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Buy a Drone they said…
It’ll be fun they said…
This is footage I took with the drone when it was working properly. Can’t you feel how excited I was?
I tried to fix the issue based on all the information given to me via DJI online. I reset IMUs, compasses, gimbals, I downgraded and restored firmware. I did everything. I was heart broken. I decided to let it sit over night with no battery and then try all the calibrations one last time before mailing it to be repaired.
While doing one last flight test with no success resetting the camera, I noticed drone pulling to the right and not flying correctly. While landing, the prop on one side caught a bush and fell about a foot to the ground. This unfortunately marked up the front of the case and I immediately knew I would have problems getting it repaired.
Today I received the repair report from DJI. They are claiming that the issues are not covered under warranty. They are also quoting me for 2 Mavic Pro Gimbal & Cameras.
Every time I try to connect to the repair department I am told they cannot be reached and that I need to wait for my email. They cannot explain to me why a drone less than one month old is not under warranty, or what the problem was.
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. I bought this new equipment to try and branch out in my business and if I want it returned working properly, I will have to pay almost half of what I just paid for it. What is even worse is that I was planning to take it with us on our big trip to Austria to elevate any of the content we create.
In 2009 when I was transitioning into creative shoots and really testing my skills I had this huge list of images I wanted to create. I would get inspired by everyday life. Reading a magazine, watching, TV, talking with friends, or even just driving around town. One of the ideas I had was that I wanted to get a big buff guy to come shoot in a studio setting, but instead of the traditional muscle man photos, I wanted to do something a little sillier.
For no real reason, I wanted a very large man putting some real effort into snapping a good ol’ number 2 pencil. I did a shoot back in 2010 or 2011 where I was photographing Shad Gaspard for a magazine interview, while between shots I asked him if he would be interested in the idea. Unfortunately, he wasn’t too keen on the idea, but he was up for another idea as the final hero shot.
Shad Gaspard, taking a break from training.
After this shoot, the idea for the pencil breaking sat on the back burner for years until recently. I remembered the idea and decided to try and get it done again so I reached out to some friends and that is where I was able to contact Juan and set a date. Juan is a big dude at 6’5″ and fights MMA and has even tried out and trained with some NFL teams. I’m proud to say, these are the images we were able to create. Something fun. Something silly. Something completely pointless.
While the images did not come out the same as I had envisioned them those many years ago, I am quite pleased with how they came out.
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Rey’s origin, A Force Awakens Fan Theory
by Brian Vogel
Who is Rey?
All right all you Star Wars fans, are you ready to have your head holes blown?
There are many fan theories out there right now in regards to the Force Awakens. What’s really going on with Kylo Ren? Who is Snoke? What happened to Luke? What is Rey’s origin?
Many different thoughts, some plausible and entertaining while others… not so much.
Warning this post may does contain spoilers.
There are many different fan theories going around right now about the new Star Wars movie and I myself am helping perpetuate some of them. There is one, however; that I find to be a little too absurd. That is the fan theory about Rey’s Origin and that she is actually a reincarnated Anakin. That seems a little too far-fetched and a little too dependent on the idea that Anakin was originally born of virgin birth. What I think happened is a little bit simpler and relies on typical plot devices found in movies.
It is shown that these order of stormtroopers are no longer clones but abducted children conditioned to take orders. This is shown in the very disappointing scene where they tell Captain Phasma to lower the shields and she does so without a fight. It is possible she did not resist because she has been conditioned to follow orders ; a move that would be risky if she would actually encounter people on the battlefield as a normal trooper would. Since she is a captain she is far enough away to not be influenced by the enemy.
But this is were I reference a literary principal to support this (sure Brittany hears me talk about this more than she would like while watching TV or movies), Chekov’s gun. Why would you have such a unique and stand out character that contributes nothing to the story? If this movie had been done by George Lucas I could understand wanting to put in a character in chrome because you simply can, but since this was done with more finesse and truer to the original inspiration of the movies, I believe that there will be a reveal in which Captain Phasma is Ray’s mother.
WHAT? NO, That’s Not True! THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!
Oh, she’s also Luke’s wife/baby mama.
Yup. That’s my fan theory. She was abducted and is now under the control of the First Order, but not before stashing Rey on Jakku to keep her safe. This would also explain the flashbacks Rey had, not of Anakin’s life but of hers and her force lineage.
But Brian, wait, you said Luke’s wife?
That’s right reader. Some of you might be familiar with the phrase I mentioned earlier, “Chekov’s Gun”. This literary device essentially states, if it is mentioned there is a gun on a wall in a scene, that gun must be used or there is no point in mentioning it. Meaning, Captain Phasma should be playing a much bigger role than just hanging on the wall.
Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.
In the story, they do not state whether Troopers are promoted or assigned but it would not be too far of a stretch to assume they are assigned their position. The First Order could have positioned here as a Captain as a deterrent incase Luke ever tried to infiltrate or attack the order either out of boredom or to get his nephew back. A shocking reveal that his wife was alive and positioned within the First Order would very possibly slow his momentum, giving Kylo Ren, Snoke/Plagueis, or whomever the slightest advantage.
I’ve got you now, Plagueis… Wait, what?
Anyway, put this half baked idea in your brain and let it bake. I don’t have much to base it on other than literary devices but it’s something fun to think about and better than the Reincarnation of Anikin Theory. What are your thoughts? Leave comments here or follow the links to my social media below and let me know what you think.
-Brian
For the last three to four months I have been busy working with a design program in Chicago and even spent 3 of those months living up there.
Now that I have returned to the lovely sweltering heat of Houston I needed to get a shoot under my belt. I had been in touch with an old friend while I was away and we decided a pool side editorial shoot would be fun and quench our photographic thirsts.
Anywho, Phillip was a blast to shoot as always and I think we got some really cool stuff.
Check it out below.
A few years back in my wilder days, when I used to attend concerts without a camera in each hand, I went to the “Sounds of the Underground” Tour. Probably one of the best concerts I have ever attended. Shadows Fall, Darkest Hour, Every Time I Die, Chimera, and Gwar were just some of the acts performing at the all day event. An event that friends and I came to deem “Guitar Hero Tour 2007”, since a good number of the bands had tracks in the game. On this day of rock and roll one of the bands that still stays in my hazy memory is Every Time I Die. The energy they brought that day transferred solidly into those of us in the crowd and most evidently in the giant circle pit of which I am proud to say I was a part. When I found out that ETID was coming through Houston, I knew I had to shoot this show.
Every Time I Die was headlining at Warehouse Live with four acts before them. The first act was scheduled to go on at 7pm; 30 minutes from when I got word that my ride was just getting ready to pick me up. With the night off to a good start by keeping the tradition of never being on time to a show at Warehouse Live, we were on our way. We arrived at the venue as the second band was ramping up their set. The hard part is over, now to go in and enjoy the show, or so I thought. As we approached the ticket window the bold yellow note on the glass made me thankful I had a press pass and wishful for having ridden my motorcycle. SOLD OUT. This means my ride and fellow ETID fan could not get in and could very likely strand me in a location that is a 30-minute drive from my home. Shit. After a quick brainstorm we decided with my press pass and unnecessarily large rucksack of a camera bag, I could schmooze his admittance out of someone. “Hello, I’m Brian Vogel and I’m covering tonight’s show and my ride… Yeah… No, I understand.” No luck. It looked like I was going to have to enjoy this event on my own. While bullshitting out front with Moose, the driver for one of the bands, I noticed a guy on the corner making exchanges. After a minute of money shuffling and conniving, Boom, we had the illusive ticket.
We entered Warehouse Live as one of the band finished their explosive set, but something was off. Where was everyone? If you have ever been to this venue you will know that there is one large main room for big name acts and bands that really draw a crowd and sell out shows. Bands like Every Time I Die who was preparing to perform on a small stage, in a small room, for small local acts.
As my mind started racing thinking about my ISO settings and the abysmal light quality in this small room, I seemed to be the only person that cared. You could feel the energy in the building. All the energy of those bands and their fans packed into one small room that to them was a great concert hall filled with some of the best rock and roll. Just then, the last opening act finished.
We entered Warehouse Live as one of the band finished their explosive set, but something was off. Where was everyone? If you have ever been to this venue you will know that there is one large main room for big name acts and bands that really draw a crowd and sell out shows. Bands like Every Time I Die who was preparing to perform on a small stage, in a small room, for small local acts.
As my mind started racing thinking about my ISO settings and the abysmal light quality in this small room, I seemed to be the only person that cared. You could feel the energy in the building. All the energy of those bands and their fans packed into one small room that
Finally, this is it. No more thoughts of, “I wish I hadn’t broken my wide angle lens” or “Those lights would be better back there”, now all I could think of was, “I’m about to see one of the best acts I have ever seen from less than three feet away. Killer.” Chants from the crowd interrupted my thoughts. “LET’S GO BUFFALO!” clap clap clap-clap-clap “LET’S GO BUFFALO!” And then, the lights were extinguished and the crowd myself included, erupted.
I wish I could tell you what song they started with or what Keith said to the crowd as he got on stage but all I can tell you for certain is that it was non-stop from the minute they entered the room. Before the first song was even half way over crowd surfing fans started pouring over the barrier into the press area. There were more fans in Photographer’s Row than photographers at this point. Did I care? Hell No. Even the kid in the wheel chair was crowd surfing and getting respect knuckles from Keith. That’s all part of the game. While dodging sweaty fans and the small photographers that clearly missed concert etiquette class, I was snapping away. Trying to capture even a fraction of the awesomeness that was going on. Jordan was throwing his guitar into the air only to catch it and go right into the chorus while Andy was on the opposite end of the stage staring at the crowd like and escaped bear wondering how these puny people could bring a stop to his rocking. After a few songs and a few hundred photos I put my cameras away and just enjoyed the show. Easy Tiger, Tusk and Temper, The New Black, We’rewolf. All the great songs came out at this show with just as much energy and attitude as you would expect. It was everything I could have hoped for an assignment and more. Not only did I have an awesome time but also I am now going to keep growing my beard and invest in a Jean Vest.
I’m sorry if this article seems a bit scattered. I’m still amped from the show and listening to an unhealthy mix of Every Time I Die and Tenacious D. If you take away anything at all from this article, it should be that next time ETID comes to your town or even your state, buy your tickets early and make sure you go expecting to have an awesome sweaty time. In the mean time go pick up one if not all of their CDs.
*This Blog was originally written in 2013 and is being reloaded since the original post was lost.
Hello Internet!
Another month has passed and that once again brings us to November! This November I wanted to do more than just not shave and claim I was taking part in “No Shave November”, this year I wanted to do something that would actually help people. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to be sporting a heck of a mustache, but now it’s for something more than just my vanity. This year I have signed up over at MoBro.co/bvp to create a page to help me raise money to benefit testicular cancer research and men’s mental health treatment. I took this task one step further and have invited members of my team to join me in this endeavor by creating their own Movember Page and Joining the Brian Vogel Photography Team: http://us.movember.com/team/1566261
Why get involved?
- 1 in 270 men are affected by Testicular Cancer and 1 in 7 are affected by Prostate Cancer. This is very scary and real stuff and we can help.
- Personally I wanted to be involved because no matter what stage of my life I’ve been in, someone close to me has been battling with some form of cancer or mental health. It’s a very scary thing and the people that go through it have an amazing strength and resolve.
One of my good friends and occasional assistant is a prime example of this. He is probably one of the most genuine and kind people I know. Before 25 he had fought and beat cancer and is now a student at the University Houston and Entrepreneur as well as a member of our team.
How can I get Involved?
There are many ways to become involved:
- The most immediate way to become involved is to donate. break open that piggy bank and send some coins to a good cuase via my page at MoBro.co/bvp or the team as a whole at http://us.movember.com/team/1566261.
- Join our team! Think you have what it takes to conduct yourself like a true gentleman while helping others? Then don your best lip warmer and sign up at mobro.co and joing the “Brian Vogel Photography” team and spread the good word.“Use the power of the Mustache to create conversations about Men’s Health and to raise funds for Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, and Mental Health.”
- Are you a big shot at your office? Why not see if your business is able to gift match! I’m sure it’s a write off.
http://us.movember.com/get-involved/gift-matching
What if I can’t grow a mustache?
- That’s perfectly fine! All you have to do is get talking! There is even a page specifically for the ladies that want to help save… the boys. Check out this link to get started: http://us.movember.com/get-involved/mo-sistas
- You could also check out our friends at MustachStuff.com and maybe pick up some goodies to wear on your person.
Added Bonus!
To those of you taking part in helping raise funds and joining our team, at the end of the month we will have an open house in the studio for you to come have your portrait taken with your Movember Stache!
More resources:
My “How to Grow a Beard” Vine.
(Roll over the video to activate sound options)
College Humor’s video on why it’s important to Register.
(Warning, Samuel L. Jackson is Narrating therefore there might be some foul language at the end… kind of.)
Inspired by an image I saw created by Joel Grimes, I wanted to replicate the look in the image across a series. One of the goals in the series was to capture pairs of people from similar genetic backgrounds but differing in age, sex, social stature, any other differences. I had to put this project on hold while I was ending my position at the local college, but I do hope to revive and finish it by the end of the year.
To see the images in this series more fully, visit the “Series” tab in the menu.
Well I went ahead and obtained the domain BrianVogel.Photography.
Recently they created and released some new extensions for internet domain names such as “.video”, “.Photography”, “.actor”, and tons more. (Check out a list of these extensions here.)
It feels cool to finally have something simple that I don’t have to explain to people… or will I. For a while I will have to explain there is no “.com” or anything like that, and when typing links on websites I will always have to include the “http://” designator.
Oh well!
I needed a site face lift and I think this was one of the many ways to make that happen.
Currently listening to BVP’s Rock ‘N Roll Mix Playlist.
