I did it. I finished the Tour of Anchorage. 25k of beautiful vistas, amazing athletes, and way too many hills. While the experience was one I’ll never forget, it’s probably not one I’ll decide to do again. We were dangerously unprepared for the course. Slow snow (normal, to be fair), steeper downhills, and way more uphills than we could have imagined. I was near the top of the pack for the team’s striders. I still struggled and nearly threw in the towel. A moose on the trail provided some much needed comedic relief. A group of us were stuck behind this snacking creature until she decided that we were boring, and moved on. On the 25k route, there were four feed stations. The BEST volunteers handing out water, sports drinks, and snacks, all while cheering us on. The last feed station also meant the last chance to bow out. None of us knew this. While I would be angry with myself if I had quit, I had no other choice but to finish.

After an already grueling 20k, the final stretch of the race was almost all uphill. Uphill on cross county skis is no joke. Uphill for a strider is brutal. I duck-walked up most hills, unable to get any glide on the soft snow. I cried. I cursed. I decided it was still better than cancer. After what seemed like a 1,000 foot climb near the middle of the course, I stopped to look at the view. Ice packs moving out of the bay towards the ocean, mountains in the distance, pure wild Alaska.

That view would help me struggle to the finish. Able bodied and healthy, I had to push on. I thought about my reasons for being there, my supporters back home, and finishing so I could have a nice cold beer.

The race itself was the final stop on our tour. We hit up downtown Anchorage Thursday and Friday nights. The people are incredibly nice and the bars are few but fun. We had a nice time at Club Paris, which reminded me of my very own Sutter Station, Alaska style. Friday afternoon we went to the Alaska Zoo, which had a bunch of awesome local animals. The oomingbak (musk ox) and river otters we’re our favorites, and it was really special to be at the zoo basically alone.

Saturday was a big day. We headed out earlier than normal to watch the ceremonial start of the Iditarod dog sled race. It was snowing heavily, a small taste of what the mushers and their teams will face on the race course. The dogs were very ready to run, and their handlers had to hold them back from taking off down 4th Street. We saw Lance Mackey, 7 time winner. We also saw DeeDee Jonrowe, cancer survivor and triathlete. She and her dogs were decked out in pink. Zach’s pick in the previous night’s “fantasy mushers” was Scott Janssen, who is known as the “Mushing Mortician.” The race was cool to watch, but after a while we decided to head to a bar to warm up.

The highlight of Saturday was the Running of the Reindeer. Groups of people run down the main Rondy drag, with reindeer bulls at their heels. The course is only four blocks long, but it’s tough as nails to run through deep choppy snow. Zach and I wore Forever Lazy’s, and both had our GoPros on. The heat we ran with was men and women, mostly in costume. Think Bay to Breakers in the snow, with reindeer. They set loose a handful of bulls, who are running towards females in heat down at the end of the street. I sense a Rudolph rise-up once these guys figure out they’re never making it to the ladies.

One of the things ran up right next to me. I had no idea he was there until he bumped me. Luckily my camera caught a shot of Mr. Reindeer before he ran away.

Anchorage is a really great city and I highly recommend going if you can. It’s much more accessible than I thought. From SFO, it’s a two hour or less flight to Seattle, then a three hour flight into Anchorage. The weather can be spotty in the Winter, but March seems like perfect time to go. Fur Rondy is two weeks long, but the last week of February/first week of March seems like the best time to be there. We stayed out of downtown in a rental condo, and rented an AWD vehicle. I would recommend a rental car, but if you stay downtown it’s very easy to walk to most places. Sure it’s cold, but if you dress right and move around you forget. Next time I’d like to travel the 60 miles to Denali.

The trip was something I’ll never forget for many reasons. After my journey with Team in Training and the completion of my event, I can’t think of many more beautiful places to unwind.

Check out all my photos from the trip, there’s never enough!

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Six months after its release, there is another update for FCPX that might make users give it a second chance. Multicam support, XML, broadcast monitoring, and an app that allows you to transfer FCP7 files. It’s a big step, but is it enough?

Apple has posted the info of the update, and the internet has already begun talking about it. Check out the full post from Planet5D breaking it all down.

I have yet to edit a full project using FCPX. I feel awkward and uncomfortable, and if I want to get anything done quickly I have to go back to FCP7. I do know people who like it, and a colleague of mine absolutely loves it. This is not some chump who decided to start editing one day. He’s a USC Film School graduate, and feels that the speed and power of FCPX gives him more time to spend on other things.

However you feel about FCPX, I think this could be a step in the right direction. Many users have already made the switch to Adobe Premiere or even Avid’s workhorse Media Composer 6. Editors have options now, and I think it would behoove Apple to take notice. Their first good idea was to allow a 30 day trial for users. This took place back in September with the program’s first update. My main issue with X has been that it’s a completely different system. If I’m able to take the time and bridge the gaps, there might be some hope.

Afterthought: a few weeks ago I got around to reading a white paper from Apple explaining the differences between FCPX and FCP7. The doc is no longer online, and I’m guessing that it’s being revised to work with this new update. I’ll keep an eye out for the new doc, because I think I’m finally ready to give this program another shot.

Update! Check out this great post from Philip Bloom’s blog, with 7 pro FCPX editors explaining why they use the program.

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This is what happens when I get a new toy.

My dad got me an early birthday gift, one that I am super stoked for. I was already thinking of ordering a Hero for myself, so when I opened the package that had this little guy in it, I squealed.

I created this test video to try out the different settings. The standard setting is not 16:9, so when I converted the footage the clip was super stretched. But you can see all the other settings. I also learned how to use split screens for this test, so that was an added bonus.

We set out for our first training hike this Saturday, I’ll have the GoPro in hand.

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I strive to make videos that move people. As I learn I generally shoot happy moments, candid moments, and calm moments. I hope that someday I will be able to show the power and human spirit involved in shooting tough moments.

Shot in NYC on the 10th anniversary on the 9-11 attacks, Yael Shulman captured amazing imagery as men and women remember their comrades. Raw emotion and love can be seen on every face. The shots of the little girl just get to me. Grab a tissue and watch this video. I never knew two minutes could move me so much.

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This video was shot for Kina Grannis for her single In Your Arms. The team used a shit ton of jelly beans to create the stop motion images. It took almost two years to produce, and there were no green screen shots. That’s right, Kina is laying down on a glass frame over the beans. The music video is great, and I hope they get more attention than just a passing video that spreads around the internet.

Check out this great behind the scenes video for how everything was done.

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Check out this cool video I found showing the 2011 race.

Kickoff for the Spring 2012 TNT season begins this Saturday. I’ll be training a lot, and I’m sure there’s going to be setbacks and tears. All the work going into this is nothing close to what a blood cancer patient endures. In case you don’t know, Team in Training works with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise money for research, outreach, and advocacy for people with blood cancer. It touches more people than you think. I learned that my first season with TNT.

I’ll be trying to pump out video diaries to share my journey, and the story of those around me. You can stay posted on everything here, and on my TNT Fundraising Page. Oh yeah, there’s that too. I’m raising over $3,500 for cancer research. Join the cause, fight the fight, and GO TEAM!

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As it tends to, life has sped up so fast I can barely keep up. Changes at work, at home, all good, but very tiring. My artistic self has been cooped up, and I’m itching to get back out. I had a chance to play around with my photographer side a couple weeks ago for my dad’s 60th birthday. My step-mom organized a surprise party that brought my father’s siblings from all over Northern California. We haven’t all been together in years. The event brought together a couple siblings who had a falling out, and this special day was a way to move forward.

When I was young we were always with this side of the family. I have six cousins, not counting their spouses and children. With the whole group together, we take up a lot of space. The kids would play pool or computer games while the adults laughed for hours playing board games. I would cry every time we left my aunt’s house. We were always together. While I know a part of life is moving apart, I feel like we’re at the prime time to start coming back together. My cousin who I’m closest to in age is expecting his second child, a baby girl. I hope that someday my kids will play with his little ones just like we did. We always joke that my cousin’s little boy looks like my dad. I caught this adorable moment that really nudged at my “hey Michelle have some babies” nerve.

In the end the afternoon was full of smiles and love, and all a celebration for my dad. Creative juices are flowing once again. Funny how family can do that.

Check out the rest of the album here —>

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Last week I had the pleasure of watching my coworker and his band perform. Every year sfBIG has a battle of the bands. A large crowd of marketing folks looking for fun headed to the Great American Music Hall here in San Francisco. Last year my coworker’s band, Rainbow Brite and the Flaming Cobra Death Skulls, came in second. They were out for blood this year.

My first concert shoot, I came armed with my 60D and 5D. I worked a 50mm 1.8 on the 60D and a 28mm 2.8 on the 5D. I didn’t have a loupe for the 5D so focus was tough at times. I pushed myself front and center before each band, and tried to get back for wide shots as their sets progressed. I had a Zoom H1 in my audio bag at my hip, collecting sound for at least one song per set. Next time I’d love to be able to just drop a mic in front of a speaker so I can collect more. Between diving, bobbing, kneeling, and trying to get the shots, I was battling along with the bands. It was hard work, but well worth the payoff.

Watch the trailer above to see what went down. Stay tuned for a longer length video of all the bands, as well as a special showcase for the winners.

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This is exactly what I always wanted to do when I was spending my summers at the barn. I even bought a camcorder with my own savings and started shooting. I just never made the actual jump over to editing my footage. My friend Seana sent this to me on Twitter as a joke, and now we’re both in love.

Obviously she has a lot to learn, but please girl stick with it. Horse people are a very special breed, and we LOVE stuff like this.

She’s been a bit of an inspiration actually. Rave Pony, I like the sound of that.

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Back from a nice, hot vacation in New England, here’s my ode to bags. Shot with my 60D with a fader ND. This is my first real edit of the summer. My last being my Cribs entry for work, which was shot with a FlipHD for fun.

Pulling the camera out was good for me, and I’m ready for more. I’ll be shooting a battle of the bands next week for a coworker, so hang in there!

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