Making an Award-winning Movie on $0 Budget

Also in this issue:

• Sony Problem Solving Guide - Free!
• I was a Judge

Sony Problem Solving Guide - Free!

Five years ago, Sony Artisan of Imagery Mark Galer and I teamed up to create a free troubleshooting guide for Sony Alpha cameras.  

A lot has changed since then, which is why we have teamed up once again to update the guide and, as before, are giving it away for free.  Tell your friends!

You can visit Mark's website at www.markgaler.com for a large variety of free resources, as well as subscribing to Mark's Patreon page.  

Making an Award-winning Movie on $0 Budget

Let's say you were a filmmaker during Covid.  You and your future co-star were quarrantining in a cabin in the woods.  And you had a Sony A7 III, one microphone, one LED light, but no budget and no crew.  But you still wanted to make that psychological thriller / horror film that's been on your mind for years.

Well, that movie has been made, and it's already won some awards!  Before I get to the interview with the filmmaker and the stars (and all of the tribulations involved in making a film in such conditions), have a look at the trailer for the movie.  (This has a lot more about the movie as well - the video here will give you a good taste of it.)

The Friedman Archives Helps Solve a Mystery

Also in this issue:

• A7 V book is out in all formats!
• 
  The most complex camera ever made
• The Airplane Workstation

The A7 V book is out in all formats!

A few weeks ago the book on the A7 V - all 885 pages of technical goodness - was released in all formats: printed in color or B&W, and the 3-file bundle (.pdf, .epub, and .azw3 compatible with all e-readers).  If you haven't already you can purchase all formats here.  Get yours now!

The Friedman Archives Helps Solve a Mystery

If you grew up in the U.S. in the 1960's, you'd be familiar with the huge fiberglass "Muffler Man" statues across the country, advertising everything from tires to mufflers, or other items promoting various roadside businesses.

The statues are no longer made, but there are diehard fans who like to catalog and track down the giant statues that remain. 

So where do the archives come in?  A few months ago I received a query from one such diehard fan, asking about a picture I took back in 1981 which featured one of the "Uniroyal Gals"; female versions of these giant advertising statues.  (The image he found is at the top of this post.)

"Where was this picture taken?  What business was it advertising?", he asked.  Geez, that was 45 years ago!  How can I possibly remember that?

The Happiest Slum in Africa

Also in this issue:

• A Philosophical Pontification
• Supplement for A7R V Firmware update
• Next Time in Cameracraft / In the Pipeline

The Photo Safari participants 2025

The photo safari in Kenya happened back in November, and just like last year, everyone had a great time!  You can see the some shots from both the participants and me in this google photos album.  I won't say much more about it; suffice to say it was identical to last year's successful event.

While in Nairobi, Carol and I decided to do something unusual - before the safari we hired a guide who took us on a tour of a slum.  To tell you more about it, let me introduce you to Lee Friedman, one of the Safari participants (yes, we're related, but we didn't know that when we first met!), who went with us and shares his thoughts and photos of the area:

The Villages of the Maasai Mara

Also in this issue:

• Help send a Maasai child to school

The game reserves we visited in Kenya belong to the Maasai community, who leases the land to eco-tourism companies like Gamewatchers Safaris that allow them to earn more from the land than if they had used it for some other purpose, like farming.  The Maasai still live like they have for centuries - the men still watch over the cattle (and their multiple wives); while the women do ALL the work, including hut building using cow dung.

As part of our Safari experience, we were treated to a visit to a working "Boma" (village), where people showed us how they live.  Upon my first visit, I was a little skeptical - the place is so neat; and their colors are so bright (despite having to wash them in the dirty river nearby).  Is this just a show they put on for us white folks?