Got bandwidth? 300+ MB HD home video, but not moto-related...

[cloudseeker]

So this is totally non-moto related.  And requires lots of bandwidth.

This is a video I shot and edited from two weeks ago in Yosemite.  It's the only national park in the US that allows hang-gliding, so I go there every year to fly.  Spectacular place, if you've never been - and this gives you an aerial tour of the valley.  Most of my HG friends ride motorcycles, so I figure maybe there is something in common between the groups.  Anyway, people seem to like it so far.  I'm posting this on an HG forum as well, but I'm curious if other non-biased people appreciate it as well.

Download here:

Warning: it's over 300 MB as it is is 720p high-def WMV file.  Will play on recent vintage PCs or Mac (with appropriate free add-in - Flip4Mac).

I think the quality is pretty decent - I'm amazed how quickly HD home video became a reality (all at sub-$1000 prices for camera and software).

Anyway, I'm thinking about entering this in the Banff Mountain Film Festival (pretty cool event if you've never seen it).  If you download and watch it - do you think general mountain-adventure-sport-minded folk would be willing to give up 6+ minutes of their life to watch it?  I'd just need to pony up $50 and mail it in within a few weeks (and finalize permission for the music).

Back to your regularly scheduled non-moto-talk and Politics sub-board 

On another topic, had a nice ride on my monster today 

Cheers.

EDIT: Image from video:

[He Man]

THATS make the beast with two backsING AWESOME MAN!!!!!! holy crap. Can you rent there/ or take classes? ive never been hang gliding but i want to go pretty bad. Whats the risk like?
Also nice server 900kb/s!

edit: seriously man, that looks so damn relaxing. kinda like a parachute ride, only longer and the scenic view is awesome

[cloudseeker]

THATS make the beast with two backsING AWESOME MAN!!!!!! holy crap. Can you rent there/ or take classes? ive never been hang gliding but i want to go pretty bad. Whats the risk like?
Also nice server 900kb/s!

edit: seriously man, that looks so damn relaxing. kinda like a parachute ride, only longer and the scenic view is awesome

Thanks. 

The server is at Amazon S3 - search "amazon web services" on Google if you like.  It's really cool - you pay for what you use only, and there is a Firefox S3 plug-in for uploading files.  900kbps is great!

I don't know where you are, but if you want to pursue it you need to find an instructor - try http://www.ushpa.aero/.  Don't everybody start buying old gliders at garage sales and coming out to Yosemite!      Seriously, it's not too difficult, but it has a pretty steep learning curve compared to most other things I've tried, and you can't teach yourself.   And to fly Yosemite you have to have been flying quite awhile in order to get the necessary certification.

The risk is fine.  I'd say it's kind of comparable to motorcycling, but without the other fools on the road.  If you aren't careful, sure...it's a pretty easy way to kill yourself.  If you aren careful, it's perfectly reasonable.  The weather is a factor, but weather is more predictable than drivers are.   

[ItsaDuc]

That was awesome...what a great way to see that park. Post up more if you got it.

[He Man]

I need to look into this, i was going to start my skydiving lessons this summer, but i ended up working 6 days a week just to pay of the cc bills. (which i will use to complete my jumps!!!!) If theres something local to me, an the cost isnt too high, this would be something to look into. I need to check out yosimite one day, i still havent been to the west coast yet.

[c_rex]

... i still havent been to the west coast yet.

Cloudseeker... what camera were you using?

[cloudseeker]

Cloudseeker... what camera were you using?

Canon HV20.  It's under $800 now at at Amazon!  I've had it for a year, and it has been great.

[cloudseeker]

That was awesome...what a great way to see that park. Post up more if you got it.

Thanks    The only other one I have currently: 

A short aerial tour of the San Francisco coast.  Never did get around to music or a better edit on it.  But if you look closely you can make out the golden gate bridge in one part.

[Heath]

not working :[    I'll try later

[Le Pirate]

no worky for me...

says the server is down

[cloudseeker]

Huh - I use Amazon under the theory that it will almost never go down... 

[cloudseeker]

Try again in a bit.  According to this page - http://status.aws.amazon.com/ - Amazon is currently having server problems with S3 in the US.   

[cloudseeker]

It's back - both links should work.  Amazon had a 10+ hour outage today  - they are still "verifying" that everything is back up.