno, Nevada. Reno was all Bright Lights, Big City to me at that time, and the whole gambling thing gave it
a slight aura of decadence to me.
One evening I shot video at local fundraiser/fashion show taking place
at one of the casinos. I took some of that footage and combined it with other footage I had been shooting of Reno at
night.
It's been 20 years since I shot that piece, but some things never change - bright
lights, attractive women, film noir scenes of rain-slicked streets at night and a classic soundtrack. If you'd
like to see for yourself, click the link below and see Reno at Night.
Do you remember the original Roller Derby? Those strangely sexy women and bad-ass men on roller skates going around
and around the raised, banked skating rink? I remember watching it as a kid, not really sure what the rules were, but
pretty sure the requirements were to knock down as many people wearing the other color jersey as possible. It may not
have been sport, but it sure was entertaining.
Fast forward 20 years - now a TV News Cameraman, given full access
inside the rink to experience Roller Derby up close and personal. As great as it was as a kid watching on TV, it's
even better as an adult with a camera and an assignment - show our viewers what Roller Derby is all about.
This
piece aired on the local news several years ago. The piece was titled "Roller Derby comes to town' for the
broadcast, but in its Internet debut on TheCampingMachine.com, it carries the title is should have had all along - Hell
on Wheels.
I'm your typical middle-aged,
married guy with two kids. Working hard, trying to keep up wth it all, juggling work, family and the twin juggernaut
of doom - saving for retirement AND college for our sons. I had been stressing out about that lately, what
with the housing market collapse and the stock market plunge. But my worries are over now! The college
thing is all set, at least for Chris - we have a guaranteed basketball scholarship
in our future! Yes, it's true Chris is only 7 - but he has skills that has college coaches calling us already!
Check out the video below!
In a recent blog
post I discussed how I was a TV News Cameraman for about 10 years. Like any job, it had its good points and bad points.
One of the good points (for me at that time, anyway) was the chance to travel to places I had not been. Back in 1988
I had the chance to go to LA for the very first time. In addition to the story we covered, I also created a video essay
of our drive to LAX to catch our flight home. It was never shown on TV, but I kept it all these years. Now I have
an audience to share it with. It's about 65 seconds long. Check it out!
How many people do you know who
have been in a grave and climbed back out? I didn't know any - until I did it myself.
Back in my TV News
Cameraman days I was covering a police search for a burglary suspect. One night I was covering an active police search
for a burglary suspect. I met up with a Sherrif's officer who was assisting in the search. He was driving
his patrol car slowly along the perimeter of a cemetery, and I was walking alongside the car as he drove. He was shining
his window-mounted searchlight across the dark expanse of the graveyard, the headstones catching his searchlight as he made
his way down the road.
What happens next - well, suffice it to say I found myself in an place I wasn't ready
to be in.
The best part is what the officer says to me after that. Turn up the volume on your speakers
to catch his audio. Click the link below to watch A Grave Step.
We've had a lot of
snow in our area and the skiing has been superb. One recent Saturday our local ski resort hosted an amateur ski race
for anyone who wanted to try. I've never been interested in ski racing, but Chris asked if he could give it a try.
Of course we said yes. Chris was very excited to be in a ' real ski race.' Though he didn't medal
(he's only 7, and his age bracket was 7-10 years of age) he held his own. I'll tell you what - he's a gamer.
I wouldn't count him for next year! So strap on your slats and go along for the ride - Run
the Gates with Chris!
I coach both of my sons
in our local city recreational soccer league. Unfortunately they are just far enough apart in age that they cannot play
in the same age bracket, so I find myself coaching two different teams. As coach, I cannot videotape my sons play as
the other parents do. When my wife happened to be shooting one of our games, she caught Chris scoring
a goal. It is some brilliant soccer execution if I do say so myself... :-)
In my Blog post of 12-21-2007
I talked about the snow we received and the sleding that resulted. Our boys love to sled, and with the visit of their
cousin it was all but impossible to get them off the hill for dinner. It was fun to watch, and you can see it yourself
in The Sultans of Sled clip (read the blog post to get the full picture).
They also tried going over some of the
jumps that other kids built on the hill - you can see the result of that in the clip called WIPEOUT.
On a recent
business trip to Minneapolis my meetings ran long. Desperate to make my flight, I had to engage in some creative driving.
You can see it here by watching the clip below. Oddly enough, it seemed most of the other drivers on the 494 that day
were also in a hurry...
In 1987 a news photographer working in Great Falls, Montana took a ride in an open cockpit airplane.
Watch the video below.
River of Ice
In the Spring of 1987 I was
a 26 year old TV News Cameraman in Great Falls, Montana. If there was a local news story on the KFBB, Channel 5 local
newscast, I shot it. One day in April we had a cold spell and a bit of a snowstorm, not an uncommon occurrence at that time
of year in that part of the country. The day being rather slow for news, as most days were in Great Falls, I made my way to
the banks of the Missouri River and took some video footage of the river as new ice formed. It was beautiful, in its
own monochromatic way. Back at the station I cut the footage to music, and the piece ran at the close of the 5:30 and
10:00 PM newscasts. To see the movement of the semi-frozen Missouri river as it was over 20 years ago, watch the video below.
Making Beautiful Music
During this holiday season my younger son had his first piano recital. I expected him to be nervous.
He was anything but nervous. He played his piece without sheet music in front of him, one of only three students to
do this. He's only been playing for three months. So when he stepped up to the keys I heald my breath. As
you will see when you click to watch, he was marvelous. Can you say Prodigy???
My Son the Zombie You think it will never happen to you. Halloween comes, Halloween goes, and year after year you take your kids
trick-or-treating. You never see a real witch, a real ghost, or a real Zombie. At the end of the evening, you
come home, your kids change out of their costumes and what do you know? They are still ordinary kids. Not this year,
not for me. This year my son has turned into a real Zombie. Don't believe me? Check out the video below!
The Shallow End
of the Gene Pool
A few days ago I took my boys to the local sledding hill. It was a moderately cold day, temperature in the
low 20's. My kids had on snowpants and parkas, gloves and boots. Also my kids wear helmets when sledding, which may seem like
overkill, but so be it. Better safe than sorry. Anyway, at the opposite end of that spectrum is the kid in the video below.
I'm not really sure what else to say about him. While it may appear sunny, this day was cold and there was a stiff breeze,
which made for a nice little wind chill on top of the snow and ice. Judge for yourself - would you want YOUR kid doing this?
Summertime and the game is Flag
Football!
As a tune-up for real football
this fall, Chris is playing rec league flag football for boys in 3rd and 4th grade. He's the quarterback and we
now have a couple of games under our belt. Check out the YouTube videos below!
Wildcats
Flag Football Game 8
The
Wildcats stumble at the end of the season, losing their last two games to end the season 4-4. Thanks to a single lapse
on defense and a couple of dropped passes, the Wildcats get shut out in their final game 6-0 in Dimple Dell Flag Football.
Wildcats
Flag Football Game 6
Game
6 and the Wildcats are back on track! Thanks to a opening kickoff return for a touchdown and a trick play in the second
half, the mighty Wildcats get back to their winning ways with a 19-0 beatdown of a team called the Gladiators in Dimple Dell
Flag Football.
Wildcats Flag Football
Game 4
In a driving rainstorm, Chris
(#10 with the red hat) and the rest of the Wildcats (wearing white) came into Game 4 of their 8 game season sporting a record
of 3 wins and no losses. Would Game 4 be their undoing? Watch the video below to find out!
Wildcats Flag Football
Game 3
Chris and the rest of the
Wildcats (wearing white) came into Game 3 of their 8 game season with a record of 2 wins and no losses. Game 3 would
prove to be a challenge. Would the Wildcats be up to it? Watch the video to find out!
YOUTH FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHT REEL
The fall of 2008 was my
oldest son's first year in Pee Wee football. He's an eight year-old on a team of mostly nine year-old kids.
StillHe held his own and earned the starting tight end position, starting cornerback position and kicker.
The videos below are the highlight reels from each game this season. #91 for the Jordan Maroon Gremlins - it's Chris.
Better than Fantasy Football - It's youth football.
#91 and the Jordan Maroon Gremlins win in Overtime!
#91 continues to contribute in a big way as the Jordan Maroon
Gremlins win a hard fought battle against Viewmont. It was a hard fought battle that went down to the very end, and
in the end, #91 and his valiant teammates fought hard, never gave up, and played with discipline and determination.
Check out the video below to see how #91 and his teammates pulled out their second win of the season.
Game 7 - #91 Makes
A Difference
This was a breakout
game for #91. Saturday he was a difference-maker. He created two turnovers, one on an interception and the other
on a forced fumble. In addition, his kickoffs were strong and created challenges for the Riverton SilverWolves return
team. His physical play on the defensive side of the ball improved significantly over previous weeks.
Despite the improved play of #91 the Jordan Maroon Gremlins
went down to defeat 20-7. Still, the entire team played better, including the inspired play of #91. Click on the
video below to see some real game highlights!
GAME 6 - #91 GOES BIG
Let me be perfectly candid here. #91 is my son. This is his first year
playing organized football. He is a decent athlete, a really good kid and he tries really hard. But for anyone
who has played football, let's be honest - unless you are supremely gifted that first year is tough. So when I create
these highlight reels, as I have done for each of his games, it can be hard to find actual 'highlights.' Mostly
I put these together so our extended family can see what he has done. Are they true 'Highlights'? No.
Are they reflective of his performance in the games? Yes. Is he getting better with each game? Absolutely.
Most importantly, is he having fun?
Without question.
So if you're
not one of my extended family, watch the clip below in the context for which it was created, and ask yourself, "If this
were my son, cousin or nephew, would I be proud?" If the answer is yes, then don't judge my son too harshly.
If the answer is no, maybe you should look somewhere else for your entertainment.
GAME 5 - Jordan Maroon Gremlins 0, Bingham 31
#91 and the Jordan Maroon Gremlins were blown out by the Bingham Miners Saturday in a Ute
Conference youth football game tilt.The final score was 31-0, but it wasn't that close.
#91 continues to improve. He is holding his blocks at Tight End much
better, though he lost a few Saturday as the Miners were a superior team with better athletes. Overall the Jordan Maroon Gremlins
played as well as they have been, but it was just not their day. Watch the highlights, or lowlights, below.
GAME 4 - Jordan Maroon Gremlins 25, Murray 6
A breakout game for the Jordan Maroon Gremlins. The offense comes to life in a big way. Key blocks by
#91 were key to the success of the running game. Note the pass protection #91 provides as the Murray Defensive End could
not get through to make a play. Chris is really starting to contribute to the success of the team!
GAME 3 - Alta 21, Jordan Maroon Gremlins 0
A setback at the hands of the Alta Hawks in a game that was not as close as the score would suggest. #91 made
some key plays, recovered a fumble and was more aggressive on defense. Chris continues to have fun and looks forward
to every game.
GAME 2 - Jordan Maroon Gremlins 6, West Jordan 0
Once again Chris starts at Tight End on offense, Cornerback on defense and is the kicker. He is improving his
blocking as a tight end and maintaining containment at cornerback. The boys enjoyed their first win this weekend.
GAME 1 - Copper Hills 19, Jordan Maroon Gremlins 0
The first game for the Jordan Maroon Gremlins did not go according to plan as the team from Copper Hills shut out
our team. This was my son's first real game in youth football. He had some good plays and is having a lot
of fun playing 'real' football. Check out the video below and watch for #91 in maroon.
FLOAT MY BOAT
We recently had the opportunity to float the Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Since our boys are only eight and six years old respectively, we opted for the 'scenic' cruise as opposed to the 'whitewater'
trip. Sure, call me chicken. Still, we accomplished our primary objective, which was to have fun. And as
you'll see when you watch this video, we did in fact find some 'whitewater.' So now my kids can say they
ran the Snake River, one of the iconic wild western rivers, and survived a 'whitewater' experience. Not only
that, I can tell the dramatic tale to my co-workers in the office and raise my stature from office grunt to Weekend Warrior.
Well, sort of.
Click the link below to come along on the adventure.
