It's Been A Busy Fall!

Well, Fall has now given way to old man winter and white can be found all around. Fishing has kept us busy which much to my chagrin has kept the video camera out of my hands on more days then I would have liked.

I did however get the chance to go out and do some more learning recently. I don't know about you, but I take any chance I can get to learn new things and expand my horizons. Recently I had the privilege of doing this with a seasoned videographer who has made quite the reputation for himself. His name is RA and he operates Beatty Outdoor Productions.

RA is a cool guy and he was quick to give pointers and help me out with what most would consider basic stuff I'm sure....but hey, I am from the school of "the only dumb question is the one you don't ask!" So, I asked and he was quick to answer. Thanks RA for your willingness to help a new guy....it was much appreciated!

Not only did I get questions answered, but I also got to watch him film which is always a learning experience because everyone has their own way of doing things.

We did get some steelhead action on film this year, and I hope to edit some down this winter. With any luck I will find the time and put together something to enjoy.

Another project we worked on for a couple of days was filming with the guys from the Orvis Company....their product development guys were down for the weekend and we tried to roll film for a couple of days and got some good footage.

Needless to say, we have some work to do as time allows.

Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year's!

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A Project Complete Gives Way To Those on the Horizon!

In the recent months, I have been busy learning new software, understanding new principles and just flat out working my tail off to the best I can be. I guess to sum it all up, it's been like going back to school.

As noted in my previous posts, the new equipment is great and is proving to be a HUGE asset to me in the filming and editing side of things.

I have just completed my first real project shot and edited on all the new equipment. It took much longer than I had wished, but that is what happens when you are trying to get a grip on so many things at once.

The project that I just completed is the result of a day spent at Mertensia Springs Trout and Wilderness Conservation Club down in the Dayton Ohio area. It is a promotional piece highlighting the property and resource they have. Check it out when you get a chance!

Now that the project is done and ready for shipment, I can focus on the next task. It is a big task, but I think I am up for it!

In less than a week, I leave for the Bristol Bay region of the great state of Alaska! It is a fisherman's paradise and a wilderness lovers dream. From a plethora of ducks and geese to eagles, from brown bears to sockeye salmon, the place is as close to heaven on earth as many can imagine. I will be up for two things....fishing and filming!!! If those two objectives don't get accomplished, then I have failed. I hope to bring back enough footage to edit down Volume 2 of "The Adventures of Flybum." Somehow I don't think it will be a problem...unless it decides to rain the whole time...at which point I will probably break out the rain gear and film on.....

So, for now, I just have to figure out how to get all of my gear up there....in one piece...without spending tons of extra cash....and with enough flexibility to carry it with me wherever I go while we are on stream.

I will post all kinds of stuff when I return...until then, you can keep up with our other groups Alaska highlights at the Steelhead Alley Outfitters Blog.

Until next time, good shooting....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A Whole Lot Of Busy!!!

Wow, where does time go? We have been meeting ourselves coming and going and I'm pretty sure we have something to show for it....at least I hope I have something to show for it!

Over the past month, we have been moving fast and furious and adding new things to about every aspect of what we do. From the launch of our new fly shop (online that is) a while back to filming for Mertensia Springs Trout and Conservation Club, to shooting film on New York's West Branch of the Delaware, we have been busy to say the least.

GREG FISHES LUDLOW CREEK AT

MERTENSIA SPRINGS TCC

Not long after the trip to Troy of Ohio to film the promotional for MSTCC, we were off to New York for some brown trout action on the West Branch of the Delaware with our friend and fellow SAO guide, John Miller. It was a challenging time from a fishing vantage point, but a very good time to hang out with friends and shoot some film.

GREG AND WILL TAKE A BREAK DURING THE

HEAT OF THE DAY ON THE DELAWARE RIVER.

After my return from New York, it was time to get down to business! Finally after a season of placing all the orders, I finally had all the resources in place to step up the media production. The camera had been acquired along with the necessary accessories and so all I needed was the new software and machine to run it hard and long.

Finally, I can say it is up and running and things are getting done....new things are being learned everyday, and footage is finally getting sorted through for editing. Just a few short days ago, this was the scene.

PATRICK ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH A

DELIVERY THAT MAKES ANY TECH NERD SMILE!

The arrival of my new 8 core Mac Pro was all that I was waiting on and now it is here. In fact I am writing on it currently with two beautiful 22 inch high definition monitors smiling as I type!

In the days ahead, you can look for marketable projects coming from Steelhead Alley Outfitters and Flybum Media Productions. We are in the process of gaining sponsorships and so far we are doing well. More is to come for sure.

To get things started, enjoy this new flick that we put together that is a short highlight of a recent trip to the central Pennsylvania region fishing for beautiful brown trout.

Until next time, tight lines and may all your shots be good ones!

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A Hand Forced!

Well, I knew it was going to happen, because I planned on it happening. What I didn't plan for was how soon I would end up doing it.

What the heck are you talking about...right? Well, when I decided to get serious about editing and shooting film, I started with the purchase of a new HDV camera. Given the fact I already had a 17" Macbook Pro, I had a decent computer that was editing things just fine. What I didn't foresee was the lack of compatibility and the downright ridiculous strain that high def footage can put on a computer.

So, my hand is now forced due to these issues. I have spent the last few days trying to edit on my current setup and have been unable to do so without going nuts. On average, of every 10 minutes of time at the computer I am waiting on it for 3-4 minutes of that time. OH YEAH....FRUSTRATING. No more....not for me! Here comes Mac Pro to the rescue.

With the upcoming release of Mac's new operating system "Snow Leopard," I am getting the jump and moving to what some consider the ultimate computer on the market....The 8-core Mac Pro.....

THE MAC PRO WITH SIDE PANEL

REMOVED TO SHOW IT'S POWER

The 8-core Mac Pro is an unbelievable machine. With a top processor of nearly 3Ghz on 8 cores and the potential load of 32Gb of ram, this machine will FLY!!! No more waiting. To top it off, you can get a couple of superdrives to duplicate DVD's, run more monitors than a man could afford and access 5 independent hard drives without going external....each bay holding a potential of 1 terabyte of storage space. Needless to say this machine is built for editing and creative design!!!!

FINAL CUT STUDIO 2

The other purchase on it's way soon is Final Cut Studio. Unarguably this is one (if not the best) editing suite on the market. This will do everything I could ever think of and some things I probably don't know even exist. The new version (Studio 3) will most likely premier following the release of the new operating system.

In short, I can't wait to get the new gear as it will greatly increase my productivity. I currently have footage sitting on standby waiting for that magical moment. I also have a short film nearly done, but it is currently on hold due to some compatibility issues. Hopefully I will have something completed sooner than later.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of new technology,

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

Vacation Gets A Bit Buggy!

Last week my family and I headed for the Marblehead area of Ohio (sits right on Lake Erie) for a little rest and relaxation. The muckleheads (what locals call a large chironomid that swarms in June) were out in full force and quite the nuisance!

However, after we were there for a couple of days, that magical moment happened and the bugs I always love to see decided to show themselves. It was the return of the largest species of Mayflies found in the USA.....The Hexagenia limbata.

Many people will mistake the male duns as a seperate family or genus as there are distinct differences. However, after careful study, you will find that despite the size difference and color differences, these are the same family, genus, and species....just male and female.

Hexagenia limbata male dun

Two Hexagenia limbata female dun's

A Female Hex Emerges from Dun Shuck and

Becomes a Sexually Mature Spinner

My Son Displays a Collection of the Best

Species of Mayflies in the USA!

As much as I would like to have more time and one more lens for shooting high quality bugs shots, I just don't. I do however have a good friend in John Miller, one of our staff guides who does. His shots are mind blowing for those who can appreciate bugs.

Below is just one of his shots that I have on file. Although the photo has my watermark on it for protection purposes, John Miller took this photo. I simply display it here for you to enjoy. My pictures work, his photos impress.

Check out the Detail on this Bug!

Well, that is all for now. Soon we will be into summer and the bugs we love to see every spring and early summer will give way to the ants and hoppers of summer.

Until next time, tight lines and good shooting.....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

Shooting Bronze Is Golden!

A few days ago, we embarked on a "Fish & Film" road trip. The first stop was a few hours of hitting lake run Smallmouth in Pennsylvania. The short time we had was well worth the stop, and some film was captured in the process.

I will be working over this footage in the next few days and may have some extra footage to share. Check back often to see what I come up with.

Below is some photos of the day.....

PATRICK ROBINSON WITH AN AVERAGE FISH.

A NICE SMALLIE HITS A SENYO TUBE

MY COMRADE IN FLY ANGLING BUST MONSTER BRONZE!

After our time on smallmouth we headed to Central Pennsylvania for trout...more on this later.

Until then, good shooting!

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A Day of Testing

I can now say that I have a day under my belt with all the new gear. As you know from previous entries, recently I acquired a new Canon HDV camera. In the weeks following that acquisition, I have been getting the additional pieces and parts necessary to shoot some quality pieces in the future. Well, with the future coming this weekend, I only had this past weekend to get out and test the new gear.

Along with the gear getting tested, so did my patience :) On Saturday I decided to get out and and take the kids with me.....yes, all four of them. I figured there would be no better way, no more difficult a situation, than to wire your kids for sound (which they can definitely produce) and go look for some wildlife....hoping all the while that they wouldn't scare it all away :)

Well as the blessing of God would have it, we found a plethora of wildlife on the trail on this gorgeous day.

I have a short film here, but please understand this.....this is a straight forward kind of test film. I just wanted to get some footage with the new gear, check to see how the mics work, get an idea of the quality it would produce in fully automatic mode. This is a no frills, no color corrected, no special anything kind of piece. I also didn't add any background sound in order to allow the straight sounds of nature to shine through. So, what I am saying is that this isn't a piece to be judged by :) This is simply a piece of test footage that I am sharing with those interested. It was truly a great time on the trail with my kids! A day they will most definitely remember!

Until next time, good shooting....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A Journey To Evolution Valley - Short Completed

Well, as promised, I got the newest little film put together. It isn't anything special, but it gives a brief look into the life of someone who has pursued the little jewels of the Sierra's known as Golden Trout.

All of this footage was shot in 2007 while in the backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park. More specifically while we were in an area known as Evolution Valley. All of the fish filmed were caught on Evolution Creek. As you will see, the fish weren't all that big, largely because of sheer numbers in the stream. The populations were so high in fact, that the KCNP ranger told us to eat all that we could....yeah, he said that. For a trout fisherman it was almost sacrilege.

Please understand that we don't condone eating the fish under normal conditions. However, given the circumstances it seemed that the ranger knew what he was talking about. In fact, in about four hours time, we caught in excess of 500 fish ranging from 6-8 inches with the occasional monster 10-11 inch fish. So, you can understand why they wanted some of them consumed.

With that said, here is the flick....I hope you enjoy it and that it leaves you longing to walk the granite of the Sierra's in search of your own gold.....

Well, that is it for now. I have some more studying to do and more footage to work on. I think the next short film in the works will a day on the water with clients fishing for Steelhead on the famed "Steelhead Alley." Check back soon for some new material.

Until then, tight lines and good shooting!

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

A New Short Flick In The Works

Last night I decided to go through my logged footage. I wanted to make sure that each tape was properly labeled, and since they weren't, see what footage I had forgotten about.

Well, in going through the footage, I found several cuts that I have yet to do anything with and some other footage that I would like to rework.

With that nagging desire to do something involving a camera or editing, I decided to start working on another short cut. When finished, it will be about 8 minutes in length and feature some beautiful little fish. In fact, some little fish that have gained a special place in this fly fisherman's heart....

The footage is part of my first volume of "The Adventures of Flybum" that I did a year or so ago. Most have never seen it other than those who were a part of the high elevation expedition that summer. I have taken some of the raw footage from the famed "Evolution Valley" and will rework it to share as a teaser of sorts.....

HIGH ELEVATION CALIFORNIA GOLDEN TROUT

Look for the short flick to be finished within the week and up for the world to enjoy shortly thereafter.

Until then, good luck in your fishing and film ventures....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions

Flybum Media Productions - Extreme Places to Wide Open Spaces

Recently, FMP has been gearing up for an exciting year...or at least what remains of it. Having acquired some quality high definition video gear, we are now in the game in a real way. In years prior, it was a bunch of diehard fisherman wanting to make some cool memorabilia for ourselves or to share with friends.....NO MORE!

From here on, we are going to start ramping things up. We will continue to accumulate the gear that is necessary to bring forth the best quality and creativity that we can muster. We have several destination trips planned for the remainder of the year that will most likely bring forth a documentary as well as the next volume of "The Adventures of Flybum." In addition, we have some other projects in the works that we hope to release early 2010.

Until then, here is a short flic from the archives of standard definition film.

Good shooting.....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Owner/Operator

Flybum Media Productions Ltd.