Hax - Photographer and Film Maker

Friday the 13th!!!

2011-05-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

WildiZe Film Shoot

Our first location was laikipia and to meet Laurence Frank from the Predator Project. After spending some time talking with Laurence, we set up to shoot the first interview of the film. Getting that first days filming done is always a daunting prospect. It's where all your research and planning starts to take shape in the camera. Creating the list of questions from all the back ground research and last minute intel is for me a nerve racking stage. As a director, you always worry if you cover all the areas you will want to deal with in telling the films story.

During recording. Abdul on sound

My sound man Abdul from Camera Pix carefully balances the mics and we work together to build the elements for the interview. Abdul and I have worked together on four films now. He knows how I like to work and just gets on with it. A man of amazing experience and has worked a lot in war zones with in Africa. He has also worked with some celeb presenters for UK and US News and has controlled sound for some very critical interviews, with presidents, war lords and guerilla fighters. He has a great sense of humour. Interview went off well and the first days filming is in the can!!!!

Laurence Frank

Reading my interview notes

New Shoot; Kenya

2011-05-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

Just started a new shoot in Kenya for the Wildize Foundation. I am making a documentary that follows the money from Donation to Deployment, by filming six of the foundations grantees and their projects. Mixed with filming these I am also interviewing Keystone personalities on the ground here in Kenya within the conservation world today which will help illustrate the problems in implementation of conservation policies and what is being done to overcome these problems.

Flew to Nairobi a few days ago and then drove up to Liakipia on our first leg to meet and interview Lawrence Frank, who has over 40 years research experience in Africa, with Hyena and Lions. Arrived at his house early evening just after sunset. I woke up this morning to a view of Mt Kenya against the morning sky out side my bedroom window. Funny but now I understand the expression 'A million dollar view!" Mt Kenya is such a beautiful mountain. The Birds were singing and the fresh dew made the morning smell so fresh. It was perfect!

Exhibition

2010-02-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Test post for date

2008-03-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

This is a photo test and to see upload methods. Caption to this photo; Shot in Kenya, near Amboseli on our "Through Maasailand" trip

Setting up the Blog

2008-03-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, well this is my first blog.

I hope this will enhance my site and make it a little more interesting for everyone.

1st April 2007 Arrived in Nairobi to finalise things

2007-04-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

Arrived safe and sound in Nairobi and have based ourselves at Liberty Africa's offices in Lavington. Two brand new Land Rovers were waiting for us, a Discovery 3 and a Defender 110.

Renaud is busy checking equipment and the field edit work flow. Using two Canon XHa1's to shoot the HD footage to tape.

Finalising vehicle insurance, second driver, and our chief.(You didn't think that we though of that did you!) Seriously, considering the fact that we'll be shooting from dawn and in the late afternoon light, then backing up stills images and reviewing rushes, having a cook working on meals will be so much easier. Besides Thomson, had 150 porters helping him so why can't we have two?

Road testing my new camera kit from Calumet Photographic, London. All the kit arrived last week so I haven't had time to play with it, due to all the final preparations. The Nikon D2Xs is a new camera to me so want to be very familiar with it before I start shooting in earnest. Check out our website throughmaasailand.com for the whole list of kit we have with us.

Hope to leave for Mombasa in a day or two. I just want to make sure we have all that we need, before we start and I would rather have it all from here in Nairobi first.

2007-04-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Dated Post test

30th March 2007 Journey Starts

2007-03-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well after four years of researching, fund raising and planning here I am at Heathrow about to board the BA flight to Nairobi, Kenya.

This photograph was taken by cameraman Renaud Dugaunt who will be filming our journey from Mombasa to Lake Victoria.

Our vehicles, courtesy of Land Rover UK have already been shipped to Mombasa and have cleared customs and await us in Nairobi.

Its funny but after all this time I have to say this moment is a bit surreal. There have been many time when I thought this day would never arrive. I hope it proves to be worth it.

Blogging is a new experience for me, so I hope I rise to the challenge and find a way of easing my writing techniques to make this a fun and pleasant read. Enjoy you all and I look forward to posting my next entry.

Through Maasailand

2007-02-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

Well I know this is late, but I am finally making time to post a blog on the journey
Can I post date each entry?