Category: Documentary

This morning’s reflections — full of gratitude!

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Gratitude for: life; love, family and friends; fresh food, water and shelter.

On the 17th Ann gifted me with a beautiful bowl; with which to continue exploring the “one bowl method;” on yet another aesthetic level.

Filling this beautiful bowl with Ann’s spiced pretzels, seedless grapes and almonds, this morning,
presented such a superb flavor combination in such a visually beautiful way ~ that my eyes filled with tears of joyful gratitude.

We spent that September 17th day strolling the streets of Cedarburg
and generally enjoying a day full of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and chocolate.

The next day Ann presented me with a lovely turtle amulet to mark my returning to sunlit joy.
(seen here in the bottom of the bowl after finishing today’s brunch) Lovely!

Then this past Wednesday Tanya gifted me with an hour long walk along the Menomonee River;

followed by a leisurely lunch;
and a bit of cash which allowed me to purchase a Lodge cast iron dutch oven;
in which to bake this totally successful, no-knead, sour dough bread yesterday.

M-m-m-m-m-m… Feeling so very grateful!

Starfish Foundation – New Site Launched

The Starfish Foundation supports our military veterans and their emotional healing through sponsoring the Vets Journey Home program, a non-profit program staffed entirely by volunteers. One hundred percent of the funds raised go to program delivery, making it possible for veterans to attend at no cost.

The Starfish Foundation has funded $250,000 worth of scholoarships as of 12/2010. The funds have gone directly to:

  • Veterans to help them deal with the trauma of military situations through the Bamboo Bridgeand Vets Journey Home programs.
  • Sexual abuse survivors to help them deal with that extreme trauma and move forward in their lives through the Renewal weekend.
  • Others that have experienced various trauma in their lives through the Taking It Lightlyweekend.

I’ve worked with both the Starfish Foundation and the Vets Journey Home for the last 5 years; as both a web and graphic designer; as well as photographer and videographer. We launched the Vets Journey Home new web site in the last quarter of 2009; and launched the newly designed Starfish Foundation web site July 25th.

Please take a look at these new sites and seriously consider donating to these dedicated 100% volunteer organizations. They provide very important and high quality services for people who really need them; just check out the testimonials.

Riding blind and loving it

This morning my friend, Kevin Meyers, competed in the Double Bong 40k, ABR Wisconsin State Time Trial Championship, Kansasville, WI. Kevin lost his sight in 1987 when his racing boat hit a wake at 60 mph, threw him into the water, where he was hit by another boat. Lucky to be alive; and living to the max; he now races bicycles (with a tandem pilot). A couple weeks ago, at the Wisconsin State Track Championship, he and his pilot, Bob Springer, took the Gold Medal in Kilo and Pursuit, in the Tandem category. Kevin said, “My bike, Chariot of Fire, almost literally caught fire!” This morning he worked on his record times to qualify and participate in the 2012 Paralympics. Over the years I’ve worked with Kevin on a promotional video and designed the logo for his web site, stationery and motivational speaking work. Kevin’s simply an amazing human being. His web site is well worth taking a look at to discover just how amazing.

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Kevin’s “warm up”

Setting up the “Chariot of Fire”

At the line.

And they’re off to the races.

Coming around the fourth turn, completing the first of two laps.

Leica M8, 50 and 35 mm Summilux asph

Careless time

some days

people flock to the edge

where water meets sand

they sculpt, toss things back and forth,

and mingle with birds

A dad, sculpting sand on the beach
with his daughter, Mia, said to me,
“It’s all about the kids.”
I think, perhaps, it’s all about returning
to childhood for a brief,
careless time.

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What if a client doesn’t have a video production budget?

The current trend toward feeding multimedia information over the internet demands our readiness to deliver professional messages for our clients. We’ve ramped up our video production and post production capabilities; while maintaining a budget conscious niche. Even with our cost conscious approach to video production some clients cannot budget those costs; yet understand the power of audio and visuals to more powerfully deliver their message on the web. For these clients we encourage them to consider fine still photography in combination with professionally captured audio, to deliver a more powerful multimedia message than either still images or audio, alone, can offer.

Our first opportunity to provide an example of putting professional quality still images with professional quality audio came from attending a JoeNetworks “networking coffee and donuts” event at JRA — and here, brought to you by MediumRareProductions, is the result:

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Taking It Lightly Documentary Live on Internet

While the DVD has been available for a couple months it has taken some time to figure out how to present a 30 minute documentary on the internet without incurring excessive monthly fees. MotionBox has made it possible. Allowing the video to load for a minute or two will provide a better viewing experience than if you hit play immediately.

From the client, “George, I am so grateful for your commitment to this project and the gift of your vision and talent. I am feeling a lot of excitement about the potential we have opened up with this project.” —Patricia

For additional samples of our video work check out Heartflick.com.

Motivational videos returned by USPS as “possible threat” – wtf

I believe in self explanatory pictures. — Moses Oliver

So, I produce 3 DVD’s for a young man who lost his sight in a boat racing accident a number of years ago. The videos are to promote his work as a motivational speaker. I put $5 worth of heart stamps on the package and send them off. Yesterday the package shows up back in my mail box. Returned as a possible threat – “due to heightened security requirements.” What’s wrong with this world?

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Kevin Meyers video completed

“…words and pictures can work together to communicate more powerfully than either alone.” — William Albert Allard

As a young man Kevin Meyers lost his sight in a boat racing accident. Since that life changing event he has earned two degrees, works at Northwestern Mutual’s IT department, and become a motivational speaker. We’ve created this video to help get his message out to folks.