Flashing a heli

Not all of my photographic projects come together as envisioned. But a recent project that I've been planning for months came together just as I had hoped. After all, everything looks NatGeo quality on the rear of the camera. Only after I get home do I see missed focus, or see a distracting element in the photo that I didn't see during the shoot. 

My flashes and triggers are key to this project's success. Without them, I'll only have a silhouetted hole in the sky. With them you get a glimpse of what makes these machines fly; an instant connection to the human element of man made flight. But what I didn't know was how they'd work, or even if they'd work, in a helicopter, with me on the ground, 150' away. 

 The front flash with a 1/8 inch grid spot

The flash on the dashboard and one in the rear console

Several months ago the helicopter here was giving rides, and with this project in mind I handed a flash to a passenger so they could tell me if it worked, while I triggered it from the ground . It did, and from longer-than-needed distances too. No time for shooting that day, and the helicopter would not be back for three months, so there was time enough to plan.

The heli returned last week, but with hectic schedules the shoot actually happened two days behind schedule and rather last minute on the actual day. 

Mark and I got to hangar at about 5pm, pushing the time envelope. I wanted the sun setting with dramatic skies, but we still needed to mount the flashes and test the lighting levels. With one flash strapped in the rear of the cockpit, the challenge was finding a place for the front flash that will light Mark's face. We finally landed on duct taping it to the dashboard, and covering the duct tape with black electrical tape to keep the grey tape from showing in the final image. In less than 20 exposures, with the lighting balanced, it was time to fly. 

Adjusting the lighting levels on the ground- free! During flying- $$$$

Mark's altitude was a low 60', just enough to clear buildings that I did not want in the frame. Not wanting to see the underbelly, I asked, that on my cue, he'd pitch forward and fly straight at me while I shot. With the cameras AF on tracking-mode, this worked out remarkably well. The first go around made me realize just how close I was to the helicopter, and more importantly, the blades. A safe distance I'm sure, but closer than I am used to. It was a sticky west African night, but the rotor wash kept me quite comfortable.

The first few runs were practice, but with Mark and I talking via radio we quickly got synced and I am very pleased with how the images turned out.

Mark Spangler flies the SIL helicopter in the northwest of Cameroon, ferrying translators to and from their village allocation which has extremely bad roads. In fact, these translators don't even own vehicles and rely solely on the helicopter.

Storm over Yaoundé

Another of my images being used for the weekly Inspiring Image. 

A caNdu attitude

Ok, it's a goofy title, I need some caffeine. But another of my images from Ndu, Cameroon is being featured on the weekly Inspiring Image. It highlights Joseph Nkwelle, who really does have a can-do attitude when it comes to translating the Word of God.

Unseen fruit

I was recently asked, "How do you see God working in your service?" And though I have confidence that God led me to this work and that my skills are needed, my response is a bit unsatisfying. You see, when I was working in construction and maintenance it was easier to know how God was working because I could immediately see that my work benefited those who needed my skills. At least in part I measured whether God was using my work, in how my service benefited others.

A favorite image from Kenya and part of the Faces of Worship series I am working on

But working in communications it's a bit more difficult. Yes, I make lots of photos, a little video and help write stories to document Bible translation and it's impact on people and cultures. But just how they impact the viewer, is something I may never know.

So, my response: I work by faith that God is using me not only so the global church may see what He is doing in Bible translation, but that they also may get involved.

Yet, I am unsatisfied. Because I may never know to what extent my work brings these things about. I remember stories and photos that were instrumental in my own involvement in missions, but the author or photographers never knew it. Perhaps I can understand, at least in measure, what Abraham went through having never seen the fulfillment of the promises which he believed in.

But I am encouraged. I just learned that one of my images and text is now on the Wycliffe Slovakia website. I didn't even know there is Wycliffe Slovakia. So I am pleased to see a glimpse of people who see value in my work and are using it, especially in a place I didn't know existed. How are the viewers impacted? Well, I'll just have to leave the results to Him.

Mercy inspires

One of my images from Kenya was used recently for the weekly Inspiring Image.

A Place for Everyone

In March I was in Kenya for two weeks on a story gathering trip, and one of the stories is now published. You can read it here.

Developing Deep Roots in Scripture

Last year I spent a week in the north of Cameroon photographing and interviewing students and faculty at the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary, about their Bible translation degree program. The story, written by my colleague, has now been published. You can read it here.

Want vs Need

One place that my images are used is the Inspiring Image section of Wycliffe.net. Many people contribute to this, but this month mine is featured and is about Joseph Nkwelle, a student at the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary here in the northwest of Cameroon who is on his way to working in Bible translation. You can see the entry here.

The return of an old foe

I'm all for bringing home a few artifacts from my last two weeks in Kenya, and I did manage to bring some coffee for Joy and I and a few small trinkets for the kids. But malaria is one I'd rather have left behind. I had been malaria free for over 12 years. Back then they did not have these really cool home test kits which make it so much quicker to get the results. 

A Good Day

Fetching water from our backup water barrel 

I told someone here recently, "Hey, we have water and electricity today, it's a good day!" But then I had to think, 'is that really what makes a good day?'

It really shouldn't for a believer. It's easy for me to get my eyes fixed on my comfort, on what makes life convenient for me. And for sure, that would be flowing water, the ability to wash my family's clothes, to have a fan on when it's hot and internet to stay connected to people far away. 

But this life generally isn't going to be like that. "In this world, you will have tribulation!" It doesn't get much clearer than that. "But take heart, I have overcome the world!" I can have victory, peace and even joy because God has already won the ultimate battle. I know the end of the story, and it's good!

~ Joy

Slone opening a birthday present by emergency lantern

Off again...

I (Rodney) am off again, this time for three weeks. I'll be doing some intensive training at a photojournalism workshop at the University of KY. Then I'll be in California to see my family and some supporters. 

In case you are not able to follow this blog, you can see what I've been up to lately (work wise) here: 

http://www.ballardfamily4.blogspot.com/2014/09/reflections-on-kenya.html 

and here: 

http://www.ballardfamily4.blogspot.com/2014/09/through-christ-jewelry-changes-lives.html 

Rainy season is upon us

Reflections on Kenya

Those of you who follow our blog, or me (Rodney) on Twitter, know that I have been in Kenya for the last two weeks documenting a five sign language Scripture celebration. I don't recall when I picked up the idea that deaf people don't want to associate with the hearing, but my time at DOOR International completely laid that, false, notion to rest. The people I met at DOOR were very friendly towards me and eager to teach me some of their language. As it turns out, I picked up on sign language easier than I do French.

The DOOR center here in Nairobi is kind of magical place; you can't leave there the same person who walked in. There is something about the people that causes you to willingly leave a piece of your heart there, and I hope that I have opportunity to some day return. Below are some random photos from my two weeks in Kenya.

Mercy Mideva is a leader in the church and the intimacy she expresses during worship nearly brought me to tears. 

Many songs were part of the celebration. Deaf can feel vibrations from a drum and easily keep in time. Actually, these guys can dance like nobody's business, I was rather envious of their talent.

Translators working on Bible passages.

Can people pray with their eyes open? I always harp on my kids to close their eyes so they can concentrate while praying. But when leading prayer in church, deaf people watch what is being said so they can pray too. 

There were smiles all around on this weekend of celebration.

 

Five language teams lift colored cloths, at the same time, revealing a stack of video Bibles in their languages. Videos??? Yes, Bible stories are spoken in sign, in video format. It is often done in front of a 'green screen' so they can add different backgrounds in post production. They often dress up in period clothing too.

 

I was shooting this interesting tree with these thorny seed pods. Then I just happened to see this little fella doing his best to avoid being seen. The pod he's in is the size of a golf ball. 

And then there is the completely unexpected. I was pointing my lens towards the desert when I heard the unmistakable sound of a...Harley??? Here??? Coming from out there??? Well, TIA (This Is Africa)!

Through Christ, jewelry changes lives

I am in Kenya to document a Scripture portions celebration taking place this weekend at DOOR International just outside of Nairobi. 

Part of DOOR's ministry is to women who, because they are deaf, have had great difficulties in life and most of whom are single mothers. At SASA Designs, making jewelry (sold locally and exported to high end shops in the US) provides them a means to feed their children, but also restores their dignity within a community where compassion for those who are deaf runs deep.

Like this bracelet, a work in progress, I am reminded that we are the unfinished workmanship of Christ. That "He who began a good work in you [us] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1.6). I encourage you to impact someones life in your next jewelry purchase. Visit the SASA link above to to place your order.

Solo Tripping

I am off to Kenya this morning, primarily to document a 5 sign language Scripture portions dedication at DOOR International. It is my understanding that no sign language has an entire Bible. Along with the dedication I'll be teaching basic photography to some African colleagues. 

These are just some of the things I need to take with me for my work: two camera bodies, four lenses, tripod, graphics tablet, battery chargers, flashes, hard drives, light stand, shoot through umbrella etc. Needless to say, my bag is heavy. And I don't even have my clothes in the photo. 

Life in Africa part II: Mr. Slugworth

Well I realize that slugs are not centralized to Africa, but it's only been in Africa where we sort of have a slug as a pet; or he has us, not sure. But almost every night, Mr. Slugworth slips (slides? slithers? scoots?) his way under our back door and on to our tile floor. I guess he just wants to see what the humans are doing, because he comes in, hangs out at the door for a while and then leaves. At first it was "oh yuk!", but now it rather amusing and we even look to see if he's there. 

Panoramas from my latest trip

Here are two 360x360 interactive panoramas from my trip to Ndu. Once on the website, click & drag to see fully up/down and left/right.

Click to view the pano shot from a hill above the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary.

Click to view the pano shot inside the seminary in Ndu. 

Bible translations gen neXt

I recently returned from a story-gathering trip about the next generation of Bible translators enrolled in the Bible Translation Degree Program of the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary in Ndu.

With only 26 hours of electricity that week (24 one day, 2 three days later), it was especially challenging since the tools of my trade rely on batteries (cameras, flashes, phone, voice recorder, computer etc).

I got little sleep and worked hard gathering photos (lugging 30 pounds of camera gear around) and interviewing people from the President, adjunct faculty and students. In the photo above I was interviewing Vice President Johnson of the seminary.

One student, Joseph Nkwelle who is six months from graduation, stands out in my mind because of his sleeve-worn passion to see lives changed by Christ. Joseph says "It's important to have scripture in the mother tongue to give people an opportunity to hear God speaking in a way that they will be challenged, and in this way the message will get to their hearts."

Joseph's mother tongue is Akoose, a language group which already has the New Testament but desires the Old Testament as well. But when he considers which language project God may be leading him to, Joseph's heart is elsewhere. He says "they [a People with no Bible] need a New Testament more than my own people need the Old."

Storm over Yaounde

This time of the year there are no shortage of thunder storms in our area. And for this Southern California boy who is used to a mere 12"/yr of rain, I welcome violent storms. During a power outage on Monday I looked out the window to see if the next quartier had electricity, and I noticed this storm south of our house. But what caught my eye were the stars. It's not often that I am able to witness a storm and see the stars at the same time. This meant a mad dash for my camera, tripod and all the other little bits I'd need for long exposures. Et voila!

Now the photo below is the same as above with the exception of the lightening bolt, which by the way really happened. However, it actually occurred 8 frames earlier. Since this photos' composition/exposure were better, I brought the bolt over in PS. A little cheating, but I get points for honesty right?

Unfortunately Blogger dumbs down the quality of the photos, so you can see pixelated mess in the dark sky. If you know how to fix this then I would love to hear from you.

Sun halo in Yaounde Cameroon