Marc Morale owns Hamilton Construction in Frankfort in Chicago, IL. A leader in the Royal Rangers scouting program, Marc Morale enjoys taking photos and videos underwater when he goes scuba diving.
Scuba diving is an activity that involves diving to the depths of the ocean to explore and interact with the environment. This can be quite daunting, especially for a first-timer, so naturally, there are often certain questions they want to ask about the activity. Here are some frequently asked questions on scuba diving: 1. Is scuba diving dangerous? This is one of the most frequently asked questions about scuba diving, and for a good reason: the thought of being underwater for an extended period of time can make one anxious. But according to reports, scuba diving is about as safe as swimming. Divers Alert Network, a not-for-profit aiming to promote dive safety, reports that only one out of every 211,864 dives ends in a fatality. Of course, this does not mean there are no potential dangers, but with proper scuba diving training and certification, you should have a hitch-free experience. 2. What if there are sharks or other dangerous marine life? This depends on where you are diving. Generally, marine animals do not go out of their way to attack divers. Contrary to popular belief, sharks are not mindless killers, and often swim quickly away from divers. So if you follow your instructor's guide, and do not touch anything, there won't be any worries. 3. What if I run out of air? This is unlikely, as scuba diving trips are always terminated long before air supply issues arise. However, during your scuba diving training course, you will be taught ways to deal with such a situation should it occur.
0 Comments
Marc Morale is the founder and owner of Hamilton Construction Inc. headquarters in Chicago, IL. He graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago with a degree in civil engineering. In addition, Marc Morale is also a certified SCUBA instructor and holds credentials with SDI, TDI, and PADI. He is an avid underwater photographer and videographer.
Underwater videography is a great way to capture stunning images and videos of the marine world. Not only does it allow you to explore the depths of the ocean, but it also enables you to showcase your skills in filmmaking. Whether you are an amateur or professional, here is a quick guide on how to get started with underwater videography. Understanding video resolution and frame rate is the most crucial of any underwater video shoot. The frame rate is the number of frames used per second, whereas the resolution is the size of the video files in pixels. Video stabilization can also come into play to eliminate blurry footage. With these concepts in mind, one will be ready to capture quality videos with stunning visuals beneath the sea's depths. Lighting plays a key role in underwater videography as it helps bring out vibrant colors in the environment. Natural light from above is usually enough for shallow dives, but deeper dives may require supplemental lighting such as strobes or LED lights. Additionally, color correction filters can help balance out the blue tones in your footage when shooting at greater depths. Finally, make sure you get as close to your subject as possible. Staying closer to your subject can also give unique angles and perspectives. When shooting underwater videos, getting creative with angles is essential while keeping yourself safe from the subject or risk damaging yourself and the environment. With care and practice, you'll soon be able to capture stunning underwater footage that emphasizes every detail. A civil engineering graduate from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Marc Morale owns Hamilton Construction in Frankfort, Illinois, a company specializing in grading, excavation, and sewer installation and repair. Marc Morale is also a certified scuba diver, instructor trainer, and avid underwater photographer and videographer.
Underwater photography is a type of photography for capturing images and footage of underwater landscapes, marine life, and other subjects not visible from the surface. To be an underwater photographer, one must possess a combination of photography and diving skills to perform their duties effectively. Buoyancy control is one vital skill that underwater photographers must have as it allows them to position themselves and their gear while shooting underwater properly. Underwater photographers can maintain proper buoyancy by regulating their breathing to a slow and more relaxed rate and adjusting to a correct weighting to avoid floating due to under-weighting or sinking due to over-weighting. Maintaining good buoyancy also allows for a more peaceful and efficient photography experience. By hovering effortlessly in one place, one can approach timid marine life without disturbing them and capture sharper, unobstructed shots. Additionally, it allows for steadier camera handling, which helps get better-focused images and allows the photographer to get closer to the subjects. The owner of Hamilton Construction Inc. near Chicago, IL, Marc Morale manages projects and oversees operations for the sewer, watermain, and reclamation construction firm. Additionally, Marc Morale serves as an instructor trainer with Scuba Diving International (SDI) and Technical Diving International (TDI). When he is not teaching student to dive, he enjoys taking underwater photographs.
Focusing on macro subjects can be very rewarding, particularly on dives with low visibility. Because they are so tiny, however, composition can be a bit tricky. To compose a stunning macro shot, avoid shooting straight down on the subject. Rather, think of creative ways to expose the subject in relation to the background. This often mean shooting low down, hovering near the bottom to shoot on the subject’s level or even slightly below. Also consider the background. Ideally, find a position that allows for a blue or black background without much visual clutter. Use depth of field or color to maintain sufficient separation between the foreground and background, and keep the foreground sharp. As a rule, focus on the eyes of the subject to create a connection with the viewer. Marc Morale spent nearly 12 years with Epic Construction in Chicago, IL, as a project manager. Marc Morale has overseen all construction activities at Hamilton Construction in Frankfort as a company owner.
Hamilton Construction focuses on excavation, sewer lines, and water main projects. The company has laid more than 20 miles of water main over the years. A project spanning 2015 and 2016 involved the installation of a new water main for districts 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Chicago as part of the City of Chicago Water Main Replacement program. The project, which Hamilton completed as a sub-contractor of Benchmark Construction, also included the installation of new apertures throughout the water main. As part of Chicago's fleet and facility management emergency response, Hamilton Construction made several water main repairs while also repairing the area’s steam lines and sewers. The construction firm can render several additional services, ranging from remediation to underground utility installation and repair. Since 1996, Marc Morale has served as the president of Hamilton Construction Inc, an Illinois sewer construction firm. During that time, Marc Morale and his team have laid over 15 miles of 6” to 42” sewer pipes in Chicago, IL.
Sewer pipes transport sewage or wastewater from commercial buildings and houses to the main sewer for disposal or treatment. These pipes can become damaged or decay over time and need to be replaced. Should you have to replace your sewer pipe, there are several types you can choose from. Here are two of them: Plastic Pipes There are two main types of plastic pipes most plumbers recommend for underground sewer lines, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes. ABS pipes are much stronger than PVCs, but both are a good choice for a sewer pipe replacement or a new home sewer system. Used since the 1970s, ABS and PVC pipes are rustproof, which makes them durable, and quite affordable. Concrete Pipes Concrete sewer pipes are popular because they’re durable, eco-friendly, require minimal maintenance, and are affordable. Installed well, concrete sewer pipes can serve you for over 30 years. Other common types of sewer pipes are clay, cast iron, and Orangeburg. A former project manager with Epic Construction in Frankfort, Illinois, Marc Morale now runs Hamilton Construction in Chicago, IL. Marc Morale's interests are varied and include scuba diving, travel, photography, and underwater videography.
Getting the best underwater videos comes with practice. Here are additional tips when you want to get the best out of your underwater videography: 1. Invest in some weights When underwater, your body will inevitably want to float back to the top. For stability, consider getting a few lower weights to hold you down there. Make sure they are not heavy to become cumbersome, considering you need to maneuver underwater or even tread on water. 2. White balance As you descend, you need to compensate for the changes that happen to the color of light. This is known as white balance. It is how the camera calibrates what white is. As you descend, hold down the white balance button on your camera when shooting a white object. 3. Take a variety of shots When editing your videos later, you will want to have lots of shots to choose from. Therefore, try shooting from different angles and different lighting. More shots give you more editing options. A Chicago, IL, construction executive, Marc Morale responsibilities range from estimating to managing complex projects. Outside of work, Marc Morale enjoys spending time in the water. He has attained SDI qualifications as a scuba diving instructor.
Both from a comfort and safety standpoint, maintaining personal gear is important for scuba divers. That being said, many serious divers draw the line at purchasing their own scuba tanks. Not only are tanks heavy, bulky, and difficult to travel with, but comfort and fit is not often a significant issue. In addition, the price of renting a tank is typically not much more than getting your own filled with air or gas. One reason for purchasing a tank is a lack of a rental facility near a dive site, which makes returning equipment a hassle. In addition, some diver-specific tank sizes may be uncommon in rental shops in remote locations. Because a typical day of diving often includes more than one dive, scuba enthusiasts who buy tanks usually invest in two or three of them. The most common recreational tank is aluminum and designed to hold 11 liters (or 80 cubic feet) of Nitrox or air at a 2,000 PSI rated pressure (about 200 bar). Larger divers consume more air and may want to increase tank size to the largest available aluminum model, which is the 13-liter 100. Conversely, young or shorter divers may find a 9-liter aluminum 63 sufficient and a better fit. For those who take extended dives, steel cylinders extend internal volume well beyond what aluminum is capable of. The maximum readily available size is a 19-liter model that can hold 150 cubic feet of gas at 3,400 PSI (about 240 bar). Based in Chicago, Il, Marc Morale has been an executive in the construction industry for more than 20 years. Passionate about scuba diving, Marc Morale is SDI qualified as an instructor and enjoys underwater activities such as photography and videography.
When it comes to natural video presentations of marine ecosystems, sound is an important component. This is often accomplished through use of a hydrophone, or a microphone designed for underwater use. One important consideration is depth. Those who set out to capture sound near the surface sometimes simply covering normal microphones with thin plastic, such as a balloon. For deeper recordings, there are a number of specialized brands, such as the Aquarian H2a. One thing to be aware of is that hydrophones are extremely sensitive to touch. If the hydrophone is connected to a recording device, it has the potential to overload input, damaging internal circuitry. You should also take care not to bump or jostle it. Another important consideration is that hydrophones tend not to have a flat response curve when it comes to detecting frequencies of sound. This reflects the much greater variety of high-frequency sounds underwater (compared to terrestrial environments), which necessitates a limiting of high-end input. When setting up a hydrophone, it is important to carefully scout your location. If you are recording in an area with frequent motorized vessel traffic, such as a popular cove, diving spot, or shipping lane, there may be frequent interruptions to the clear, distortion-free underwater sound you are after. A resident of Chicago, IL, Marc Morale is an instructor Scuba trainer certified through Scuba Diving International (SDI) and Technical Diving International (TDI). Marc Morale has also completed the required training to instruct the Visual Inspection Procedures (VIP) course offed by SDI.
Established in 1994 as the sport diving division of TDI, SDI is a global training agency that offers a range of educational programming for public safety divers. Among its many courses, SDI’s Visual Inspections Procedures course curriculum provides education on how to safely manage and maintain high-pressure cylinders used in scuba diving and the compressed gas industry. Developed to train divers and any individuals interested in learning about and working with high-pressure cylinders, the course covers key concepts including inspecting cylinders for defective conditions, proper filling techniques, repairing damaged valves, identifying cylinder markings, and understanding the criteria for condemning and rejecting cylinders. The course also provides training on the legal requirements of cylinders, regulations for fill station operators, and tools used to work with the cylinders. To successfully pass the course, participants must complete a cylinder inspection, pass a written exam with a minimum mark of 80 percent, and prove they are knowledgeable about the criteria used to reject or condemn a cylinder. |
AuthorMarc Morale founded and has operated Hamilton Construction in Frankfort, Illinois, for over two decades. Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|