Day 04 - Peter Pan Lives in a 1/10th Scale World

Today’s theme covers the Clinton County R/C Raceway. While dreaming about building a R/C Helicopter housing for a camera yesterday, it occurred to me that if I were to ever attempt such a build I would need to talk to a R/C expert which sent me on a search in Facebook for a local R/C group leading me to the CCRCR Facebook page. After reviewing their info I had to cover them. The timing worked out as they race on Fridays and I was in need of a theme for Friday. I had a blast hanging out with this group. I suggest you visit them in person one night.
PROJECT:

I am a storyteller, filmmaker, entrepreneur and I recently challenged myself to create 30 videos in 30 days, each one unique with a strong story to tell or a specific film technique to explore. I will share the impetus for each day’s story as well as the thought process behind each video and the production challenges I faced.
CHALLENGES:

Once again, schedule was a challenge today. CCRCR races in the evening and the challenge has begun to take a toll on my sleeping habits. This is not a complaint, but more an acknowledgement of the need to adjust as I am so early in the challenge that I would struggle to maintain unless I find a way to account for these new work hours.
The other unique challenge that filming R/C cars presents is their outrageous speed. I haven't ever filmed something that could race through my frame in less than a second. Early attempts to frame and capture impressive footage fell short of expectation. I had to adopt a shooting style that embraced long and short glass. I grabbed my Canon 1:2.8 24mm lens and hand held the camera at the curves, nearly getting run over on more than one occasion, and I set up a good distance from the action with my Tamron 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3. Stepping back allowed for capturing the cars for extended periods in frame without a need for large camera movement.
I wanted to capture the feel of the track and the races and thanks to the full cooperation of the raceway, I was able to walk right on the track as they practiced. This was key to some of the better action shots in the piece. I operated with a real sense of abandon today. I figure I will treat my equipment like I feel fine china should be treated, use it! What is the point in owning it if you are too scared to use it?
DISAPPOINTMENTS:

My only real disappointment tonight was the large thunderstorm that rolled in ending the night early. They only completed 3 of the 9 races that were scheduled for this evening.
SUCCESSES:

I am overjoyed with the GoPro POV footage in this piece. I think it holds up well against the 5D Mark II footage. I was remarkably lucky that one of the R/C racers is a professional photographer who embraced my project and was gracious enough to allow me to mount my GoPro to one of his cars and then he was kind enough to run it around the track several times. It also helps that he was keenly aware that the footage would be best if he was able to get another car in frame. He did an outstanding job. Thanks, Brett Hansbauer of bhpimages.net/
EQUIPMENT:

Canon 5D Mark II
GoPro
MUSIC:

Phil Reavis

“Drive Through the Fields”
freemusicarchive.org/player?subscriber=FMAPagePlayer_1312012412610
TIME:
First shot 4:45pm
Edit completed 3:45am