While I’ve been pleasantly surprised, frankly, at how well my photo gear has held up under the demanding conditions here in the Interior Alaskan winter, I have to admit that it has been a bit of a struggle from time to time.
So, while I was in Fairbanks the other day I shopped for a camera that is more “purpose built” for the cold, snow, etc., than my existing gear. I found one by Olympus called the “Stylus 1030 SW” — the “SW” stands for “Shock and Water Proof” — and it is supposed to operate in temperatures down to -10 degrees. Hoping for the best, I bought it and determined to put it to the test right away.
As Aliy and Allen were getting ready to head out on a training run yesterday, I noticed a small rock in the Kennel’s exit chute. With the claim of “shock and water proof” in mind, I propped my new camera down on the snow in front of it, hoping to get some footage from an unusual perspective. Actually, I was still just hoping for the best.
By now you know that the dogs are pretty excited to get going just before a run, some of them to the extent that we have to hook them up at the very last second or they will make a tangled mess out of the team. This is particularly true for Tatfish. For reasons that you will see, this little video is dedicated to Tatfish and my new camera, both of whom deserve better than they get!
Special thanks to Jonathan Coulton — who somehow always has just the song I need! — for the use of “Why Don’t You Take Care Of Me?”
Enjoy!
These videos just get better & better!
I bet we might get a real mushing music video down the trail sometime soon…
I am LOVING the videos!! Especially this one — I was laughing the whole time. And I think you’ll like your new camera. I used one to document friends at last year’s Yukon Quest and it was -45 at some points. The camera did great.
Keep up the good work!!
I needed that laugh out loud!
Enjoyed the Big Rig and Tadfish videos! Your new camera can take a lickin and keep on tickin! What if you would use a small piece of open cell foam like on a microphone to cut down on wind noise. Dave
LOVED IT!!! I too was LOL!
And it was a true LOL, I’m not just using the LOL for an online effect.
The footage is awesome!!! And, so apparently, is the new camera! Loved the editing too. Keeping the “OOPS” parts in. Good call!
Story to add…. I had just howled at the full moon here in Mass. (a family tradition started by my grandmother) right before watching the vid. My soon-to-be 2 yr. old was mimicing me. And then when he watched the video he howled with the dogs!!! Too funny!