Was just reading an article from Timothy Allen explaining some TimeLapse tips and techniques. At the end of the article you'll catch this video (above) of a behind the scenes documentary on some insane TimeLapse planning and rigs. Switch to HD for best quality. I love how they built their own Ladder dolly, used a bike wheel and some string as their motion controller. True innovation happening here and definitely masters of their craft. Here's the link to the Article: https://timothyallen.blogs.bbcearth.com/2009/02/24/time-lapse-photography/
Monthly Archives: August 2010
Red DSLR Cage Fig Rig Stabilizer
Click Images for Flickr
Posted by Tate Nations found in the comments section of this DIY DSLR Cage Fig Rig Stabilizer article. Wow I must admit, the black camera on red rig, with grey handles looks pretty sweet. Great job on this design Tate! You can find Tate's Flickr image here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/shockingbird/4911513235/in/photostream/
If you're looking to build your own, you can find that article I posted a while back here: http://cheesycam.com/cheesycam-exclusive-diy-dslr-cage-stabilizer/
New 800w Barndoor + Softboxes 3pcs Lighting
The studio is still being built out, but I got a request to do a an interview in the place tomorrow. Since it will be 1-2 people in the shot, I thought i'd just pick up a simple, cheap, but effective 3 piece lighting set. Just got these in today at the studio, so I unboxed and set them up. The 3 piece set I received, comes with 3 lights, 2 medium sized softboxes, one has a barn door attachment, all three light stands, three bulbs, and each one dimmable, and large bag to keep them all together. The barn door light will be used overhead and behind the subject(s) for some edge / rim lighting, softbox lighting on each side, and since they are all dimmable i'll try to use one as main fill. Each head I think rated at 800w halogen. I still don't have my gels in the studio and these bulbs are quite warm, but since I have total control over the lighting in the studio, perhaps I can get away with just white balancing.
To sorta mask the background and keep things looking nice, i'll be shooting with long lenses with a shallow depth of field. These lights should be plenty for my ideal tight shots on each person (multi camera angles). I totally wasn't ready for this project to be done in this space, but it's good practice to see what i'll need for future projects. I'll post some videos of how that lighting comes out next week. Total spent $299 + Free Shipping. Here's the link to the 2400W 3 pc Light SOFTBOX BARNDOOR PHOTO VIDEO LIGHTING KIT
3pc 800w (each) Dimmable Light Kit w/ softboxes
If the above link is not available, you can find other sellers (below) but not all come with the Softboxes
800w 3pc Dimmable Lighting Kit
My Wireless Triggers are In!
So first thing in the larger bag is my YongNuo Wireless Trigger / Remote set. I talked about them in this article: http://cheesycam.com/never-ending-upgrades-wireless-shutter-flash-remotes/. As you know i've been building up a studio and these versatile triggers can wear many different hats around the equipment i'm using. First off, I can now use my Canon 580 EX II's through the hotshoe these remotes provide, or trigger my studio strobes through a PC sync cord these offer, and if I really needed to, trigger my camera shutter. OK that's a bit overkill to remotely trigger my camera in studio, but I really was just looking to replace some old Pocket Wizards since these will allow me to expand to more triggers at very minimal cost. For times when I don't want to travel with my ST-E2 or Radio Popper PX's, these will work great. I'll do some closeup detailed photos possibly tonight or this weekend and explain why I currently use so many different trigger sets.
Yongnuo RF-602 Wireless Triggers for Studio, Speedlight, and Camera
What’s in the Sack Jack?
More mail just arrived this morning, but nothing that looks like a Zoom H1. Weak sausage....
Oh well....we'll see what will be in store for today's bags. Hopefully something exciting, more likely not though. I buy the most random things sometimes. I feel like Mr. Rogers when he comes home every morning he has a story mapped out for everyone. I just need a small cable car named Charlie to introduce a talking cat and some crazy lady.
Double-L Bracket Configuration Alzo + T Pod
After posting about the possible Double L bracket stabilizer idea, Dave Taylor over at DaveTaylorMP.com shares a few images of his Double L Bracket setup with what looks like a Canon 550D / T2i. He's using the Video Camera Light Bracket - by alzodigital.com which has two cold shoe mounts. He mentions that he also added the Trek Tech T Pod Table-Top Tactical Tripod With Magmount Star to his configuration for a simple Shooter rig with an extra handle. His inspiration for this came from TheC47.com video below. Check it out, looks pretty cool if you can't afford the RedRock Micro theEvent Rig.
I'm still looking to mount two L brackets but with an Aluminum flat bar in between to make the handles more level, and a QR adapter dead center. Maybe i'll change that center AL bar into a 'T' bar so that I can support both a QR adapter and room for the T-Pod configuration. Thanks for sharing Dave!
Update: Reader Chuckarama just sent in this Flat bracket that looks like it will do the job in between the L brackets. Should be able to mount a QR plate and still be Tripod mountable. Great job Chuckarama! Let me know how that comes out when you're done.
A few SpiderTrax Videos to Share
Troy throws up his version of the SpiderTrax Rotating Video dolly using cheap and readily available PVC (above).
Calixte Works uses the real Deal SpiderTrax Rotating video Dolly available at PhotographyandCinema.com for a few Orbits and Slider shots. (Below)
Below: Original SpiderTrax Rotating Video Dolly
The Original SpiderTrax Dolly can be found at PhotographyAndCinema.com
Zoom H1 is shipping UPS tracking updates
click image to buy Zoom H1 $99 + Free Shipping
Ok, it is official. Comments and emails are flying in that UPS tracking updates are being sent out for Zoom H1 orders at BHPHOTOVIDEO.com - here's the link to order. I did the pre-order thing from another vendor and just received an email from them that they only received 20, and are waiting for another 20 in a few weeks. This means that although the Zoom H1 finally met it's release date, there's limited supply still and slowly trickling in. B&H is a large company, but even they experience out of stock inventory on hot products. I got mine on order with expedited shipping, so unless someone beats me to it, i'll have a video up on Tuesday. Available at BHPHOTOVIDEO.com - here's the link to order the Zoom H1.
7″ HDMI LCD w/ Internal Battery
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Well it was just a matter of time. As we see it, technology changes every few months weeks. It's hard to keep up with all the great new upgrades going on, but luckily we have a lot of readers submitting information to this website. Thanks to phoSumpro.com for this information, Lilliput's new 7" HDMI capable monitor now rocks a few new tricks. Many of these new features won't be used in DSLR world, but the best new feature is it's Internal Battery. Yes, the HDMI monitor now comes with Internal Battery. This would be a better fit for my Steadicam work should I choose to mount it.
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The new 7" Lilliput also throws down some BNC and YPbPr connections as well as the usual HDMI + AV. There's also a short sun shade that fits nicely over the top, although i'm not sure how effective that would be. I guess it would be a good starting point to hard epoxy our own DIY shade so that it can be removed and installed whenever we want. It does claim to be a newer model with 'Higher Brightness', but i'm already sold on the internal battery option. This thing looks fairly new, and I can only track down 2 auctions. One comes with a hotshoe mount, but the shipping looks high. The other is a straight up deal + free shipping. Check out the Lilliput 7" HMDI & BNC & YPbPr & Internal Battery
Lilliput 7" HDMI LCD for DSLR with Internal Rechargeable Battery