Shooting a Martian

Sliders are really easy to use and give the video that pro look.

 Photos by Lois Slaughter (my mama)

COLONIZING MARS:  I recently traveled to Suffolk, Va. to do a video story on Lieutenant Commander Oscar Mathews.  He's one of the remaining 100 candidates for the Mars One project and is one of only two servicemembers still in the running.  Mars One wants to start a human colony on the Red Planet...and it's a one-way trip for the astronauts/colonists.  HARD CORE.

Check out the Mars 100 video!

Mathews is getting really close to becoming an official Mars One astronaut.  This is a years-long process and it began with over 200,000 interested applicants.

Mathews was getting his Deep Sea Fisher ready to travel from Suffolk to his new duty station in Maryland.  In a confined shooting space my GoPro is perfect.

I use a carbon fiber pole and powered stabilizer to turn the GoPro into my main camera.  With this setup it no longer needs to be attached to mounts but can be carried around for super smooth shots.

During your time as an MC you'll probably be faced with a decision many camera operators face.  Should you get involved in a scene or continue to stay separated and shoot?

"Should I help this boat not crash into the dock

 or should I capture it on video?"

This was the second time I've visited Mathews and his girlfriend Mina.  I showed them the rough outline of what I have so far to keep them involved in the process.  I don't always do this but I knew after the first shoot that they were excited about the video.

For interviews and any shots needing the best sound I use the Nikon D800 with the Sony wireless microphone.

Lois Slaughter

My assistant was allowed to touch the Nikon briefly.

All Hands Magazine (and me!)

Quick post, as I am getting my butt kicked by classes here at Syracuse University.  We've got a month left, and all the projects are banging on the door.

You know who wasn't too busy to publish a story about me?  All Hands Magazine.

Check out this Q & A with me, and stop by their Facebook page and Like them.  Every Like and Follow counts, especially when the entire military is looking at funding cuts.

This is THE magazine you want to follow to stay in the know.  

Read the article here.

Watch my application video here.

I may be headed to Mars! (Help me go viral...)

I am officially a finalist for the Mars One program! 

If you've missed it, here's the deal:

Out of over 200,000 applicants, I have been selected to challenge 1,058 would-be astronauts for the right to colonize Mars.  One physical assessment and one passed interview and I'll be a serious part of the most amazing human story to ever hit the history books. Hit me up for more information!

You can help me by watching and liking the below application video,

 and liking and sharing my Facebook posts about it.  

The next phase is reality TV show to raise money for the mission.  They're looking for people that can bring in an audience.

Disclaimer: This will depend not only on making it through the interview process, but how well this will click with my active duty responsibilities.  The Navy has been very good to me, and I owe them time.  We are waiting to see if two amazing jobs can work together.


Stop by this website for more info:

http://www.mars-one.com/

Here's another applicant.  He gets beat up a bit by the interviewers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYSG7XMGg70

Here's my application video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITq0pqVK9ik

I enlisted to serve my country.  I am ready to continue that service, on a much larger scale, by giving up everything to train and eventually lift off for Mars.  What a way to go huh?!