BZ Roll
Every week, I put up a new B roll clip I've shot and tell a short story about it. All videos are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Dam Outflow at Starved Rock
Wednesday, November 9 2022
I love Starved Rock and how the engineering of the dam meets the raw nature of the bluffs.
Fishing Near the Dam at Starved Rock State Park
Wednesday, November 2 2022
The last time I spent near this dam, the carp would jump out of the water into your boat. Those same carp now threaten Lake Michigan with their unstoppable appetite.
Evening Reflections Off The Chicago River
Wednesday, October 26 2022
Today is my birthday and I've been reflecting on things in my life ...
Chicago Skyline Over The Shimmering Chicago River
Wednesday, October 19 2022
Even from far away, this city has got nice lines.
High Hat - Tight Shot
Wednesday, October 12 2022
Second in a series from an afternoon in 13 Tacos Studios
Ride Cymbal - Tight Shot
Wednesday, October 5 2022
When you're struggling to find B roll, you've got to shoot what you have on hand. From an afternoon in 13 Tacos Studios.
Swan Preening In A Pond At The Park
Wednesday, September 28 2022
We had never seen so many swans in one location before. There must have been two dozen.
Boats on the Regents Canal
Wednesday, September 21 2022
It's exciting in a nervous way for me to encounter commercial boat traffic that has such narrow physical constraints.
House And Setting Sun Shot Through Fence Mesh
Wednesday, September 14 2022
Trying for a more artistic look. I loved the way the sun backlights this scene. Caught on a walk home on a Sunday evening.
Girl On Father's Shoulders Looking At A Lion
Wednesday, September 7 2022
More in the Zoo series ...
Gorilla Eating And Looking At The Camera
Wednesday, August 31 2022
I'm not pretending to be a wildlife photographer, but something felt different when this large animal looked directly at the camera.
Primates Eating In Their Enclosure At The Zoo
Wednesday, August 24 2022
All I hear in my head when I edit this footage is the "Everybody Eats" song from Sesame Street.
Windmill Against A Blue Sky
Wednesday, August 10 2022
I know this violates the rule of thirds, but something about shots that put the subject all the way to one side really speak to me.
Blue Line Train Departing From Above
Wednesday, August 3 2022
You know I love public transportation from any angle.
Waves Crashing Behind The Aquarium With The Chicago Skyline In The Background
Wednesday, July 27 2022
I ride a short part of the lakefront trail every weekend. The waves were blustery and making themselves known this day.
Kebabs on the Grill
Wednesday, July 13 2022
For me, grilling kebabs is the height of summer, but heed this warning: Do not do what I did and skewer a mix of ingredients on a single skewer. Each ingredient should be skewered only alongside compatriot ingredients. Thus, things will cook more evenly.
Banner Flags Flying Above A Supermarket Against A Grey Sky
Wednesday, July 6 2022
I believe this is referred to as "bunting"
Chicago Flag Flying On The Bow Of A Boat On The Chicago River
Wednesday, June 29 2022
Taken on an architectural boat tour, which I highly recommend. Even if you're not into architecture, the sights and the stories are enough to make the trip worth it.
Sprinkler on the Sidewalk in the Morning
Wednesday, June 22 2022
I try to take my camera on walks with me for a walk first thing in the mornings. Our neighbor was the early bird with his sprinkler this morning.
Golfer at a Windy Driving Range
Wednesday, June 15 2022
Whenever I go home, I always go to a specific park to walk and there's a self-serve driving range there. The day this was shot was not a particularly calm day, as one can see by the flags, but this fellow was up for the challenge.
Dog Sleeping In The Sun
Wednesday, June 8 2022
This guy had had enough of the sugar-infused kids at Easter, so he caught a quiet moment away from everyone in the sun.
Birds On A Feeder
Wednesday, June 1 2022
Amazing what one can capture with a better lens and a tripod.
Wide Shot Of Short Waterfall
Wednesday, May 25 2022
First, waterfalls in Texas. Now, waterfalls in Georgia? This feed is a madness of hydrologic features and transportation infrastructure!
Water Down A Short Waterfall
Wednesday, May 18 2022
The San Antonio Riverwalk is an amazing series of connected pathways that provide a way to get to more natural areas. Taken on a long bike ride on the riverwalk south of town.
Steam Rising Off A Mug Next To A Laptop And Notebook
Wednesday, May 11 2022
For a while during the beginning of the pandemic, I worked from our dining room table which faces the morning sun. Occasionally, I'll post up there for a day or two to get some bulk vitamin D. Bonus: The dining room table is closer to the coffee.
Train Crossing A Lift Bridge Over A Canal
Wednesday, May 4 2022
Number way-too-many in a series of omg-please-make-it-stop of vehicles crossing the screen. I'm a bad boy for transportation infrastructure.
Cars Crossing In Front Of A Tree Tunnel To The Lake
Wednesday, April 27 2022
I was waiting for a train to take me to the south side to explore and had some time to kill in Grant Park. I adore how the landscaping creates this tunnel.
Icy Rocks Against an Indistinct Horiozon
Wednesday, April 20 2022
(Part 4 of 4 shot on a walk around Jackson Park on President's Day 2022)
Perhaps I'm simple, but I'm very taken with artistic expressions that are divided 50/50 across a single axis.
Small Waves Against a Rocky, Icy Shore
Wednesday, April 13 2022
(Part 3 of 4 shot on a walk around Jackson Park on President's Day 2022)
Another attempt at human steadycam-ing. I had to find the perfect spot to squat where I could see the monitor, not get hit with waves, and keep the focus where I wanted it.
Park Building Revealed From Behiond a Tree
Wednesday, April 6 2022
(Part 2 of 4 shot on a walk around Jackson Park on President's Day 2022)
This was shot trying to be the best steadycam I could be. If you've got any pointers on making handheld shots steadier, send them my way.
Two People Fishing From Boat Docks in Winter
Wednesday, March 30 2022
(Part 1 of 4 shot on a walk around Jackson Park on President's Day 2022)
The first winter I worked on Navy Pier, I was surprised to see people fishing from the service side of the dock. I learned that the adjacent water treatment plant kept the water warm for the good-sized perch they were pulling out.
Fire Burning Around a Skull
Wednesday, March 23 2022
I was going to save this for Halloween, but it was just too good to wait. Shot at a local place we like to go to because of these fire pits.
Fire on the Beach as a Storm Rolls In
Wednesday, March 16 2022
Here, the peace and coziness of the fire is contrasted against the anger of the storm and sea that would, later that evening, fling a chair into the embers.
Engineer Working at a Mixing Console
Wednesday, March 9 2022
I have the privilege of working with a lot of talented musicians who, like me, are kind of gear-slutty. Being close to the intersection of music and technology has always felt like home to me.
Passing A Black Car While Driving On The Highway At Night
Wednesday, March 2 2022
Sometimes, you've been out shooting all night and you don't want to wait for a bus to the Blue Line.
Ice Skaters At Millenium Park
Wednesday, February 23 2022
Did you know that if you bring your own ice skates, skating at Millenium Park and Maggie Daley Park are both free?
People Silhouetted Underneath Cloud Gate
Wednesday, February 16 2022
I love being in popular spaces at unpopular times. Monday night at Cloud Gate and I was one of a handful. On a warm, summer day, this place would be shoulder to shoulder.
Snowing In The Streetlight On A Quiet Street
Wednesday, February 9 2022
Snow is on my mind. It's fun to play in but you have to be properly equipped. Snow can demand your time and attention when traversing or removing it. Quiet, beautiful moments like this are part of the reason I suffer snow.
Pigeons Sunning Themselves Under A Train Trestle
Wednesday, February 2 2022
There is a person who feeds the pigeons under the highway overpass near our home. I'm torn between appreciating their provision of succor for the last and the least and wanting to be able to cross under the highway without scaling Mount Guano.
Snow Falling In A Backyard
Wednesday, January 26 2022
New snow is so peaceful and full of temporary promise. Everything can look uniform and simple again, even if only for a little while.
Cars On The Highway From An Overpass
Wednesday, January 19 2022
I love public transportation. I love it most when I encounter these spaces where I'm so close to slowly moving automobile traffic.
American Flag Flying Over The Progress Pride Flag
Wednesday, January 12 2022
I was on my way to my first multi-camera shoot and I was testing out the quality of the inexpensive consumer cameras I was packing at the time. I tried the mistake of a 4K camera I bought off eBay that gave ne garbage results. I pulled out a simple Sony handicam-style camera I borrowed from my wife and shot this. I went on to a very successful shoot that made the client very happy and gained me a friend in the process.
Table Set For A Party With Vegetables, Nuts, And Cheeses
Wednesday, January 5 2022
I love a party. I love a party with small vegetal eats. I love cheeses and nuts. I love my family. This was shot at the spread for my neice's birthday party.
Watching Cars On A Highway From Behind A Fence And A Bush
Wednesday, December 29 2021
I love transportation. I sometimes hate that I can hear the Kennedy from our house, but it's also somehow comforting to hear the variety of vehicle noises: jake-brakes and low-flying traffic copters in the morning and the inevitable eventing motorcycle rally. I like that I can walk over to the park and get this close to that dangerous, fast moving steel without consequence.
This was the first video I shot with my Nikon Z 5. I shot this to test changing focus during a shot.
Coming Up the Escalator To The Train Platform And Looking Out Over The City
Wednesday, December 22 2021
I've known Uncle Mike since I was in high school. He was the first adult friend I had. I used to go to the hometown AM radio station where he worked on Saturday nights and cut absurd promos for his jazz music show.
This was shot while on a day out with Uncle Mike. We walked through Chinatown and some South side neighborhoods.
Two Women Walking Through The Woods On A Fall Day
Wednesday, December 15 2021
Trees are great, right? We recently had to cut two of them out of our backyard to keep them from overgrowing and falling into our house or our neighbors house. Having to cut those trees out was sad. Fortunately, there's places around us with lots of trees and great friends to join you on those walks.
Woman Practicing Shuffleboard From A Low Angle
Tuesday, November 16 2021
Taken on a lovely Sunday afternoon after two rounds of vaccines and a search for outdoor activities.