I chased this storm on May 18, 2013 for several hours, and watched it go from just a lowering to a severe storm to these amazing tornadoes. These are the first tornadoes I've ever seen!
May 28, 2013 Update: Many more photos and videos here.
These are just quick edits of the highlights, I have hundreds more and videos too! I'll get them posted soon...
Update 5/19: Video posted here.
Back in 2011 I was interviewed for "William Shatner's Weird or What" about Infrasound; I have a writeup about that and the show here. It originally aired in Canada, and Ray Kent tipped me off to the fact that the SyFy channel is now airing it in the US! My episode "Paranomal Mysteries" started airing tonight.
It's time for the controlgeek.net geekout at Infocomm Orlando 2013! Jim Janninck and I have rustled up three very interesting case studies, after which we will head out for drinking and bowling or miniature golf. Everyone is volunteering their time, and Full Sail is graciously donating their space, so there is no admission fee and all are welcome.
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at Full Sail Live 3
3150 University Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32792
(situated between McDonalds and Taco Bell)
Hosted by Mark Johnson, Full Sail Director of Production
7pm: Show Control at Sea
Dave Christoffers, Sr. Systems Specialist, The Walt Disney Company
Providing entertainment systems on board a floating resort is far from ordinary. Explore the system architecture and design decisions related to integrating audio, lighting, video, special effects, and rigging systems on board a state-of-the-art cruise ship. From interactive dining experiences, to the modern nightclub; from the outdoor sports deck, to the intimate sports pub; from the 3D cinema, to the grand showroom; the Show Control system touches almost all public areas on the ship. The shipwide system manages 37 Show Control systems spread across 27 venues, and coordinates inter-system communication, scheduling, user management, and show editing.
7:30 pm: The Jekyll and Hyde Club Show Control
Mike Blasko, Principal & Director of Technology, Weigl Works, LLC
The Jekyll and Hyde Club in NYC [Editor's note-my previous entry on this new attraction here] was built to create a flexible, guest-centered experience through the use of a semi-automated and live experience. For the restaurant, Weigl engineered a system that adapts as modular components are added and updated in the continuously changing experience. Technologies being controlled through the integrated system include: Audio, RGB DMX controlled lighting, moving mirror fixtures and animatronics. The completed system allows a single or small number of Equity stage actors to control the entire guest experience, as well as for the system to adjust the automated routines based on the inevitable changes that come from a live performance.
8pm The Smallest Show on Earth: Integrating 21st & 18th Century Technology
John Leonard, Freelance Sound & Show Control Designer
Clock conservators in museums and galleries are frequently faced with the need to keep complex mechanisms in clocks made in the 18th and 19th century preserved in working order. Whilst the clock movements are usually fairly simple and can be maintained with the minimum of intervention, for the carillon (musical box) movements and animated figures, the decision is often made to disable these features so that the mechanical parts do not degrade to the point that they either fail completely, or have to be modified using modern parts, thus compromising the integrity of the item. A number of galleries and museums have been investigating ways in which these features can be brought back to life using modern technology and this presentation will look at three such projects: one completed and two in progress, all involving 18th Century clocks, and using a mixture of off-the-shelf products and custom designed circuitry.
9:00 Drinking/Miniature Golf and/or Bowling at Boardwalk Bowl
10749 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817
I will post any updates to my twitter.
On impulse I took run out to Montauk yesterday to try out my new mountain bike:
The fog rolled in so I headed out to the point (which was clear) to shoot a few photos:
I headed back for the fog and the sunset looked cool near the Hither Hills section:
Jim Janninck and I have scheduled a case study session for June 13 during Infocomm (pictures from last year are here). More details to come, but at the moment proposals are due by May 1.
Here's what we're looking for:
* A real project.
* A show control project (two or more entertainment disciplines connected together--lighting and sound, sound and video, pyro and a performer, etc).
* Someone to do a 20 minute (max) presentation on the project.
Please email me (you can use the contact form on this site) one paragraph by 10am NYC Time May 1 containing the following:
* The name of the project
* Presenter(s) name
* A brief description of the project.
We dodged the weather and had another excellent Tribeca Film Festival Drive In! It was great working again with Good Sense and Co. and Local 1 and my old friends at One Dream sound. I didn't take many pictures but here's a few, starting with the the star of last night's premiere of Lil Bub and Frienz:
More photos here, including lots of sound geekery.
I've written a lot about weather and outdoor shows and the recent tragedies (I have a whole category set up for those posts, in fact), and submitted a comment during the last public review of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) draft standard BSR E1.21 - 201x, Entertainment Technology — Temporary Ground-Supported Structures Used to Cover the Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events. (Incidentally, as of today you can now download the current standard for free here!).
My comment contributed to the following language (tweaked and enhanced by the standards task group) in the current public review document:
5.3.5.5 The [Operations Management Plan] OMP shall include environmental monitoring procedures.
5.3.5.5.1 Active on-site wind speed monitoring shall be maintained for the entire period the structure is assembled. Weather stations with anemometers shall be used on site to monitor wind. They shall be placed at an elevation within 5 ft. of the highest elevation production element and clear of any components of the structure that might shield it from the wind. Wind speed monitoring shall be recorded on site at regular intervals and during any significant environmental event.
5.3.5.5.2 The weather and wind forecast for the stage location shall be continuously monitored by the user’s designated person. A regular liaison shall be maintained with a qualified meteorologist, a local airport or other weather information center to ascertain if any significant weather events are expected in the immediate vicinity of the temporary structures.
5.3.5.5.3 When a severe thunderstorm, tornado or other warning indicating severe conditions for the site is issued by the local National Weather Service office, critical actions will immediately be taken to make the stage area safe for all personnel, guests, and performers consistent with the established OMP.
While there is considerable debate about the engineering and design issues regarding these structures, my general point has always been that winds exist (tornado, for example) that can take down just about any practical structure, so these operational issues are really critical. So I think this is progress. The document is out for public review until May 28th. Anyone can comment on the document, and the task group must review and respond to all comments.
I've been hearing that this was in the works for some time, but now it's official--all PLASA standards are now available for free download! This is a great development.
From the PLASA news release:
PLASA is thrilled to announce that all PLASA Technical Standards are now available for free download, thanks to a new alliance with ProSight Specialty Insurance. PLASA partnered with ProSight because they share in PLASA’s commitment to making sure that everyone who attends or works on an entertainment event, from a live show to a film shoot, goes home safely at the end of the day. This collaboration significantly impacts the industry by allowing those involved in the creation of entertainment events free access to standards that will make their lives safer and easier. ...
To immediately start downloading your free Technical Standards, visit tsp.plasa.org/freestandards.
My photo is now the cover page for the National Weather Service NY Forecast office FB Page:
Here's a cleaner version (the Facebook photo compression is terrible):
More photos here.
It's the first real thunderstorm of 2013 for NYC, and the first with my new Nikon D600 setup! Got a little shelf cloud out in front of the storm too:
More photos here.
Update 4/11: Welcome Gothamist readers!
I'm the the author of the book Show Networks and Control Systems, and this site covers entertainment technology, severe weather, photography, and anything else that I find interesting.
