Videolog #001 – Destination Hawaii!

2013 Mar 29

Andrew Crusoe

It had to happen sooner or later… I’ve begun a video log.

No, not a “vlog” (that’s a silly word). This is most definitely a video log. A travelogue… log. This is also the first time I’ve ever posted a video featuring myself on this site. So if you were looking for a reason to get scared off of this website forever, now is the perfect time. 😉

Still here?

Then BEHOLD!

Note

Also, to be clear, when I said it’ll probably be more fun for you than me, I was referring to the process of making these videos, not the actual trip itself. I anticipate that Hawaii will be a blast! Thanks for joining me today. 🙂 To stay in the loop, be sure to sign up for updates!

Transcript:

Hi, my name’s Andrew, and I have almonds.

These almonds have provided the calories that have made this video possible. If you like almonds… they’re not paying me anything.

If you’re watching this video, you’ve probably read some of the words that I’ve put in various orders to make various articles on the various internets. I thought I would do something a little different. Something that would allow you to maybe to get to know me a little better or maybe just be more entertained because we all have a little side of us that’s kind of voyeuristic.

Video is very interesting, isn’t it? Everybody is making videos. Everybody! (Except for me.) So, I thought, “I’ve got to try this, and it’s probably going to suck, in the beginning.” (That’s why I never recommend anybody read anything I’ve written before 2010, because it takes a while.) And that’s okay.

In 8 days, I begin my adventure to the Big Island of Hawaii. (Hawaii! Where they grow nuts!) I’m trying to do this video in one take, so. *I cross my fingers in a really absurd way* (I wasn’t try to flip you off there. I’m sorry.)

Along the way, I’m going to be in San Francisco, for a little while, and then I’m going to land on the west side of the island and… yeah. This is journal 1, and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun—probably more fun for you than me, but… that’s what I’m here for.

So, that’s all I’ve got. 🙂
And I also have nuts!

Glimpse of Big Sur: Sunset Timelapse Video

2011 Jul 06

Andrew Crusoe

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When was the last time you saw a sunset? I mean really saw it.

Have you ever seen the last morsel of the sun slowly dip below a watery horizon?

If you never have, I hope that today’s video will help you imagine what it’s like to see in the flesh (since a video can never do a sunset justice).

You see, as we followed the Pacific Coast Highway back up north to the Bay Area of California, the sun began to set over the ocean just to our left, creating a stunning sight. It was so beautiful that we had to stop and use our cameras one last time before we left the Big Sur area. The result is a video I’ve named “Big Sur, Big Sunset.” (And it comes with 3 haiku!)

The funny part is, I didn’t even plan that my sunset photos would become a video, but they were similar enough that I was able to create time lapse using the photos that often looks as though it’s actual video footage of the sunset. And this worked out perfectly because the camera I had couldn’t take HD video at all, so this method was the only way I could get true HD video as a result. (To see the video in HD, head over to “Big Sur, Big Sunset” on YouTube and choose 720p.)

Painting made of light
Look! Just enough clouds to see
Fires in the Sky

Distant Fireball
Racing below horizon
Last flicker of day

Seeing day’s last breath
The Sun slips quickly away
Farther suns appear

Next: Pier 39, Chinatown, & San Francisco Explorations

Before I actually went and wandered the streets myself, I never realized how dynamic and incredible San Francisco can truly be. And as it turned out, I’d picked just about the perfect day to begin my San Francisco explorations, and not just because it felt like a parade was thrown in my honor… but we’ll get to that…

See what happened next →

To see all videos, see the YouTube page. (Thanks to Laserlong for providing their song “Moon & Sunset” for use via MusicAlley.com (Formerly at: https://myspace.com/laserlong/music/songs )

Seattle Quintet Singing “Blue Skies” a-cappella is THE Antidote to Winter Video

2011 Feb 01

Andrew Crusoe

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Sometimes, in the middle of a harsh winter, a simple song to remind you that blue skies and warm weather will someday return is just what you need to raise your spirits.

Unless you’re in Australia, you’re probably dealing with ‘white sandwich’ weather, as I am.

“Huh? ‘White sandwich’ weather? What the heck is that!?”, I can hear you say.

Well, it’s a term I invented years ago for when the sky is completely cloudy and the ground is covered in snow. You see, from a certain perspective, when this happens you appear to be in the middle of a vast white sandwich… especially if you’re on a frozen lake. When the world configures itself this way, the only color you can hope to see is in the middle of the sandwich, which is usually the grey-brown color of leafless trees as they sleep through the winter.

And in times like that, I sometimes wish I could sleep though the winter, too.

Unexpected A-Cappella is GROOVY

Alas, you and I are not trees nor bears, so we face the winter conscious, which can be depressing sometimes. So what better way to cheer you up after living in ‘white sandwich’ weather than my video of the a-cappella group I stumbled upon while I was exploring Seattle? (And if you subscribe to the Byteful Video feed, you may have already noticed that this video was released.)

How did I discover a free a-cappella concert?

I’d just finished exploring the Chittenden Locks, and as I started heading back I came across this quintet singing near the botanical gardens. They performed Beach Boys covers and many other happy songs under the clear blue sky that day. And thankfully I had enough space after the Chittenden Locks photo shoot to record this short video of them singing “Blue Skies”. (I’ve even fine-tuned the video’s color with Final Cut Pro, so the video is as bright and vibrant as the day I shot it.)

In the midst of this snowy winter, I hope this video lifts your spirits, reminds you that the blue skies and green grass will return, and puts a smile on your face.

Coming up soon: The adventure at Seattle’s Chittenden Locks, including the amazing salmon ladder and lush botanical gardens.

To see all videos, see the YouTube page.

Denver People’s Fair was a Blast (Elvis impersonator Video)

2010 Jul 20

Andrew Crusoe

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Sometimes, you wander right off of one street only to wander onto another one just as compelling. The day I wandered into the Denver People’s Fair was such a day, and I’m so glad that I happened to wander through because it was overflowing with MUSIC.

As I mentioned before, I’d just finished marveling at the creativity exhibited at the Denver Chalk Art Festival when I walked right into the People’s Fair, which was literally about one block away. And to my great delight, a surprisingly good Elvis impersonator was performing “Suspicious Minds.”

Thankfully, I had enough camera memory to shoot a video for your viewing enjoyment. Here’s a short 60 second version of the video:

If you’d like to hear more of the song, the full length video is now on YouTube. (To know about new videos the day they’re released, subscribe to my Travel Video channel on YouTube.)

With music loud and long

There were other delightful things to see, too. Nearby, guitar and drum lessons were being given, and among the tents I even stumbled upon an old man playing a particularly unique instrument: an Appalachian Dulcimer.

You may be familiar with the Hammered Dulcimer, an ancient instrument that’s been used for thousands of years, but this dulcimer was an Appalachian Dulcimer, something altogether newer in design. Also known as a mountain dulcimer, the Appalachian Dulcimer is plucked like a guitar, not struck with a hammer like its ancient counterpart. And its sound was quite mesmerizing amidst Denver’s summer air.

A Surprisingly Musical Day

And as I left, I was given to one final musical treat for the day. A particularly good street performer by the name of Jentry D. McCombs was performing near the edge of the fair. He was truly a professional street performer because his money box was basically a business card, complete with his email and phone number in large letters. Not a bad way to spread the word about your talent…

Overall, it was an excellent ending to a truly artistic, and surprisingly musical, day.

Continue the journey →

Photos from this trip are in the Denver Chalk Art Festival album. All photos in the gallery can be used as desktop wallpapers because they are high resolution (1920×1440).

Note

Transcript:

SEE RELATED POSTS:

Next: Pier 39, Chinatown, & San Francisco Explorations

SEE RELATED POSTS:

Unexpected A-Cappella is GROOVY

SEE RELATED POSTS:

With music loud and long

A Surprisingly Musical Day

SEE RELATED POSTS: