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Help from Above: How I Went from Sweeping the Floor to Painting the Sky
David Alan Arnold is an Emmy Award-winning TV cameraman who flies in a helicopter — but he started his Hollywood career with a broom in his hand. Somehow, sweeping the floor got him into some of the world’s biggest TV shows. David’s first book tells the unlikely story of mistakes and miracles that took him to some of the most dangerous places on Earth—soaring through the clouds, straight into a deadly phenomenon known as The Deadman’s Curve. Buckle up for adventure in the stormy skies of Deadliest Catch and a helicopter ride through Amazing Race, World Series and Super Bowl.
- GenresBiography
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2018
23 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 4, 2020
‘Any landing you walk away from is a good landing’ - Unknown
Author David Alan Arnold is an aerial cinematographer whose Emmy Awards for his work on DEADLIEST CATCH attest to his special gifts in capturing dramatic action from the vantage of the helicopter. In addition to this memoiresque volume HELP FROM ABOVE, this book serves as the initial installment in his Help From Above series that continues with WHAT LIES ABOVE THE CLOUDS. Highly respected by his colleagues as well as the viewing public, David also is committed to community service: his focus is fighting organized crime.
David opens his book with a dramatic tale of his experience with a near helicopter crash in Alaska while working on a NBC project: that degree of immediacy follows the reader through this excellent book relating his life and experiences from childhood (‘Mom says I’m “sensitive” Even at age five, I have difficulty accepting things that don’t bother anyone else’) and a vision of floating into the air at age three, to his adulthood fascination with flying - taking classes in a Florida junior college to his initial exposure to flying with aerial photographers from Wescam to his eventual status as a high tech cameraman in a ‘job’ that is both dangerous and rewarding.
With dramatic intensity tempered with a keen dollop of humor, David escorts us through a life that is a spectrum of ups and downs, gains and losses, and one of the more sensitive connections with the spirit. “I’ve spent my career careening through the sky, sometimes miles above the clouds, sometimes inches above the ocean, rocketing at a hundred miles an hour. Since mom died, I’ve done a lot of dangerous things, but I feel guided and protected at every turn. My pilots and I have gotten lost in blizzards, tumbled into the ocean, veered into deadly power lines. Yet each time I’ve been helped and protected by Mother Nature and the in forgiving laws of physics that have often killed my colleagues.’
Incidents in Peru, with NASA, the Bering Sea, relationships with the camera pilots, the various assorted films and reportage in which he has been a contributing photographer, highlights and moments of insight that span family, dog nurturing, natural disasters, single dad issues, his work on Deadliest Catch – the spectrum of highs and lows has rarely been expressed as well as in this enriching book. And in addition to his excellent prose, every moment is illuminated by color photographs of people, places and film locations that make the story ring.
By book’s end we have grown to know and respect David Alan Arnold, a unique man in touch with the meaning of being. His life thus far is the stuff of fine cinema and novels – and spiritual connection. Very Highly Recommended.
Author David Alan Arnold is an aerial cinematographer whose Emmy Awards for his work on DEADLIEST CATCH attest to his special gifts in capturing dramatic action from the vantage of the helicopter. In addition to this memoiresque volume HELP FROM ABOVE, this book serves as the initial installment in his Help From Above series that continues with WHAT LIES ABOVE THE CLOUDS. Highly respected by his colleagues as well as the viewing public, David also is committed to community service: his focus is fighting organized crime.
David opens his book with a dramatic tale of his experience with a near helicopter crash in Alaska while working on a NBC project: that degree of immediacy follows the reader through this excellent book relating his life and experiences from childhood (‘Mom says I’m “sensitive” Even at age five, I have difficulty accepting things that don’t bother anyone else’) and a vision of floating into the air at age three, to his adulthood fascination with flying - taking classes in a Florida junior college to his initial exposure to flying with aerial photographers from Wescam to his eventual status as a high tech cameraman in a ‘job’ that is both dangerous and rewarding.
With dramatic intensity tempered with a keen dollop of humor, David escorts us through a life that is a spectrum of ups and downs, gains and losses, and one of the more sensitive connections with the spirit. “I’ve spent my career careening through the sky, sometimes miles above the clouds, sometimes inches above the ocean, rocketing at a hundred miles an hour. Since mom died, I’ve done a lot of dangerous things, but I feel guided and protected at every turn. My pilots and I have gotten lost in blizzards, tumbled into the ocean, veered into deadly power lines. Yet each time I’ve been helped and protected by Mother Nature and the in forgiving laws of physics that have often killed my colleagues.’
Incidents in Peru, with NASA, the Bering Sea, relationships with the camera pilots, the various assorted films and reportage in which he has been a contributing photographer, highlights and moments of insight that span family, dog nurturing, natural disasters, single dad issues, his work on Deadliest Catch – the spectrum of highs and lows has rarely been expressed as well as in this enriching book. And in addition to his excellent prose, every moment is illuminated by color photographs of people, places and film locations that make the story ring.
By book’s end we have grown to know and respect David Alan Arnold, a unique man in touch with the meaning of being. His life thus far is the stuff of fine cinema and novels – and spiritual connection. Very Highly Recommended.
April 23, 2020
This was one of the stranger books I've ever read. The book kind of seemed like David's random thoughts and short stories loosely organized into a mostly chronological timeline.
The Good: You figure out pretty quick that David is a very interesting person who's had an interesting life. I don't think I ever got bored. Also, the book is short, so it isn't a big time investment.
The Bad: As interesting as David is, I wish he would've given more information. It isn't rare at all to have chapters be a couple of pages or less. There is so much in his life that he very briefly mentions and I would've really enjoyed learning more. For example, I would've loved hearing details about his job (helicopter cameraman for a lot of movies and tv shows). It would've been nice to hear more about what his job is like and how his work is incorporated in movies. The other bad thing, at least as far as I'm concerned, is that this was clearly self-published. This isn't bad for snobby reasons. It is bad because he could've really used an editor to help him with repeating himself and someone to point out things like where he should spend more time providing detail.
I live a few miles away from David so certain aspects of the story were particularly interesting to me. My parents met him and said he was very nice/interesting.
This book is a little out there and I doubt is for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
The Good: You figure out pretty quick that David is a very interesting person who's had an interesting life. I don't think I ever got bored. Also, the book is short, so it isn't a big time investment.
The Bad: As interesting as David is, I wish he would've given more information. It isn't rare at all to have chapters be a couple of pages or less. There is so much in his life that he very briefly mentions and I would've really enjoyed learning more. For example, I would've loved hearing details about his job (helicopter cameraman for a lot of movies and tv shows). It would've been nice to hear more about what his job is like and how his work is incorporated in movies. The other bad thing, at least as far as I'm concerned, is that this was clearly self-published. This isn't bad for snobby reasons. It is bad because he could've really used an editor to help him with repeating himself and someone to point out things like where he should spend more time providing detail.
I live a few miles away from David so certain aspects of the story were particularly interesting to me. My parents met him and said he was very nice/interesting.
This book is a little out there and I doubt is for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
February 6, 2024
The book seemed more like a blog than a collection of short stories, I guess I was hoping for more of his flight stories. When he focused on that I really enjoyed them, but most of the content was his personal struggles in life. I will add he provided good lessons and context to focus on what’s important in life…
Not at all what I was expecting, which could be a lesson for me in expectation management. I think what had me rolling my eyes was all of the “voices” he heard… I’m religious and believe in spirits/afterlife but this took it a little too far. That being said, it’s his account so I’ll leave it at that.
Not at all what I was expecting, which could be a lesson for me in expectation management. I think what had me rolling my eyes was all of the “voices” he heard… I’m religious and believe in spirits/afterlife but this took it a little too far. That being said, it’s his account so I’ll leave it at that.
July 2, 2018
From start to finish, a riveting story!
Dave is my kind of guy! Through the literal and figurative ups and downs of his life, he has learned to listen to that "still, small voice." His raw, honest storytelling had me crying over Switch and Gibbs and laughing out loud when he bought the RV. Excitement , despair and humor are rolled together in this unique tale of a one-of-a-kind man!
Dave is my kind of guy! Through the literal and figurative ups and downs of his life, he has learned to listen to that "still, small voice." His raw, honest storytelling had me crying over Switch and Gibbs and laughing out loud when he bought the RV. Excitement , despair and humor are rolled together in this unique tale of a one-of-a-kind man!
December 26, 2024
Interesting Stories, Awkward Writing Style
Very interesting stories about a life well lived. Bit of an awkward and disconnected writing style. Jumps around a bit and repeats himself.
Very interesting stories about a life well lived. Bit of an awkward and disconnected writing style. Jumps around a bit and repeats himself.
June 26, 2018
Candid memoir written with humor and grace.
August 22, 2018
One of THE BEST books, ever!
There is so much, I'm struggling to edit myself.
Real, you are there, breathless suspense amid laughter & tears, both joyous & truly gut wrenching. So much so that I must thank David Alan Arnold, for not telling us about his loss of Switch.
I cannot afford books, they are a luxury purchase, so I depend on the freebie offers. Why I immediately bought this one can only be explained by what I call God Moments . . . .
Now I will support this author because he wrote his way into my heart to become family.
There is so much, I'm struggling to edit myself.
Real, you are there, breathless suspense amid laughter & tears, both joyous & truly gut wrenching. So much so that I must thank David Alan Arnold, for not telling us about his loss of Switch.
I cannot afford books, they are a luxury purchase, so I depend on the freebie offers. Why I immediately bought this one can only be explained by what I call God Moments . . . .
Now I will support this author because he wrote his way into my heart to become family.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews