Putting New Gear to Work, and Showing Up for Community

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Lately, I’ve been in a season of upgrading my camera body and lens kit with a clear intention: to focus more deeply on video storytelling. Not just sharper footage or better low-light performance, but stories that feel lived-in, human, and worth returning to.

The LGBTQ+ Lumberjack Christmas Tree Pick-Up felt like the perfect place to put that intention into practice.

Every January, after the holidays wind down, this fundraiser brings together a crew of LGBTQ+ volunteers to pick up and recycle Christmas trees across San Diego, raising funds for The San Diego LGBT Community Center. What started as a joke, one lesbian lumberjack offering to haul away trees, has grown into a full-blown tradition rooted in care, humor, and community.

For me, this event wasn’t just an opportunity to test new gear. It was a chance to donate my time and energy by documenting something that matters. To create a short film that captures not only what happens, but why it matters. The people. The work. The joy. The quiet moments in between.

The Gear, Used With Intention

For this project, I brought a newly upgraded camera body and a small, versatile lens kit built specifically for video-first storytelling. The goal wasn’t perfection, it was flexibility. I needed gear that could move quickly between candid moments, sound bites, and action without pulling attention away from the people in front of the lens.

I chose lenses that let me stay close without being intrusive, adapt to changing light, and keep footage feeling natural rather than overproduced. Paired with a camera body optimized for video, this setup allowed me to focus on rhythm, emotion, and continuity instead of constantly thinking about settings.

This event was a reminder that the best test for new gear isn’t a controlled shoot, it’s real life. Volunteers moving fast, conversations happening unexpectedly, laughter, noise, and imperfect conditions. Exactly the kind of environment where storytelling skills are sharpened and equipment earns its place.

Putting my upgraded kit to work here reinforced why I invested in it in the first place: to tell grounded stories that serve people and purpose, not just pixels.

Upgrading equipment is easy to romanticize, but gear only earns its place when it’s used with purpose.

This project let me:

  • Practice shooting and editing with a video-first mindset
  • Work in real-world conditions, movement, sound, changing light
  • Hone my storytelling instincts, not just my technical skills

A Short Film With a Longer Life

The finished video is both a snapshot of this year’s fundraiser and something the community can carry forward. A way to showcase the importance of The Center, celebrate the volunteers who make this event happen. It’s a record of this year’s fundraiser, a way to showcase the impact of The Center, and a piece of storytelling that can help carry the tradition forward into next year.

This is the kind of work I want to keep doing: putting tools to work in service of people, causes, and stories that deserve care.

Building community. Inspiring pride.
See you next year.

Posted in Blog.

Nicole Grodesky

Nicole Grodesky is an accomplished photojournalist and former competitive surfer based in San Diego. She is a small business owner with over 15 years of experience in corporate America in the digital marketing industry. She holds a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations and Journalism, and a Minor in Women’s Studies focused on gender issues. A queer feminist writer, Nicole is also a published author covering women in action sports. As a former competitive surfer herself, she brings a unique insider perspective to her writing, exploring the intersections of gender, culture, and media with authenticity and insight.