September 2025

1st

A lot has happened in the past two months, including the fact that I started producing "In Real Life" content for my YouTube channel. I'm using a DJI Mic 2 to record 4K video from an iPhone 16 that is mounted onto a DJI OSMO 7 gimbal. I had originally attempted to sequence and render my clips using Kdenlive; however, software errors necessitated a transition to Final Cut Pro, which is now accessible on my iPad.

Tablet displaying a video editing interface. The main focus is a video clip of a stone structure, possibly a ruin or small castle, set against a landscape. The editing software is showing thumbnails of other video clips and audio waveforms, suggesting a project in progress documenting a visit to a heritage castle on August 30th, 2025. The overall impression is one of digital media creation and preservation of a historical site visit.
DJI OM 7 smartphone gimbal, mounted on a tripod, with wireless microphones placed on a dark surface below it. The microphones are connected via cables, indicating they are ready for use in a video recording setup. The overall composition suggests preparation for filming or content creation.

I find writing and blogging to be even more appealing when I reflect on the process of creating audiovisual content. It's great to be blogging again. By recording video and audio, I hope to provide further details about my life and the world around me, observed from the viewer's point of view. For example, there are events that happen around me that can be observed and maybe explained; initially I created my YouTube channel to explore self awareness.

iPad screen displaying the YouTube channel of Leonie Blaire-Cooper. The screen is slightly angled, and the top edge is partially cut off. The central focus is Leonie's YouTube profile. Her profile picture shows a headshot of a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a cream-colored beanie and a dark jacket. She appears friendly and approachable. Below the profile picture is her channel name in a bold, slightly stylised font, followed by her bio, subscriber count, and video count. Several thumbnails of her videos are displayed below, showcasing picturesque Scottish landscapes, including a stone tower, a quaint village setting, and a woman (presumably Leonie) walking through a field.

The gimbal isn't very wind resistant, and a shower broke the accessory A.I. tracking attachment. The tracking attachment that comes with the P7 version of this gimbal by default was not included when this one was purchased. The telescopic extension and zoom wheel on the p7 were also things I didn't get. But when money is tight, you buy the things you need based on what you can afford. Many things need to be bought to make filming easier, and I'm thinking about what to do first.

Leonie's hand pouring water from a green plastic jug into a rusty metal barrel. Inside the barrel, a dark blue piece of clothing is visible. The barrel is situated outdoors on the ground, surrounded by grass and some weeds. The scene suggests a simple, possibly outdoor, cleaning or disposal activity.
Eye-level view of a Leonie's hand holding a lighter near a rusty, metal barrel. A large, rusty metal barrel, seemingly an old oil drum, is the central focus. It's significantly rusted and shows signs of age and weathering. A piece of dark-coloured fabric is burning inside it, creating flames that are visible at the top. Leonie's hand, wearing a light grey fuzzy sweater, is holding a lighter near the barrel, suggesting she is are either lighting or maintaining the fire.

Since Charlie has trouble putting on new clothes, I think he'd rather wear his torn overcoats than the new ones I bought him a few days ago. I resolved the issue by transporting petrol and a lighter with his overcoats to the incinerator. The old overcoats and these new ones are the same. Also, I sent him pictures of his old overcoats on fire. Sunlight emerged from the sky shortly thereafter. For this month's image, I seized the chance to snap a few pictures of Red Admirals.