Bowing out, moving on.

[Mark Thorpe]

Just posted this to the Bubble Blowers group but seeing as I've also had chats with a lot of the people who frequent these pages I'll post here too. If moderators feel its excessive please delete as applicable.

Since this whole thing began I've had nothing but absolute respect for those willing to push the envelope. Sure I've banged heads with a few people on the way but, hey, thats all part of life. Like adults we move on, forgive and forget.

I guess there's no easy way to say it but I've just cashed in my reservation. Arghhhhh, I hear you all screaming, but there's a perfectly good reason. I've recently accepted a full time gig with The National Geographic Society and will be heading up a couple of their ongoing projects, namely WildCam and Crittercam.

It's a bittersweet decision. I really wanted to look forward with RED, to stand amongst the ranks of those forging the future and on the other hand to have this position on my resume will speak volumes in future years. I do have potential scenarios of what I can do whilst I'm working with 'the Society' but I'm not going to go into those here. The position is a staff contracted one so I will not be able to use my own equipment for filming. That would only be allowed if I were an Independent Contractor. So I guess I'll have to put up with blowing dust off of antiquated cameras and equipment from their Gear Dept. but such is life.

I will still be around the forums and welcome any inclusions in discussions etc regarding the movement to introduce RED to the reefs of the World. I'm still one of you guys, minus the reservation number .....

Thanks for all the great conversations of the past. Long live the great conversations of the future.........

Thanks one and all, I'll be keeping up with all of your opus projects, and I'll join you one day. Although which generation of RED that will be with remains to be seen.

Thanks again,
Mark.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I guess I'll do the moderator thing and just say that reservations are non-transferable. Mark has obviously made a financial decision that he can live with that pays off in full once he receives his camera from RED and hands it over to its new owner.

Mark, I hope this works out for you! I wish nothing but the best for your future endeavors and may you find this new career path an enjoyable and enlightening one!

Don't be a stranger, stop by every now and then. Most of us RED nuts will probably still be here and you still may find yourself owning a RED at some point.

Good luck!

[Brook Willard]

Blue ones, Mark. Keep us updated... Sounds like a fantastic gig! :)

[Mark Thorpe]

Hey thanks Jeff.
Just to clarify that I have NOT, and nor do I intend to, cashed in my reservation with any third party, nor have I come to any arrangement with anyone regarding the transfer of my reserved unit for full recompense. I have written to Kelly at RED asking for the protocol guidelines for getting a refund on my deposit. RED #954 will go back into the RED pipeline for future distribution.

Hope this clarifies things.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Poi Boy]

Best of luck to you Mark !
Aloha
-A

[Mark Thorpe]

Cheers Poi Boy,
I'll be in the northern Hawaiian islands working on Monk Seals and Tiger Sharks later this year. Never been there, heard its fantastic, looking forward to it.

Aloha,
Mark.

[Bruce Allen]

If they were smart enough to hire you, they will be smart enough to get some Reds in the future ;)

All the best! Congrats! I'll look forward to seeing you around reduser here in the future - hey, I hit 500 posts without a reservation, so I'm sure you can, having far more experience and crazy tales to tell than me...

Again, congratulations! Your success is encouraging to anyone who believes that talent / hard work / friendliness / persistence (with a little bit of luck too) is what gets us success eventually, not whether we own any specific piece of gear.

Again, I'm sure you'll be shooting on Red soon regardless... look forward to hearing what you think!

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Jason Francois]

Sorry to hear that Mark, although the gig more than makes up for the loss.

I may be giving my key back soon as well if the housing market doesn't stabilize, so mines for a lack of work and yours is because of work....the latter sounds better. :)

Best of luck,

Jason

[Ace]

Does it matter whether you own the camera or not? RED isn't going anywhere...

And big Kudos to you for moving on with your career and not depending on a piece of equipment to move forward. Very best of luck on your new gig!

[Curran Giddens]

nice gig! I love watching those Crittercam videos. I've seen em strapped to penguins, otters and seals on the The National Geographic channel. Maybe when the RED pocket camera comes out you guys can make Crittercams out of them!

[Chris Gearhart]

Congrats! That sounds great. . . in a life-threatening-kinda way. Tiger Sharks and crittercams don't sound like they mix well, but hey, if anyone can do it, you can!!

[Ken Corben]

Mark that is fantastic news!

Greg Marshall, inventor of the crittercam, is one of the greatest guys in the Nat His biz. I filmed his team placing their crittercams on bowhead whales in Greenland - what a blast! And fabulous footage that made it into the NGC film On Thin Ice.

You are going to be living the dream so don't lose any sleep about early adoption of RED. Your position and reputation will be worth more than owning a camera in a few years time. Say hi to Greg and Steve Burns for me.

Sharky

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Hey thanks Jeff.
Just to clarify that I have NOT, and nor do I intend to, cashed in my reservation with any third party, nor have I come to any arrangement with anyone regarding the transfer of my reserved unit for full recompense. I have written to Kelly at RED asking for the protocol guidelines for getting a refund on my deposit. RED #954 will go back into the RED pipeline for future distribution.

No problem Mark, sorry for the assumption -- I think it was the "ChaChing" where your RED # used to be that did it.. If you had a lower res # (you're not far from mine), I'd be calling you. Hehe.

All the best! Sounds like a great gig!

[C.H.Haskell]

Yeah well done and good luck out there, just convince the society to get a RED and they your more qualified to use then anyone...best of both worlds! Anywho, RED will soon be here and its not going anywhere unlike a great job opportunity so I would say good choice.

Best

[Adrian Correia]

good luck Mark! That sounds like exciting and STEADY work. Hey, and with the bank you get from the job you can get a Red Two!

[Adam C Lubkin]

Congratulations on the gig, Mark. If the Society brings you to DC, drop me a line.

[Keith Nealy]

Congratulations Mark,

Maybe you can help NGS make the transition to RED so you can have your cake and eat it too :)

Have fun in the Northern chain. Watch out for those Tigers... they can be unpredictable.

aloha,

Keith

[Casey Green]

Congrats, Mark. great gig!

Looking forward to hearing about your new adventures.

[Ivan G]

YES, 1 down and One thousand two hundred thirty six to go! Just kidding... Wow my friend, you got balls to do that. Sitting in line for a year and the doors just begin to pry open. Good Luck MAN!

[Mark Thorpe]

Wow, and there I was thinking no one loved me! Guys, thanks for all the incredible words of support, wisdom and friendship. Good luck all with your respective plans, I'll be around here, when possible, as the first in line to cheer you on.

Thanks,
Mark.

[Paul Hazlett]

good luck it sounds like a lot of fun without the freelancer hassle.

but I can't help thinking maybe if you talked to whoever buys the gear there.
I mean come on this is the best of both worlds, Have them buy your Red so you can use it on there programs!!!

just a thought....

[Mark Thorpe]

If it was that easy, believe me I would jump at the chance to retain my RED and use that in the field. Quite what the political reasons are that restrict me from using my own gear full time have not been explained to me. But hey, I ain't gonna argue with them. I'll bide my time, continue to learn my trade over the coming years by which time Jim'll be working on the 8k model!

Cheers all,
Mark.

[Daniel Reichenbach]

Hi Mark, I will miss you on this forum and wish you all the best on your way. I like your style, even if we didn't had personally discussions together I followed your interesting thoughts and threads. All the best and take care.

[Mark Thorpe]

I don't plan on deserting you guys just yet!! What can I say, this place has grown on me. I'm hoping I'll be able to post while on projects etc to give you all a bit of break from the 'tedium' of the everyday grind.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Wait this is a camera forum? :p

[PaulClements]

Congrats m8, I can think of few better reasons for dropping a reservation! Furthermore, you will know plenty of redusers to hire from lol.

[Mark Thorpe]

Cheers Paul,
Contrary to original plans I will be based from the UK until October next year. I still haven't made all of the arrangements to ditch #954 as I'd really like to find out whether its gonna be viable or not to use that for my work. What a baptism by fire that would be?

Planning to find a place somewhere around the Lake District. Nature / Landscape photography being another passion for any spare time.

Cheers,
Mark.

[Mark Thorpe]

Michael Lindsay,
I got your PM but for some reason can't reply. My computer keeps locking up when I send? Weird.

camdiver65[@]gmail.com due to hotmail going beserk over the past few days!

Cheers,
Mark.

[Hrvoje Simic]

Congratulations, Mark!
Be sure to let us know about the latest fruits of your passion.

[I Bloom]

Hey Mark,

Thanks for your advice way back when. It's in my plan to go to that school in Scottland. I really appreciated your work on underwater bubble blowin.

IBloom

[Jay A. Kelley]

You da MAN Mark.. That's an amazing Gig.. Did you know I met my wife SCUBA diving? She was an instructor and I a lowly student.

And this time Mark, try to stop biting the Tigers when they swim too close. It will upset your new bosses, and scare away the sharks.
:)

Jay

[Mark Thorpe]

Well, the latest is that I have not quite cashed in yet. Is this just the jitters? Thing is I want to really explore whether or not I'll be able to use RED, would the work flow also be viable, for my future position given the nature of my employment guidelines.

Will keep you posted.
Cheers,
Mark.

[Sam Druckerman]

Mark, FWIW I think you should wait until the very last minute before you decide to give up you reservation. Considering the loss of interest on your reservation $ if you don't cash in now.... What? $20 - $30 more? Better to see how everything plays out with the new gig and Red.

Either way, Congrats on the gig and I'm glad you'll still be hangin out here with the Red heads..