One of the most dangerous and important jobs in the world is that of the conflict photojournalist.
Sometimes known as a war correspondent, always a witness to the horrors and human toll of war.

There are few that manage to balance a life outside of those assignments.
Pulitzer Prize–winning photojournalist and MacArthur Fellow Lynsey Addario has met that challenge.

This new biopic from Nat Geo and Disney + captures her life photographing the wars on the ground, and her life at home with her husband and 2 young boys. It premieres on 11/6 on Nat Geo, and 11/7 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Along with her current life situation, they present a brilliant, insightful documentary on her life growing up, and perhaps how she became the photographer she is.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, Addario has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Syria, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Apropos to this doc is also her concern and coverage of women’s issues globally.

Lynsey Addario on assignment in Iridimi Refugee Camp, Wadi Fira, Chad. (National Geographic/Caitlin Kelly)

With interviews with her sisters, husband, and interactions with her boys, you get the fuller picture of her life.

One of the most telling moments is when she is packing for her next conflict assignment, and one of her sons is with her.
She tosses a flat object to pack, and as her son asks what it is, she just says it’s a plate for her vest.
Now, we all know it’s a bullet proof vest plate for protection, just no need to explain all to her child.

Lynsey Addario at home with her son Alfred before leaving on assignment. (National Geographic/Caitlin Kelly)

The concerns of the lifestyle is also revealed through interviews with her husband, a former photo editor, in their London home.

Lynsey Addario and her husband Paul de Bendern take a video call with Lynsey’s mother. (Credit: National Geographic/Thorsten Thielow)

It’s a push pull, and I think any journalist worth their salt understand the draw of a new assignment. Still hard to leave the family behind.

“My head is always where I’m not”

Lynsey Addario finds shelter from a nearby shelling during an assignment in Ukraine. (Credit: National Geographic/Andriy Dubchak)

It is up to you the viewer, to ponder the right balance. No judging, with an exploration of the realities.

Another behind the scenes is knowing what it takes to be out in the scrum, and physically fit.
Workouts with a trainer are part of her regular regimen. The physicality of humping and jumping in the middle of war as a witness is no place to be out of shape.

Her cameras of choice are Nikons Z series, and a Leica Q2 or Q3.
She is a Nikon ambassador, and her work shows off the tools.
In addition, what a lot of people forget about, is the need for editing and post.
Of course the software she uses to edit and cull is Photo Mechanic.

The footage of her in the field was captured by Andriy Dubchak, and the intimate scenes at home were made by a one person crew Thor Thielow and he’s a one-man band. To get this real life behind the scenes footage, and revealing interviews required the skills of a filmmaker who can bring a trust to the subjects. Plus a tiny footprint.

Did I mention that there are historically few women on this field?
That particular fact makes this doc a marker in the world of journalism.

Lynsey Addario photographs a damaged building in Ukraine. (Credit: National Geographic/Andriy Dubchak)

Yes, I did watch the movie Lee again before speaking with Lynsey. That was the story of Lee Miller, portrayed by Kate Winslett. She was a model, then photographer, then war photographer during WWII. Another time, another situation, another insight.

What I think you will come away with after watching this doc Love + War is a true portrait of dedicated photo journalist, and proud mother and wife.

Her brilliant photographs are witness to the events, and hopefully change minds.
She goes where few dare to tred.

She feels her job is to keep people paying attention. Achieved.

Directed and Produced By Academy award winning Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin, it will be streaming on Nat Geo, Disney+ and Hulu

And pick up her memoir Of Love & War.

Are you a citizen journalist, or a filmmaker that needs a compact shooting solution with high end video capture?
The mobile world of content creation has created a new batch of tools you should consider. Now that the new iPhone 17 Pro is in my hands, it was time to level up the video.

It took 3 years of waiting to get the USB-C port on a phone for me, so let’s get into it. And yes, I purchased all of these items below.

Since you can now shoot ProRes Raw with the phone, there is only one way you can do that directly on the phone: use an external media drive with the speed and the capacity to hold large files.
After doing some deep dive research, the solution became clear on the basic tools needed.
A company that made a dummy battery I had purchased, came out with sweet recording module.
Kondor Blue, a California company, has a perfect solution, in a compact space.
The Recording Module is made for SD or CFExpressB cards
It is magsafe, comes with high end USB-C connecting cable, and has other options as you build a rig.

The 1st set-up I want to share is this:

iPhone 17Pro, the mag safe recording module, and a DJI Mic 2.
Yes, the DJI Mic 2 connects to your phone via Bluetooth.
And the reason I’m going Bluetooth in this scenario, is because the solitary USB-C port on the phone is being used by the recording module.

Also, make sure you download the BlackMagic app for iPhone. That is a best case app for this set-up. In its settings you have an incredible number of usable settings to customize your content capture.

All you need to do is set where the files will be saved, and I save it to the CF Express card. Make sure you have seen the media card recognized in the iPhone Files app.
And I use the CF Express because I have some that I use in my Fuji Cameras, and they have super powerful read and write capabilities.
Personally, I use Delkin Black media cards.

Ok, that is an easy to carry, small footprint, ProRes raw set-up.

Then we can up the capabilities by adding the Kondor Blue Stalman Clamp. Shown here with the Recording Module attached and plugged into the phone. The magsafe doesn’t go through the clamp, but you can screw in the module to the clamp.

Then the included USB-C connector on the base connects to the phone, while allowing the recording module to connect to the phone.

This phone accessory is a must get for a variety of reasons.

There are ¼-20 threads to add accessories and designed with locking pins in mind to make sure that what you add doesn’t spin around and stays where you want it to.
It has an Arca-Swiss base that allows you to quickly move to a tripod if you like, plus it can stand on its own, as you can see above.

Below you can see a magnetic piece that slides perfectly into the clamp’s base, and has an additional 1/4-20 with anti-twist pins. Also helps to keep the USB-C connector in place.

For my rig, I’m adding a cold shoe on top of the clamp with locking pins, for either a light or a microphone. I’m partial to the Shift Cam mini, or the Rode NTB shotgun.
Lighting is choose your own adventure and preference.

Then comes the best addition I have ever found:
The Kondor Blue USB-C Media Hub.

This companion piece is the perfect addition to your minimal rig.
With a USB-C port that connects to your phone, so it’s powered and allows you to attach the things you need to complete, which is to my mind, a sweet video rig in your daily camera bag.

You see the 40GPS on the right angled USB-C connector? This tells you that you can record at the proper speed to your media. Need the fast connector. This is an L-Bracket USB-C extension so it fits on the Stalman Clamp allowing your phone to connect to the hub easily.
When the light is blue, you are connected.
Best to use a right-angled USB-C cable as it fits perfectly and protected into one end, and then a straight end for the phone.

Here’s what you can also do: connect the recording module to one end of the hub with the locking pin ¼-20 (ok, I am using a simple screw deal)

This hub has ports for external power since you will need to keep the juice up.
There is also a port for your USB-C microphone, as you now have the USB-C port on the phone taken up.
If you want to use, there is a full-size HDMI port in case you want to shoot and have a monitor connected. Not sure I’ll use that port much.
BTW, the audio and media ports can be used interchangeably.

It has a cold shoe on the front where you can add something like a Rode Wireless Go receiver, or whatever else you may need. On top is another 1/4-20 with anti twist pin sockets.

The build of these 3 pieces is impeccable, and solid.

Worth the dough.

The only downside to the gear is that the USB-C has a robust end where the male plug is, to the point where I had to trim my phone case to make room by the internal phone speakers.

This became an issue mainly on the smallest set-up shared in the start of this post.
Also wish they had supplied a USB-C cable with the hub.
I used the one from the recording module and had other male to male cables.

They do have a full rig they sell with all you need plus a handle, battery V-Mount, quick release bits to disassemble or switch out fast.  This, without the wireless transmitter on top, sells for about  $650.

By going with my ala carte set up, it came out to be about $260, and I can use pieces from other rigs. Not the most ideal but it works.

Some options you can look also look at:
A Beastgrip Pro is a great cage for the phone, and you can add on your cold shoes.
An alt way to mounting an external SSD as a recording module is a Ulanzi MG10 which is just a mag safe holder with a ¼-20 and a cold shoe. This was the only unit I could find that held a SanDisk SSD tight.

At the end of the day, the design and compact footprint of the Kondor Blue gear, what is shown above will take care of your video needs.

Well built, designed to stay small & modular, and field tested. And all of the modular bits are made to work together!

This week since NAB is in town, I’ll be checking out another mobile solution and report back. It’s footprint is much larger, yet could be another solution for you.

“Any day you see a dolphin, is a good day!” Bertie Gregory

and thats according to one of the best ocean documentarians.

Sure, dolphins have that friendly smile and are everyone’s favorite sea mammals, did you know that they are also one of the smartest ocean predators?

Dolphins a Closer look premiered on Nat Geo, Disney +, and Hulu

OK, let’s go back to the title of this post:

What is a bait ball?

This is a bait ball!

A pod of dolphins circling a bait ball. (credit: National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

A tightly packed bait ball, with circling dolphins and shearwaters. (credit: National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

Imagine the way a dog may herd sheep into certain pattern, the dolphins do a similar thing.

By “herding” schools of jack mackerel, they create a ball of fish, gathered for eating.

And they are not just feeding themselves.

Birds called shearwaters, above track the movements of the dolphins and know where this bait ball will be located.

The beauty of this natural occurrence is that the bait ball is pushed to near the surface allowing the birds to dive in and feed, while the dolphins also get their fill.

Of course, there are times that a whale may just charges the ball and get their fill.

In addition, sometimes sharks will get the word and dive in as well.

Host, Bertie Gregory, filming a blue shark. (credit: National Geographic/Jeff Hester)

The trick to shooting all of this depends on a keen eye, and a knowledge of the signs.

Bertie Gregory is a master of the oceanic documentary and has been studying the feeding aspects for years.

Bertie Gregory in dive gear with an underwater camera sitting on the edge of a small rib preparing to dive. (credit: National Geographic/Zubin Sarosh)

Traveling to the Azores, the main transport carries the crew with the captain and his second, along with Bertie, his 2^nd camera, Jeff Hester, a sound person, and his director, Adam Boyle.

Once they see the dolphins speeding in a pack (yes, they do leap out of the water!) they move to a fast boat, more like an inflatable to get to the location in record time.

Captain, Paulo Gaspar, steering the rib with underwater cameraman, Jeff Hester and host, Bertie Gregory, as Bertie directs the way. (credit: National Geographic/Adam Boyle)

Diving in, they capture the feeding and share with you the whole process.

Underwater cameraman, Jeff Hester and host, Bertie Gregory, ready to dive. (credit: National Geographic/Adam Boyle)

For shooting, they use a Red video camera with a Canon lens, and a Go-Pro for some additional footage as you can see. Go-pro point back to Bertie to catch his “in the moment” reaction. And his enthusiasm and excitement of capturing all of this reaches out through the screen to you.

I know it did for me!

The aerial vid is all DJI.

As for audio, not only do you get the above water commentary when on the larger boat, but underwater they use a waterproof mic system where Bertie communicates with Jeff Hester, who can only nod or point – not 2 way,  and the folks on the larger boat who get the full live commentary.

Host, Bertie Gregory and crew on board the rib. (credit: National Geographic/Adam Boyle)

Pretty sweet set-up.

When we discussed the newer small cinema cameras coming out, Bertie said that actually the larger, chunkier rigs are better underwater. The size and weight allow for smoother footage, as the viscosity and drag of the water lets the rig glide easier, like a gimbal

A smaller set-up could make for shakier video. The larger filter in front of the lens is there to compensate for the underwater distortion.

The whole operation took about 5 weeks, and of course, like any documentary, when you go out, you are never positive what you may discover.

The masterful eye and instinct of Mr. Gregory assure the viewer that you will get a true exciting look, and all that nature has to offer.

Sometimes a hitchhiker comes aboard. Just a bit of a change up.

Host, Bertie Gregory, enjoying the company of a booby. (credit: National Geographic/Danny Copeland)

One thing they also know is that, when you are out there, weather is factor, especially in Sept/Oct, so they make sure to get back to home base, after each successful session.

The crew return to base at sunset, with volcano, Mount Pico, in the background. (credit: National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

You know I’m all about making sure you have good color on your monitor to make sure what you export is proper.
The tool I use is in the Datacolor Spyder colorimeter line-up
My specific choice is the SpyderPro so I can get a ton of info, match 3 monitors, called studio match, so they all have the same color for output.

Datacolor is just now releasing a super simple version called the Spyder Express. It does come with a USB-A to USB-C converter dongle so you’ll be covered no mater what your computer. Yes, there is software for MAC or Windows OS. And works great on your MAC laptop with up to an M4 chip!

Honestly, you just install the software, plug in the colorimeter, place the unit on your screen, hit start, and in 90 secs, you monitor is calibrated.
That’s it!
Super easy and nothing else to do. The whole idea is to start your edit from the best place.

And if you want to know what your monitor color was before your did the process, there is a sample screen where you can see before and after. OK, you DID see that in the video!
Yep, you may be surprised at what you had been looking at before calibration
Here are 2 sample screens on my set-up. Notice the skin tones, and shadows. Go ahead and magnify.

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When I was first approached by Nat Geo and Disney +about talking to the filmmakers of Top Gun: The Next Generation, my mind first went to crazy stunts of the Tom Cruise films and how all of the BTS showed insane stomach-turning stunts.

In true Nat Geo fashion, the situation revealed itself as personal stories of the journeys of the pilots making their way to flying the most sophisticated aircraft the US has ever produced. This is not about Goose. This is about real people pushing personal limits reaching for the coveted “wings of gold”.

The 6 episode series documents the lives of the people who strive to achieve the ultimate military flying status.

Student 1st Lt Chuck Kent poses behind a T-45. (Credit: National Geographic/Freddie Claire)

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