FISH EYE
FOR JOHNSON OUTDOORS PRO “KAYAK” KEVIN WHITLEY, GREAT FILM COMES FROM LONG DAYS ON THE WATER AND LONG NIGHTS IN THE STUDIO.
PHOTO: RIC BURNLEY
“I spend more time editing than I spend fishing,” says “Kayak” Kevin Whitley about his dedication to constructing great kayak fishing films. When he explains that he runs six cameras, each producing 10 hours of film, it becomes clear that he isn’t joking. “I might get 20 minutes of stuff I want to keep,” he adds. For Whitley, organization is the key to success in the studio. “I have six years of
film that I can go back to and find anything I need,” he says. To stay organized, he spends hours reviewing film and noting the details in a composition book. “I’ve got enough footage to Tupac myself into more films after I’m dead,” he chuckles. By keeping a detailed film log that corresponds with folders and files saved on external hard drives, Whitley creates a palate of clips that he can paint into the final film. To make the process as seamless and efficient as possible, Whitley invested in
high-quality production equipment. “I bought the best computer and external hard drives that I could afford,” he says. When it comes to electronics, dollar signs translate into speed and reliability, which is priceless when working with large files. In an effort to save time and simplify, Whitely edits each scene in the order it
will appear in the film. “This way I don’t have to go back and redo a section,” he explains. He also finishes editing the video before he starts on audio. This allows him to change the video and not have to change the audio, too.
After years as a professional musician and sound engineer for concert venues
(Whitley plays in much of the music in his videos), he developed an eye for detail that is evident in his feature-length films and short videos. “First I want to tell the best story,” he says, “then I try to find the best camera angles to tell the story.” That means filming more than sunrises and long paddling sequences. “Catch your fishing buddies interacting,” he says, “that often gets the biggest reaction from the audience.” Whitley credits his short attention span as a gift, “I’ll cut a seven-second clip
to five seconds.” Switching from one camera angle to another also breaks up the action and holds the viewer’s attention. “After I finished the Chesapeake Tour DVD, I went back and cut one second out of each scene,” he recalls, “that saved over 20 minutes and the film flowed better.”
GEAR BAG Sony Handycam HDR-XR100 with wide-angle lens, extended batteries, Sony waterproof housing stuffed with silica gel dry packs, standard tripod lashed to a crate with zip-ties.
CUTTING ROOM Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 15 See the fruits of Whitley’s efforts in the studio at
www.kayakkevin.com.
50…KAYAK ANGLER
PHOTO: RIC BURNLEY
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