Simple Hand-Held Rig in Nicaragua

[ScottNelson]

Working pro-bono with the Condega Bomberos Voluntarios (firefighters) in the mountains up North heading toward the Honduran border and need to be mobile and light.


No matte box, four lenses, Lumix 14-45, Nikon 18-35, Zeiss-Contax 50mm plus Tokina 28-80mm that I haven't used yet. For audio I'm running with an onboard Sennheiser with dead cat on one channel and Letrosonic wireless on the other mounted on Olaf's accessory mount.


Also brought Olaf's shoulder mount and with no rails, am using Ikan hand grips. Left the Sachtler system at home and using a Manfrotto 701 on Bogen sticks.


Nicaraguan rum in the evening with a local cigar, Columbian coffee in the morning and wireless at the cafe - what more could one ask for?!


Regards,Scott

 

[Tyrant Lizard]

Pretty cool, man. Looks like the MP7 version of the H&K sub machine gun.

 

[groveChuck]

Rock it, Scott!

And have a Flor de Caña for me... :beer:

 

[Shooter]

Nice one Scott.

Have a great shoot

Nicaraguan rum in the evening with a local cigar, Columbian coffee in the morning and wireless at the cafe - what more could one ask for?!

You could have Nicaraguan rum in the morning and the evening.


Where is your sun hat BTW?

 

[ScottNelson]

Where is your sun hat BTW?

Should have had it on in the other photos - it is warm here.




Pro-bono means good karma and good rum!

 

[Erik Naso]

Working pro-bono has its benefits! Have a great shoot!

 

[ScottNelson]

Rock it, Scott! And have a Flor de Caña for me... :beer:

Good idea!

 

[Erik Naso]

Good idea!View attachment 48196

YES!!!!

 

[Mark Smith]

if it were me, I would skip the cigar. you're probably good with everything else.

 

[josh-ozirigpro]

Colombian coffee in the morning and wireless at the cafe - what more could one ask for?!

Sorry, pet peeve of mine =P

How did you end up getting involved with these guys?

 

[groveChuck]

Good idea!View attachment 48196

I'd skip the cigar, too, and have an extra Flor on the rocks with a squeeze of lime...
Mmmm... delicious!
Cheers!

Oh (almost forgot), nice simple rig too- how do you like the one hand on the camera and one on the grip? Feels right?
As an old Beta shooter (including in Managua), I too like the hand on the lens...

 

[ScottNelson]

I'd skip the cigar, too, and have an extra Flor on the rocks with a squeeze of lime...
Mmmm... delicious! Cheers! Oh (almost forgot), nice simple rig too- how do you like the one hand on the camera and one on the grip? Feels right? As an old Beta shooter (including in Managua), I too like the hand on the lens...

Like Clinton, I didn't inhale though I did soak the cool end of the cigar in rum before drawing.

Got involved with local Bend, Oregon firefighters who have a 'Sister City' agreement with Condega and have been coming here for 6 years.

Grips worked fine - with the left hand I can thumb the aperture wheel when needed and find a good balance between the two hands supporting the rig.

Did some work with a poverty/illiteracy group raising awareness and funds for a program to supply school uniforms to children in poverty - without unforms, they can not attend school. We were in dirt floor shacks but the kids were always clean and happy.

Also working on a segment on laborers in the tobacco fields and workers wrapping cigars in the factories.

As I write this I just watched a milk truck make a delivery to the home across from my hotel balcony. Driver was accompanied by a vested, shotgun toting guard who protects the driver from robberies on his route!

Erik - This is where pro-bono pays back; I couldn't imagine being paid to do this and will probably be back next year.

Via con dios, amigos.