More GoPro summer fun

As the summer kicks into full effect, it is action sports time once again. And since a good photographer “shoots what he loves”, I’m back into the sports shooting scene again. Actually, It is more sports “video” currently with the GoPro Hero action camera.

I’ve loved this little camera and I’ve been using it quite a lot lately. I’ve been taking it kayaking at the Outer Banks (NC) and even hauled it out into the surf with my son playing around at the beach and set it into photo mode.

I’ve posted a few recent kayak trip videos and today is no different. This particular video was shot at 720p60 and interpreted the footage down to 30fps to get a natural smooth motion slo-mo effect. It really helped enhance the relaxing mood of floating along the Yellow Breeches creek here in south central PA.

Next up… more bicycling and more motorcycling videos/photos. The biggest downfall of owning a GoPro is the frantic neuroses of where do you mount the camera next. There must be an actual name for it condition (add a comment if you have a suggestion and we’ll coin the phrase.)

Kayak Trip (with Friends) from Ed Hidden on Vimeo.

GoPro: Family Kayak Trip

We took our first family kayaking trip (our new hobby). I quickly mounted a few mounts for my GoPro on the bow of my new boat and let it roll while we put in the water. I need to grab more b-roll footage and see what else I can do, but here is a fresh clip editted with iMovie on the iPad. (yes, you can directly import and edit GoPro video footage on your iPad.)

Follow up to my D7000 testing

This is a follow up to the post yesterday about the Nikon D7000. I did a quick test with a hot-shoe mounted external microphone. I'm very impressed. It isolated all the focus motor noise and it did a really decent job of picking up the speakers voice. I do need to work with different settings to get to know what gain levels work for different situations.

But in the meantime, here's a sample clip.

Coworker about a coworker (d7000 test video) from Ed Hidden on Vimeo.

Quick silly interview with a coworker while testing the D7000 and the boom mic. I really like this setup. Makes me want to upgrade my old 5D to something with Video now. Wish a 5D Mkiii would be announced soon but who knows. Might have to go T3I till the big boy comes out.

iStock minilypse - Deep Creek Lakealypse Behind The Scenes

In May I had joined a dozen fellow istockers for a minilypse (a 3 day event organized by a site member that organized shoots, locations and models. Lots of fun.) I shot some behind the scenes video of the action while I was there. Enjoy seeing what goes on behind the scenes on an istock weekend shoot.

Lakealypse Part II - State Park Location

[videos shot on Flip Ultra HD. Self portrait (reportage) video shot using an Xshot camera extender]