Hand fishing

Handfishing

The Rushmore State

The Rushmore State
by: Rock Road Pursuits 

Follow first time turkey hunter Cody Edgar on his quest for a South Dakota archery longbeard.



The Rushmore State from Rock Road Pursuits on Vimeo.

Black River Bowhunter - Episode 1

Black River Bowhunter - Episode 1

Country Born Traditions

Here are some kill shots from Country Born Traditions of the 2013 Turkey Season

What a DSLR Can Do For You

What a DSLR Can Do For You

by: Nick Ventura

If you are looking to take you videos to the next level a DSLR might be just what you need.  A digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) will not only give you the options to get any creative shot you need but force you to become a better photographer and videographer.  These cameras can take videos and pictures and give you the opportunity to customize virtually all aspects of the camera.  With numerous cameras offering a wide range of customizable settings and interchangeable lenses, you will learn over time how to get the most out of your camera.  Where a camcorder allows you to use autofocus and automatic settings, a DSLR allows you to individually pick each of these settings and or choose which ones you want to be automatic.

Since these cameras have had video capabilities these have been the choice of many videographers because of the options it has.  You can get a basic level DSLR with a basic lens set-up and by simply upgrading the lens you can be taking professional level video clips and pictures.    Why these cameras have become so widely used is the way hunting videos have evolved.  To tell a story of the hunt a picture must be painted of everything leading up to the climax of the hunt.   These shots also known as “b-roll” can all be taken with the DSLR.  The creative shots that it can take range from slider shots to time lapses.  Some of the things that stand out with the DSLR compared to the camcorder is the ability to get a great depth of field.  This type of shot has become very popular, where you can have the subject in focus while having everything else out of focus.  The lower your aperture, the more depth of field you can have.  The depth of field depends on the lens of course and is essentially the amount of light that is let in, the more you zoom the more limited you are on how low your aperture can be.  The depth of field is what can usually set apart a shot from a camcorder from a DSLR.  When the subject is in focus and everything around it is not it makes it stand out more, which gives it more clarity.


While filming a hunt may be a challenge with the DSLR some of these camcorders feature the ability to actually auto focus in video mode giving them another advantage over a camcorder.  The benefits of the DSLR go as far as you can take them, the more you learn the better shots you can get and the better footage you can get.  When the hunt is done all that is left to do is to figure out how the story is going to be told.  What had happened and your words is the best way to portray a hunt.  Through quality and clear footage you can show your audience how the hunt actually happened.  When all the footage you want has been captured with the small and handy DSLR the only thing left to do is take trophy photos.  It is only until now that you can get amazing quality photos out of the same tool you use to film your hunts.

While the thought of customizing everything to your liking and all the options may scare away those just starting to use a camera its automatic settings can teach you how to properly use your camera.  Every camera has different features however some of the things a DSLR can allow you to set to automatic are the shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and in some cameras the focus.   This will teach you what each setting means and ultimately allow you get the best out of your camera.  Every videographer whether it is beginner or veteran has a vision of what they would like there footage to look like whether its color, clarity, or what’s in focus the DSLR can allow to get that look.  You no longer have to limit yourself to just what your camera is capable of.  A DLSR does not have to break the bank and with its lenses can give you the opportunity to advance yourself when you are ready.

The next time you are watching a hunt think to yourself how long the kill is and how long everything that is showed before takes.  The story and all the footage that goes along with it can be just as important as the actual shot.  The DSLR can be your best friend when it comes to telling the story, through time lapses, rack-focus, slider shots, and many other cool techniques the DSLR should be your next purchase.  The possibilities are endless and this camera will make you a better videographer.  Do not make your next purchase based on how easy it may be to use, but the purchase that will supplement any footage you get and force you to be a better videographer.

Watch a DSLR in Action:

What a DSLR can do for you from Nick Ventura on Vimeo.

Relive Outdoors Spring Turkey '13 Intro

Relive Outdoors Spring Turkey '13 Intro

Shutter Speed Made Simple

Shutter Speed Made Simple
by Gruntwork Outdoors


When shopping for a camera, one of the first things you look at are the tech specifications. Upon first
glance, this list can seem like it's written in another language, I mean, there's fractions, weird abbreviations, and a ton of numbers splashed across the page. All of these specs are important to your outdoor filming, but one that we've found extremely useful is shutter speed.

Simply put, shutter speed refers to the amount of time it takes for your camera's shutter to open. The shutter allows light into your camera. You can adjust the shutter speed based on the image you are trying to capture.

Shutter speed is measured in seconds, usually fractions of a second. For instance, the default shutter speed on most camcorders in 1/60; however, the speed can range from 1/10000 up to 1, 2 or 3 seconds. The smaller the fraction, the faster the shutter speed. This means that if your shutter speed is set at 1/2000, your shutter will be opening every 1/2000th of a second. That is very fast! Faster shutter speed will allow you to capture or "freeze" details of a fast-moving scene, such as the individual blades turning on a ceiling fan. If you change your shutter speed to something slower, such as 1/24, instead of seeing the individual blades on the fan, your image will look more like a blur of motion.

You may be thinking why you would ever want a slow shutter speed. The adjustment of your shutter speed should be based off of the image you want to capture. If you're filming a Nascar race and want to capture the speed of the cars driving around the track, a slower shutter speed is needed to convey that motion. If you want to film your arrow slicing through a water-filled balloon, you may choose to use a faster shutter speed so that each droplet is seen.

There are some important items to remember when adjusting your shutter speed. Always use a tripod when filming in a faster shutter speed because any camera movement will be very visible in your film. Also, be aware of your lighting. Changing the shutter speed, changes the amount of light entering the camera, so you will need to adjust your lighting accordingly.

Shutter speed is just one of the many options that vary from camera to camera and can sometimes be overlooked. But now that you know the basics, you can start to take your film to the next level.


Gruntwork Outdoors
Chris and Laurie