Essex Explorations

Test of Seaward Kayaks’ Quest X3

Steve Weileman — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:07:54 +0000

Last weekend Ken and I took a quick over-nighter to get a feel for Seaward Kayaks’ Quest X3 which we’ll be taking to Alaska as part of Secrets of Augustine project. In addition to the kayaks performance I was very curious to see how much of my filming gear I’d be able to stow in [...]

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Videos for 2013-05-16

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Test of Seaward Kayaks' Quest X3
First Steve works with packing all the film gear in the new Quest X3 kayak from one of the projects major sponsors Seaward Kayaks. Then both Ken and Steve do a quick overnight to get a feel for the boats. Although the detailed report will follow on completion of the Augustine project, both paddlers are very impressed with both the speed and responsiveness of their Quest’s.

And while they were out in the field, they also but Ken on the controls of the DJI Phantom, held their breaths and took her over water for the first time to capture some impressive aerial clips.
Cast: Steve Weileman
Tags: Ikkatsu Project, Secrets of Augustine, Seaward Kayaks, Quest X2 and kayaks

Photo of the Week – Eagle Island

Steve Weileman — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:44:26 +0000

Last weekend Ken and I went out on a limited ‘shakedown’ overnighter, mainly to get a feel of our new Seaward Quest X3. We needed to know how’d they paddle, and more importantly, how’d they hold all our gear. If time permits I’ll try to write a more detailed report on them, but the short answer is we’re tickled to have these boats! With our depart date fast approaching we only could only afford a single overnighter, but we made the most of it; assembling our bear fence, flying the DJI Phantom over water for the first time and a host of other small but important items. It had been awhile since either of us had been over at small but charming Eagle Island so that became our destination.

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Capturing the Night Sky

Steve Weileman — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:53:49 +0000

One of the hopes we have while on Augustine Island this summer is to capture the northern night sky. Night time-lapse photography is something I haven’t tried before so I headed out last weekend to get a little practice in and see what worked, what didn’t. I live on the outskirts of Steilacoom and there [...]

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Videos for 2013-05-07

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Test Star Time-Lapse
In preparation for the evenings spent on Augustine Island, Steve drives out to Key Peninsula looking for a dark sky in an attempt to capture the stars in a time-lapse series.
Cast: Steve Weileman
Tags: Stars, Ikkatsu Project, Citizen Science and night sky

Photo of the Week – Destruction Island Foghorns

Steve Weileman — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:32:38 +0000

These are the foghorns that, along with the lighthouse, warned mariners of the dangers off Washington’s coast on Destruction Island. History has it that when they were first operated the horns the light-keepers bull charged the building thinking a rival had found it’s way on the island. I can’t be sure this isn’t a urban legend, but last year I had the pleasure of meeting Ann “Ginger” Nichols, the last billeted married woman assigned to the lighthouse. I spent a very pleasurable day listening to her amazing stories of her time on the island, and I do know the horns were involved in more than one practical joke.

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Photo of the Week – Port Hardy

Steve Weileman — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:08:00 +0000

Traditionally mariners have always been a superstitious lot and I’m no exception. Years ago I set out on a solo paddle trip to Haida Gwaii, also know as the Queen Charlotte Islands. As I was planning to wheel my kayak on board by hand cart on the ferry, I arrived two days early so [...]

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Essex Explorations

Test of Seaward Kayaks’ Quest X3

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Videos for 2013-05-16

Photo of the Week – Eagle Island

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Capturing the Night Sky

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Photo of the Week – Destruction Island Foghorns

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Photo of the Week – Port Hardy

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