Saturday, January 04 2014
Saturday, Jan. 04, 2014
Charlotte aerial photographer is always ready for her next adventure
By Marty Minchin
When Decker Campbell’s phone rings, she never knows what adventure she’s headed for.
She has been to Alaska to shoot video of dogsleds crossing glaciers, and asked to film fall foliage in New Hampshire.
In 2011, the call came from NASA. “Would you be interested in filming the last space shuttle launch?” a NASA representative asked on her voicemail. “If so, give us a call.”
NASA had found Campbell through the Internet.
Campbell is a freelance aerial cinematographer based in Charlotte, and her growing company, StreamWerx, is detailed on its website.
Campbell recently completed an assignment for the new expanded Fox news station that included Bank of America Stadium and Carowinds.
In July 2011, she drove her 2003 “Minnie Winnie” RV, packed with camera equipment, to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to join the long line of media personnel waiting for passes to cover the final launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Campbell, however, was sent to another line: For this gig, she was told, she’d be a NASA employee. She was handed a NASA crew pass and ushered into a hangar, where she parked her RV.
The day of the launch, she flew three times in a NASA helicopter, taking photo and video of crowds and the shuttle.
She recalls the pilot, who had worked at NASA for 30 years, reminding the helicopter crew that the countdown to launch was serious because lives were at stake. “It was extremely emotional in that helicopter,” Campbell said.
Campbell is a graduate of Clemson University, where she studied graphic communications. After working in Greenville, S.C., for several years, she drove the Minnie Winnie, loaded with editing equipment, to Charlotte and stopped at the Inspiration Networks.
She was hired there as an editor and producer for the night shift, which she worked for several years. She commuted to Charlotte from Greenville, S.C., for her workweek, parking her RV at Walmart on South Tryon Street during the day. A nearby UPS store served as her post office.
Campbell’s professional life changed when one of her freelance clients, a land developer, wanted video showing features of property slated for residential development. The best viewpoint, they decided, was from the air.
They sent Campbell up in a helicopter. The door was off, and she was holding a video camera, trying in vain to keep it still. “The results were ridiculous,” she said, laughing.
Campbell liked the idea of aerial photography, and for her next trip up she placed the camera on her lap on a memory-foam pillow. That idea then led to a bungee system rigged to eliminate vibration from the helicopter.
Campbell now shoots video throughout the United States, where producers and companies often hire her instead of their in-house staff because of the quality of her work.
“We absolutely love the footage,” Melissa Richmond, executive director of the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce, wrote Campbell about video she produced of New England. “It is just magnificent.”
Campbell, 52, is not married and doesn’t have children, so often is free to travel on short notice. She has become proficient at organizing travel, equipment rental and assignments.
“I lived in Greenville for 4 million years and never went anywhere,” she said. “I don’t seem to be able to control what’s going to happen. I just do my best to be ready for anything.”
One of her favorite cameras is a Cineflex, mounted on the outside of a helicopter and controlled from the inside. The camera, which costs $500,000 new, is known for its stability and precision.
Campbell rents Cineflex cameras now, which can be hard to find because of high demand; she said she’d like to own one.
Campbell has settled in Tega Cay, and she drives a Prius around town, she says, to offset the cost of the Minnie Winnie.
She’s also come to love flying.
For her 50th birthday, she rented a Cineflex and a helicopter for a week to get more experience with the camera.
“I’ve gotten so addicted to flying helicopters,” she said. “I love the doors off and the wind in my face.”
Campbell has filmed for reality television shows, national news programs, documentaries and private companies. She’s spent three summers filming for a tourist agency in Alaska, and she recently shot footage of North Carolina for the expanded Fox television station. She also has been in talks to film the national park of Costa Rica.
Campbell said footage she took of the BMW manufacturing plant in Greer, S.C., was used in a Super Bowl commercial, and her NASA film was used a in tribute video for the launch.
She describes aerial photography as “choreography in the air,” and she likes the elements of intrigue and drama that come from the angles and altitudes of flying.
She’s learned to work closely with pilots, who often describe the scenery ahead to her as she maneuvers the camera on the side of the helicopter. Recently, Campbell has been working with storytellers who add another element to her filming; eventually, she said, she’d like to produce documentaries involving aerial productions.
Reini Grauer, owner of Charlotte Helicopters, has flown with Campbell for more than seven years, frequently working with her on extended filming projects.
“She is great at what she does,” he said. “She’s very demanding on herself, and at the same time very demanding on me. She’s extremely professional.”
For information about Campbell and her work, visit www.streamwerx.com.
Marty Minchin is a freelance writer. Have a story idea for Marty? Email her at martyminchin@gmail.com.
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Wednesday, March 14 2012
StreamWerx releases new stock footage on our site. Go to www.StreamWerx.com/Chicago or like us on Facebook to see our latest Cineflex HD collection of over 50 clips of the Chicago metropolitan area including Wrigley Field, the Bears' Soldier Field, and Millennium Park. Also check out our latest footage of Charlotte, NC, just in time for the National Democratic Convention. Wednesday, January 18 2012
StreamWerx Exhibits 2011 Aerial Gallery Favorites By: Ann W. Williams | January 18, 2012 Aerial cinematography specialists at StreamWerx spent 2011 on several HD stock footage flights. View our favorite picks of the year on our gallery. Not finding what you need? We also do custom work and strive to give you the highest quality at an affordable price. Contact us today or "Like" our Facebook Fanpage for updates on when we will be filming in your area. StreamWerx is a nationally acclaimed aerial production company with an extensive stock footage collection ranging from Alaska to Florida. Flying soon to an area near you! (704) 421-3595 Thursday, December 15 2011
 StreamWerx announces the newest collection in our aerial stock footage gallery: The Wilmington, NC, coastal series. Click on the gallery to view our latest seacsapes and coastal lifestyle collection. Life along thewaterfront town of Wilmington, surfing at Wrightsville Beach, boating along the Cape Fear River and Harbor Island, as well as the beautiful surrounding communities of Figure Eight, Bald Head, and Ash Islands are all represented in this series of HD aerial video clips. Be sure to explore all our collections on our youtube channel, and take advantage of our quality products and reasonable prices. And as always, if you have a custom request, you can contact us anytime. We are always expanding our stock footage gallery so check back frequently to see our latest additions. StreamWerx is a nationally acclaimed aerial production company with an extensive stock footage collection ranging from Alaska to Florida. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann Woodroof Williams is StreamWerx's Marketing Manager, PR Ninja and a Co-Founder of the company. Her skills include marketing strategy & budgeting, photography, public relations, writing, producing and conducting insightful video interviews. Connect with Ann on our Facebook page.
Friday, November 04 2011
  Moto cars for NBC coverage of 2011 NYC Marathon This shows the Cineflex camera installation in the bed of a pickup truck. During the race I was in the passenger seat facing forward while the runners were right behind the truck. Keeping my head inside the Hoodman on the monitor helped with orientation! The picture on the right shows the motorcycle steadycam rig with the sidecar for the on-camera talent. Sunday, October 16 2011
We flew the Cineflex camera system for seven hours around Sturgeon Bay, WI filming lighthouses, coastline, and various scenic sights as part of our Fall Foliage Air Safari. Our client's email follows and is a testimony to the quality of this gyro stabilized camera... pilot and operator! Now I understand why the Cineflex is not a cheap option – but wow is it worth every penny! It delivers incredible footage. It’s just so smooth! Jon Jarosh, Door County Wisconsin Visitor Bureau
Streamwerx Expands Stock Footage Collection By: Ann W. Williams | November 11, 2011 StreamWerx has just completed aerial filming for its Fall Foliage Air Safari from North Carolina to Wisconsin. Flying in a Robinson R-44 helicopter, Decker Campbell filmed with a Cineflex V14 HD Sony HDC 1500 camera gimbal, the same technology used in BBC's The Blue Planet. Campbell traveled at the peak of the fall foliage, gathering stunning stock footage. From the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the awe-inspiring lighthouses of Sturgeon Bay, the new stock collection contains many sights along the way, including vast Midwest farmland and cityscapes of Cincinnati, Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. Jon Jarosh, Director of Communications and Public Relations for the Door County Visitor Bureau, said of the Cineflex system, "it is worth every penny! ...and "delivers incredible footage. It's just so smooth!" He went on to say of the footage, "HOLY COW is it absolutely gorgeous!" Another client, Chris Tetans of Magilla Entertainment, remarked of StreamWerx's extensive stock footage collection: "What sets you guys apart from the typical stock houses is the personal touch. You're actually the people who shoot the footage rather than just middlemen." StreamWerx is a full service media production company and certified aerial photography studio. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, StreamWerx specializes in helicopter aerial cinematography from Florida to Alaska. Working summers with Alaska Aerial Technologies, StreamWerx offers custom aerial production while collecting stock footage for AlaskaAirSafari.com. Check our Facebook fan page for current filming locations. Flying soon to an area near you! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann Woodroof Williams is StreamWerx's Marketing Manager, PR Ninja and a Co-Founder of the company. Her skills include marketing strategy & budgeting, photography, public relations, writing, producing and conducting insightful video interviews. Connect with Ann on our Facebook page.
Saturday, August 20 2011
Ann Williams, Decker Campbell and Leslie Hand The crew of StreamWerx spent a glorious few days in Alaska during the summer of 2011. Surrounded by the spectacular natural beauty of the Alaskan Frontier, we collected stock footage that is beyond compare. From the breathtaking beauty of Ressurection Bay to the contagious joy of eager sled dogs, our stock footage covers it all. Need a shot of of Grizzlies gorging on a smorgasbord of Salmon? We have it. What about a moose jumping a tundra stream? We have that too! Take a look at our offerings and you will see how Alaska truly is the last frontier. And be on the lookout for new offerings coming from summer, 2012! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ann Woodroof Williams is StreamWerx's Marketing Manager, PR Ninja and a Co-Founder of the company. Her skills include marketing strategy & budgeting, photography, public relations, writing, producing and conducting insightful video interviews. Connect with Ann on our Facebook page.
Monday, July 11 2011
The NASA Chief of Flight Operations, Thomas Friers, said of Decker: " I can assure you that we will recommend you as our operator of choice if there is a future need for filming. We were very happy with the way things worked with you." During the flight, Co-Pilot Mark asked Decker, ”Are you always this happy?” Her reply? “Why yes, whenever I am up in the air!" Ah, how we all love that helicopter grin! Ann Woodroof Williams is StreamWerx's Marketing Manager, PR Ninja and a Co-Founder of the company. Her skills include marketing strategy & budgeting, photography, public relations, writing, producing and conducting insightful video interviews. Connect with Ann on our Facebook page. SHARE THIS PAGE    |
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