Aaron Paul Vogel

I ran across this article on PDNonline about the practice of using video frame grabs in newspapers. As I've made clear in a previous post, I'm unimpressed with all the Chicken Littles running around shouting about the end of the still camera in journalism. While I'm impressed with the quality HD video cameras are achieving, I still have major issues with them as still cameras with "the fastest motor drive in the country." Fortunately the article isn't one of those "sky is falling" types, and presents both sides of the discussion. A good read, and some interesting examples - the best I've seen so far - of good still grabs and what are some useful applications of this new ability.

So a few of you know of my constant battle with my Presonus Firebox firewire audio interface. To catch the rest of you up quickly let me just summarize: it has never worked right. I have a feeling that the biggest problem is my computer, so I won't go casting dispersions on the Firebox itself. Because I'm running A LOT of things on my, now two-year-old, Powerbook 1.33Mhz laptop, it has a tendency to slow down when doing heavy lifting. Add to that 2 external hard drives running off the same bus (click for explanation of a computer bus) as the Firebox and I had a bad situation on my hands. The one thing I will say about the Firebox is that even in this bad situation, it was a crap shoot from day to day even if I didn't change a thing. Read on for the solution I came up with and why USB audio interfaces are a great alternative to pricey Firewire...

After taking full advantage of the break-long extension I was given on my final project, I've completed my latest short doc assignment.

Motorcycling is a past time and sport very near and dear to me, and I've managed to find a great bunch of riders here in Ventura and I decided to do a documentary that would serve as a primer for those on the outside of the community who may be looking to get in, or at least understand some of the issues it faces right now.

Click on Continue Reading VC Riding - the video below to view the video.

Don't have much time to write anything, but I've had the good fortune of being credentialed at the Laguna Seca Moto GP races! Here's some shots from the first day of practice. Look for more this afternoon, tomorrow and especially Sunday when the actual race is!