The big picture photo gallery

High-flying partners Paul Barth and Steve Cassidy of Camera Copters have been giving fans an unbeatable view of the Classic for nearly a decade.

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	Bassmaster TV producer Tim Schick, HD digital deck and tapes in hand, meets Camera Copter pilot Paul Barth on the afternoon before Day One of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.</p>
Bassmaster TV producer Tim Schick, HD digital deck and tapes in hand, meets Camera Copter pilot Paul Barth on the afternoon before Day One of the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
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	Barth and cameraman Steve Cassidy have worked with JM Associates, which produces a variety of outdoor programming including Bassmaster TV, for close to a decade.</p>
Barth and cameraman Steve Cassidy have worked with JM Associates, which produces a variety of outdoor programming including Bassmaster TV, for close to a decade.
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	Barth and Cassidy prepare their gyro-stabilized camera, which costs as much as the helicopter.</p>
Barth and Cassidy prepare their gyro-stabilized camera, which costs as much as the helicopter.
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	Cassidy holds the camera controller, which he learned to operate by trial and error.</p>
Cassidy holds the camera controller, which he learned to operate by trial and error.
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	Barth and Cassidy describe how their operation works to JM Associates' cameraman Michael Middleton. Behind them is their Hughes 500 helicopter. At top right are the aircraft’s blades.</p>
Barth and Cassidy describe how their operation works to JM Associates’ cameraman Michael Middleton. Behind them is their Hughes 500 helicopter. At top right are the aircraft’s blades.
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	The Camera Copter truck was parked at Reeves Marine next to the CenturyLink Center, site of the Classic weigh-ins.</p>
The Camera Copter truck was parked at Reeves Marine next to the CenturyLink Center, site of the Classic weigh-ins.
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	Cassidy begins the process of getting the copter out of the trailer.</p>
Cassidy begins the process of getting the copter out of the trailer.
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	The trailer door, hung with heavy chain, is critical in the process of extracting and working on the copter.</p>
The trailer door, hung with heavy chain, is critical in the process of extracting and working on the copter.
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	Like something out of a James Bond film, the helicopter slides out of the trailer bay on a dolly.</p>
Like something out of a James Bond film, the helicopter slides out of the trailer bay on a dolly.
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	The copter and dolly slide down the ramp to the ground.</p>
The copter and dolly slide down the ramp to the ground.
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	The team, which includes Cassidy’s son Steven, can now begin the process of putting the copter together.</p>
The team, which includes Cassidy’s son Steven, can now begin the process of putting the copter together.
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	Barth rides the trailer door back up to access the tail and add things like fins.</p>
Barth rides the trailer door back up to access the tail and add things like fins.
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	The specially created dolly helps, but the Hughes 500 weighs less than most small cars.</p>
The specially created dolly helps, but the Hughes 500 weighs less than most small cars.
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	Barth said he doesn’t like telling potential passengers that the blades are attached by a metal pin about the size of a pencil.</p>
Barth said he doesn’t like telling potential passengers that the blades are attached by a metal pin about the size of a pencil.
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	Cassidy helps line up the holes for the pins.</p>
Cassidy helps line up the holes for the pins.
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	Barth checks his handiwork, making sure his "erector set" work is secure.</p>
Barth checks his handiwork, making sure his “erector set” work is secure.
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	Cassidy unscrews the bolt that will hold the camera.</p>
Cassidy unscrews the bolt that will hold the camera.
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	Tim Schick explains a shot he wants to Barth and Cassidy.</p>
Tim Schick explains a shot he wants to Barth and Cassidy.
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	It’s a three-man job to attach the camera to the copter. Cassidy and Barth are sure to be careful with the 70-pound tool that costs $500,000.</p>
It’s a three-man job to attach the camera to the copter. Cassidy and Barth are sure to be careful with the 70-pound tool that costs $500,000.
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	Cassidy keeps his eye on the bracket and bolt as the camera is eased into place.</p>
Cassidy keeps his eye on the bracket and bolt as the camera is eased into place.
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	One large bolt holds the camera, but Cassidy later adds wire to further secure it.</p>
One large bolt holds the camera, but Cassidy later adds wire to further secure it.
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	The design of the Cineflex HiDef utilizes an aluminum and carbon-fiber structure.</p>
The design of the Cineflex HiDef utilizes an aluminum and carbon-fiber structure.
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	Cassidy explains how the gyro-stabilization works. After taking out screws, he shows how the lens floats inside the housing.</p>
Cassidy explains how the gyro-stabilization works. After taking out screws, he shows how the lens floats inside the housing.
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	The Cassidys ride in style in a Mercedes van that is rigged for the road.</p>
The Cassidys ride in style in a Mercedes van that is rigged for the road.
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	Heather Adock, who was visiting neighboring Reeves Marine, gives daughter Addison, 5, a closer look.</p>
Heather Adock, who was visiting neighboring Reeves Marine, gives daughter Addison, 5, a closer look.
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	There were even some curious bass fishing fans drawn to the copter as they scouted the Bassmaster Classic venue.</p>
There were even some curious bass fishing fans drawn to the copter as they scouted the Bassmaster Classic venue.
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	Barth works on hooking up all his electronics.</p>
Barth works on hooking up all his electronics.
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	Barth has to monitor a camera so he can see what Cassidy is shooting and how his flying can help the shot.</p>
Barth has to monitor a camera so he can see what Cassidy is shooting and how his flying can help the shot.
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	Cassidy shows how he rolls through much of the ride videoing the Classic competitors – eyes on the monitor and hands on the controls.</p>
Cassidy shows how he rolls through much of the ride videoing the Classic competitors – eyes on the monitor and hands on the controls.
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	Barth runs down his contacts for this mission. With Barksdale Air Force Base close by and a planned fly-over by a B-52 at Friday’s launch, he had to provide flight plans to all the proper authorities.</p>
Barth runs down his contacts for this mission. With Barksdale Air Force Base close by and a planned fly-over by a B-52 at Friday’s launch, he had to provide flight plans to all the proper authorities.
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	Barth and Cassidy make their final adjustments for a shakedown flight.</p>
Barth and Cassidy make their final adjustments for a shakedown flight.
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	Barth and Steven pull the rig away from the trailer.</p>
Barth and Steven pull the rig away from the trailer.
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	Barth fires up the engine and lets it warm up.</p>
Barth fires up the engine and lets it warm up.
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	Cassidy notices some grime on his lens and has Steven give it a wipedown.</p>
Cassidy notices some grime on his lens and has Steven give it a wipedown.
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	The team takes off from their dolly. Reeves Marine workers had leafblowers clear the area earlier so no windblown debris would knick their boats.</p>
The team takes off from their dolly. Reeves Marine workers had leafblowers clear the area earlier so no windblown debris would knick their boats.
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	Barth moves to the field at the boat dealer.</p>
Barth moves to the field at the boat dealer.
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	Cameraman Michael Middleton climbs aboard to get footage for the companion video on the Camera Copters team.</p>
Cameraman Michael Middleton climbs aboard to get footage for the companion video on the Camera Copters team.
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	Steven Cassidy hands Middleton his camera, and they're off.</p>
Steven Cassidy hands Middleton his camera, and they’re off.
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	The camera helicopter takes off at 6:40 each morning of the Classic to capture the launch as boats blast off.</p>
The camera helicopter takes off at 6:40 each morning of the Classic to capture the launch as boats blast off.
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	Producer Tim Schick said the helicopter video is crucial to Bassmaster TV as it is the only way to really show the vast playing field.</p>
Producer Tim Schick said the helicopter video is crucial to Bassmaster TV as it is the only way to really show the vast playing field.
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	At speeds of more than 100 mph, the helicopter can literally do circles around the bass boats.</p>
At speeds of more than 100 mph, the helicopter can literally do circles around the bass boats.
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	One major storyline of the Classic was dirty water vs. clean water, which the bird’s-eye view could easily show.</p>
One major storyline of the Classic was dirty water vs. clean water, which the bird’s-eye view could easily show.
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	Besides water clarity, the copter could get footage of backwater areas that most camera boats would hesitate to navigate.</p>
Besides water clarity, the copter could get footage of backwater areas that most camera boats would hesitate to navigate.
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	Barth pilots his nimble Hughes 500 over the Red River. His piloting skills, like flying sideways 7 feet over the water in front of a boat at 70 mph, are extraordinary.</p>
Barth pilots his nimble Hughes 500 over the Red River. His piloting skills, like flying sideways 7 feet over the water in front of a boat at 70 mph, are extraordinary.
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	Cassidy spends almost all the flight watching his monitor with hands on his controls, manipulating the rotation and zoom of the camera to produce shots for which producers clamor.</p>
Cassidy spends almost all the flight watching his monitor with hands on his controls, manipulating the rotation and zoom of the camera to produce shots for which producers clamor.
<p>
	Working 200 to 300 days for the past 10 years, the Camera Copter crew’s experience shows in their videos. Watch the Classic shows this weekend on ESPN2 to see their work.</p>
Working 200 to 300 days for the past 10 years, the Camera Copter crew’s experience shows in their videos. Watch the Classic shows this weekend on ESPN2 to see their work.