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How I Spent Memorial Weekend. Filming of Course

6/2/2014

1 Comment

 
PictureHow I get to camps when on my own
On the Saturday of Memorial Weekend I took a 4-wheeler ride to pick up shots of the exterior of “Kamp” since I ran out of time the previous weekend to get everything I needed. I also wanted to do it soon after before the trees were fully leafed and still looked the same outdoors. It was a beautiful morning; a lot warmer of an ATV ride than the previous weekend when I couldn’t feel my fingers even with gloves on. The woods were peaceful, the birds singing and the river flowing beneath Kamp. It was nice filming out there all by myself. I could concentrate better, film from all angles and take my time without worrying about anyone else or taking up my interviewees’ time. I also busted out the GoPro and mounted it on a fully extended monopod to get some high, extremely wide angle shots.

On my way back out I stopped at each camp and slid a business card in the door. As I drove in earlier that morning there were other tracks in the mud so I wasn’t surprised when I pulled into one camp and found people. They were probably more surprised to see my 4-wheeler loaded with gear and me in my retro yellow helmet. I met Tony, Ralph and Ralph’s son Zach. After introducing myself and chatting about my film they were interested in being a part of it and ready to do the interview right then. However the sun was high in the cloudless sky, casting bad shadows and not the best time to film a person outdoors. So we arranged to do the interview at 9:00 am the next morning.

I was hoping for a little bit of cloud cover Sunday morning but no such luck and whatever those small obnoxious flies are that like to swarm your face hatched on the river that morning. I should have done the interview inside their camp but really wanted an outdoor one. So after turning them around and around to find the best angle for filming (they were good sports) and after Ralph ate one bug (blooper reel!) we had a great conversation about their camp, its history, why they enjoy it so much and the advantages of leaving it there for future generations and others to enjoy. It was a challenge to operate a camera and interview 3 people at the same time. A few shots didn’t turn out as well; I didn’t notice the sun glaring into the corner of the camera at first but that is where good editing comes into play. After a tour of their camp named “Hecter’s Shack aka WWWL” (which stands for four winners and a loser) Zach did a little fishing with no luck. Like the last interview, I could have stayed all day to chat. I’ve met some great people so far, some of which the local area will most likely never see again after they have to remove their camp. It is what brings them here.


1 Comment
gary LeBert
12/15/2014 12:27:54 pm

it makes my heart bleed to see what is happening in the up takeing away all we love taking our rights our hearatage there is no reason for them to try and take away what familys have been protecting for years they can say what they want we know better i had tears in my eyes watching the show because it was heart felt and understand those kind of people dont because they have never lived the great life that we have with nature

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    Kristin Ojaniemi is the producer/director of the documentary "UP A RIVER"

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