Any good workman has multiple tools in his or her toolbelt. I think the same applies to storytelling. Though I butter my bread with the written word, I’ve always looked for ways to diversify my creative outlets. I’m the proverbial jack of all trades, master of none, though “master of none” seems a bit strong. I have a knack for picking up new disciplines. As such, I am self-taught and proud of my work.

Case in point: I’ve been obsessed with video throughout 2018. I’ve dabbled before, mostly in product video. It’s a natural progression from photography. The extraordinary leaps in DSLR technology about 10 years ago that made photography so much more accessible to the masses is happening now in video. Strides in autofocus, device size, and stabilization (gimbals!) are hallmarks of the mirrorless camera revolution.

So, last Christmas I got a DJI Spark drone. I’d played around with a friend’s DJI Mavic Pro prior, mostly learning the controls (it’s almost exactly like controlling your favorite first-person shooter) while filming him surfing the waves of San Clemente. Then earlier this year, spurred by YouTuber extraordinaire Casey Neistat, I complemented my kit with a Canon M50, the company’s first mirrorless 4K camera and a tectonic leap in video autofocus over my Canon 5D Mark III. It’s not the YouTube-standard Sony A7iii or Panasonic GH5, but I chose budget and familiarity.

Since then, I’ve been playing around with the gear and in Final Cut Pro with the main goal of creating better-than-average home movies of my family. Here’s one I put together this summer that I’m quite proud of. Maybe I’ll share more as the mood strikes.