Day three of the P3 Camp at Skydive Perris Valley comes with a completely new formation for campers. By the end of day many jumpers were finding their way in new challenges and acquired skills needed for the completion, but it really did seem like a long row to hoe for some.
Again, it was a day of struggle and triumph as organizers keep the vibe up and kept pushing participants to do, be, and become more for the sake of the whole. No matter what happened, how tired they got, P3 was there to coax, cajole and conjure up the energy and positive mindset needed for everyone involved. And, it’s HOT. Some campers are in sweat shirts to slow their fall rate, pure dedication.
As the cameramen we really began rooting for the camp while watching our videos after landing. This new formation was even more complex and fragile then the last. We started questioning the process, asking why this and why that. At one point, Craig O’Brien, a veteran of P3, the organizers, Big Ways and these camps calmly reminded us all that P3 knows what they are doing, this is what they do and that there were reasons we couldn’t see because we are not out there. From that moment on we were invested in the camps success and began integrating more with our plane loads, upon landing and in general. We wanted to see them complete as well and it was time the camp saw that.
Lead Plane! Today I moved to the lead plane, the Skyvan. One thing about being in the lead plane is you don’t have to worry about missing the dive due to climb-out communication, etc. You don’t really have time or space for seeing the other aircraft, but you are with the base and that is comforting in itself. What I love about the lead is it’s a tailgate so I get a break from climbing out and waiting. Best part is the exit where the base “pops” out. If you and the base nail the exit you get your frame filled with jumpers and the plane all at once. Pretty cool visual.
Then it’s down the hill keeping the base up close and personal while you frame and compose for the entire flying formation in the back ground, all planes, all jumpers, everything for a few precious seconds before other jumpers arrive. Then it’s a steep climb and back to filming your sector. By the end of the day with no completions we were looking at our last day with only three jumps to go.
We saw some marked improvement for sure in all the participants and wondered what changes we would see the next morning. No time to really think about it. As soon as I was packed, edited and my cameras were ready to roll for the next day, Craig and I couldn’t sit still. Might as well do a photo shoot with some off camera lighting, five to be exact. Craig had a marketing obligation to fulfill shooting the world-famous Skydive Perris Valley Bomb Shelter restaurant and bar. Seems they needed a new brochure.
Photo shoot in the next post.
What have you shot lately?
HP
I go more in-depth in the Skydiving Photography Side in my Skydiving Photography Newsletter. Sign up if you are interested in learning more about the art and business of skydiving photography. Get 13 of my most talked about one click wonders, a video on how to install them, use them and how to create your own. Or just sign up for the posts on this blog. More pictures up on The Harry Parker Fan Page Album, 9.12 P3 100-Way Camp Perris Valley.
