StarPirate's Log

Lunch Off The Dead By StarPirate

2011-08-16T19:34:00.000-07:00

   One day it was getting late and someone said
   I think there is a hawk outside. I grabbed
   my camcorder and went outside.
   It wasn't a hawk at all. There were
   two more of the same type
   of bird in other trees.
   The zoom lens caught all the details
   of this bird.
   It was a very strange huge looking bird with
   black feathers and a red raw face.
When you see this bird--- the turkey vulture has just had a lunch
off the dead. Then you start looking around and ---ugh!

©2011 StarPirate

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Watching Crows By StarPirate

2011-08-10T02:39:00.000-07:00

I have always thought crows were interesting to watch. I like the way they stick together
as a family. Crows are very large but cautious and timid.

Crows like to patrol the area they live in. They are always on the look out
for hawks or other big birds that don't belong in their territiory. It makes it a
a little safer for the smaller birds.

The following video is one I made about crows. ©2011 StarPirate

Sometimes Nature Movies Just Happen

2010-07-03T00:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a movie just happens. You can be intent on filming something and start to do it.
All of a sudden a good video just happens right in front of you. You have to be willing to shift
your focus and just go with it.

This happened to me last month. I was all set to film some squirrels running around and something caught my eye. On the table next to me in a pan of water, two adorable black capped
chickadees started to take a bath. They were very animated and chattering. The two took
turns right after the other.

It was one of those times it was good to have a camera handy. The story just evolved naturally and all I had to do was film it.

©2010 StarPirate

Watching A Raccoon Baby Boy

2010-01-27T02:17:00.001-08:00

Filming Nature's Babies

2010-01-27T02:09:00.000-08:00

I like to film nature. One of the best things to
film is the new crop of wildlife babies that come out
each spring and summer.
Whether it is a new batch of baby birds or new raccoons,
it does not matter. Each are different in their own way.
It is fun to watch how they stick close to their mom.
They all learn how to do the daily things needed to
survive in the wild.
All the wildlife have a hard life to get used to.
Sometimes you can not find food and must be ready to
flee when you sense danger.
The time passes so quickly for them and soon this
year's babies will be bringing their own babies out to
show off soon. What can I say? I better make sure
I have enough sd cards.

©2010 StarPirate

Windy Trouble Making Videos

2009-11-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever started out filming a video and suddenly the
wind seems to go against you? I think most of us can
answer "yes" that question.
It really makes you appreciate some of the features
of the newer camcorders for cutting wind noise.
For me, it did not matter at first. I get involved with
filming and try to keep doing it no matter what. I was
filming a video with a squirrel giving the danger call. This
later became the video: "Squirrel...Danger" on my
YouTube channel.
It started getting windy and it was hitting me in the face.
If you watch the video you will be able to hear how gusty
the wind was. For this video I was using a Kodak Easyshare
camera to film. Later I could really hear how loud
the wind recorded on the audio.
I was glad to finish this video. It made me think if
I upgrade to consider geting the feature on a
camcorder for cutting the wind noise.
This is just an additional note on the video. I have always
thought when a squirrel makes this sound it was called calling
or crying. It turns out there are other video makers who have made a
squirrel video with one making the same sounds and it is
considered barking.
Well you would bark too with your face being hit with
strong winds. In the squirrels case, it was because he saw
a cat.

©2009 Starpirate
** If anyone reading this would like to leave comments-
go ahead. It would be interesting to read them.

Audio On Videos

2009-09-28T20:43:00.000-07:00

It is funny about noise when you make videos. You are right when
you say it can not be controlled. It makes me wonder how much
noise or sound the viewers want to hear.
Right now I am trying to decide on a video I want to
upload to YouTube. It is with an animal(raccoon) outside and as
the action takes place you keep hearing fireworks. It
was filmed during the July 4th weekend. There are a lot of
explosions on the video and I don't know if it ruins it.
I might try some music in the background. The way
it seems to run is---action---bang---bang---boom---boom.
I know there are people who like noises like this.
It sounds like guns and bombs.

©2009 StarPirate

Videos And Exploring

2009-09-08T22:42:00.000-07:00

Many of us like to take videos. Whether you do it on
an every day basis or occasionally, it is good to
to talk to other people.
Everyone has personal tastes in what they enjoy filming.
It can be as different as people's personalities.
I enjoy filming things I happen to observe. I like nature
and it provides an endless source of material.

It is fun to go to video sharing sites like YouTube to see
what other people like to make videos about. There are
so many types to choose and watch. Just when I think I
like one genre, I discover new ones.

Take time to explore different catagories in the video sharing
website you like to go to. You will see videos that make you
laugh or really think. Of course as in any website you will
encounter one that makes you think "Why did they make this?"
This is all part of the exploration process. One thing is it
is never boring.

©2009 StarPirate

Shooting Videos With Outside Noise

2009-09-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

Many of us seem to face the same problems when making a video.
Whether it is for personal use or posting on a website.
It seems that lighting really affects the outcome. Noise that the camera
picks up is another. Some people complain that their camera does not record
audio that well. I want to know --what do you do when it picks up sound
that you can do without.
What I mean is when I go outside to make a video--my camera picks up all
sounds. I have made a few videos for my YouTube Channel and I like
the sounds of nature on them. Right now my videos are about the different
birds or animals I see.
What really gets me ---is the motorcycle noise or airplane noise that
gets picked up during filming. I have noticed other people who make videos
have these noises on theirs too. I felt like saying--do you have the same
people coming around when filming? But this is all around the world. It
really is so strange. I guess we all share these coincidences.
You should really hear that airplane. It sounds like it is coming in for
landing. Only thing is---I do not live near an airport.

©2009 StarPirate

Picking A Web Name

2009-08-26T16:11:00.001-07:00

People often have to make up a user name when visiting websites. Often when we are asked to create one, our mind will seem blank.

Some sites require it for security and identification. How many times have you took the time to make up one, only to find out it was

already taken. Then you have to do some quick thinking---add more letters--cut something off?

Some sites will let you change your name and others do not. I wonder how many people can indentify with their user name?

It is almost like naming a racehorse. What kind of life will this user name take on? Remember to take your time next time. Your horse does

not want to come in last.

©2009 StarPirate

Making Videos

2009-08-23T01:14:00.000-07:00

Video making is an exciting experience. It seems you always have to have
the camera handy in a moment. Sometimes finding something good to
film comes up unexpectedly.

I find this is so true, because I have been filming nature. Nature has
an endless story to tell. It could be birds, squirrels, chipmunks or
raccoons. I always seem to come upon an experience that should
be captured on film.

I find nature's actors are always ready and do not mind being
paid in peanuts. It is fun to observe wildlife doing what
comes naturally to them.

It is rewardng too, when last years's wildlife babies proudly display their
babies in the woods.

I hope people will watch videos of animals and see it is possible to co-exist
with them in this world. Their homes are being taken away with all the
woodland areas being cut down for development.

Well, bye for now readers. I would enjoy hearing about your experiences
in video making. StarPirate

©2009 StarPirate

YouTube

2009-08-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

I like to make videos. There is always something to use to make one.
Most of my videos are of nature. It provides an endless source of
material.