The BBC has produced some of my favorite shows of all time. Their newest program called Earthflight captures amazing HD video from the skies as they put you literally on the wings of wild birds. I really can’t imagine how they got these shots of eagles stalking unsuspecting flamingos but it’s definitely not filmed on a Gopro Hero. Click the full post to check out the amazing view in full HD glory!
Justin de Reuck takes us with him on his job of taking photographs of fighter pilots in flight. Though there is no dialogue, the visual element speaks for itself. Photography is difficult enough as it is, but try doing it under excessive g-force and being upside down! He almost makes it look too easy. If you think this is cool, check out the full post to see an F18 pilot with his GoPro camera. You don’t want to miss seeing this!
With just under three weeks left until the deadline of our 2011 Behind The Scenes Contest, our readers are really hitting it into high gear by turning in some awesome videos! Some of the ideas you guys come up with are really clever and a refreshing alternative to the boring “glamorized music videos” we receive daily. Wedding photographer Jaroslav Repta (based out of Bratislave, Slovakia) recently filmed an entire wedding from the perspective of his camera by mounting a GoPro Hero on his DSLR. Having started off as a wedding photographer myself, I found it really interesting to watch some of the conditions Jaroslav had to work in, and how his creative eye made the most of every situation. Weddings are tough with harsh sunlight one second and low light action the next, but Jaroslav shows how he (and tons of other fstoppers) work quick to find an interesting image. Love or hate weddings, I think everyone will get a kick out of seeing the hustle and bustle required at every wedding.
If you are like me, you probably avoid Black Friday at all costs and instead shop in your pajamas on Cyber Monday. In the Full Post we have some of the best deals going on today only so shop till your mouse breaks (or your wallet) and get that perfect gift for the photographer in the family. If you are a Canon shooter you hit the Jackpot.
The Art Behind The HeadShot DVD The Fstoppers original DVD will make any portrait photographer better at what they do. Both pros and amatueurs alike are raving over this video because it works. It’s being called “an instructional DVD that is virtually flawless from A-Z. The DVD is bursting with well planned instructional content.” Once they harness what is taught on it, the photographer in your life will thank you from sunrise till sunset for the gift. [PeterHurley.com]
Google Nexus 7 by Asus I know, the iPad is pretty much king when it comes to tablets, but hear me out. The Google Nexus 7 is an awesome piece of hardware and it’s compact. The whole reason the iPad Mini even exists is because a 7-inch tablet was already proven popular by the Kindle Fire and the Nexus 7. If you’re averse to Android, remember that this is pure Android. Zero bloatware. It’s awesome, and really affordable. Note: Yes, it is cheaper on the Google Play store, but after shipping and tax, not so much. [Amazon.com]
Canon 85mm f/1.8 At one fifth the price of the L-series glass lens, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is a really spectacular buy. It’s outstandingly sharp and performs extremely well in low light. It is my personal favorite portrait lens. If the photographer in your life shoots Canon and needs a great affordable portrait prime, this is it. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Nikon MB-D14 Multi Battery Power Pack GRIP Who doesn’t like a little more power? Battery packs are a necessity for anyone shooting for a long period of time (especially video). They also give someone a little more to grip which can make shooting confidently a lot easier. If the photographer in your life recently picked up the new Nikon D600, he or she will really appreciate this addition to their gear closet. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 Prime Every photographer needs a good wide open normal lens, and for the Nikon faithful, that would be the Nikkkor 50mm f/1.4. This is a must have for anyone with a Nikon camera. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Canon 50mm f/1.4 Prime Just like with the Nikkor lens above, Canon photographers will love a 50mm f/1.4 prime. This is a pretty solid lens that many are fans of. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Orbis Ring Flash Attachment Kit If you are a fan of circular catch lights or how fashion images you might see in magazines affect skin, you need a ring light. Some ring lights can be absurdly expensive, but this kit lets you get that look without breaking the bank. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Nikon SB-700 Speedlight So maybe I’ve said a few times that there are things a photographer absolutely needs. Well this time I really mean it. Every single photographer must have at least one speedlight. These things rock because of their short flash duration, their portability, and their power. Can’t argue with it, they are a must have. If he or she shoots Nikon, grab this for them. [Amazon.com | B&H]
Canon 580 EXII Speedlite Like I said above, every photographer needs one. If he or she shoots Canon, you can pick this up for them and really make them smile. [B&H]
ONA Leather Brixton Bag We gave one of these away last month, and it was one of our most popular contests to date. That stands to reason that these bags are desirable, and I agree. If style is on the forefront of your mind, than a Brixton camera bag fulfills that desire. [Amazon]
Lowepro Pro Roller x100 Before I got one of these, I knew I always wanted a roller bag. Now that I have one, I can’t see how I went so long without one. This is a tough, rugged and versatile bag that really does everything you can expect from it. Want to use it for regular luggage? Just take out all the inserts. It’s also carry-on approved! [Amazon | B&H]
Drobo 2TB 4-Bay Storage Array Several of our writers really recommend this external hard disk array. The Drobo features the convenience and data protection capabilities of a RAID, without the hassles and inflexibility associated with RAID storage. It comes with two 1TB drives for a total 2TB storage capacity. The enclosure supports up to four standard 3.5″ SATA hard drives. Your computer sees the Drobo as a single hard drive volume, which makes it super easy to use [B&H]
GoPro Hero3 Fewer products resulted in the amount of excitement that we received when we announced this camera. GoPro is the biggest name in portable HD video because it was the first and continues to impress with quality and features. There isn’t a single photographer alive who doesn’t want this camera. Get it, and you’ll be the star come Christmas morning. [Amazon | B&H ]
NEC E322 32″ Display If the photographer in your life is struggling with a tiny monitor, they will really appreciate a screen with some size. Swoop in and relieve their eyeballs with this 32 inch screen [B&H]
Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic If they already own a Lensbaby but demand greater control, the Edge 80 optic makes a great gift. With aperture control on the focus ring and a more controlled tilt-shift look, this optic makes any Composer Pro better. [Amazon | B&H]
Gitzo 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod A great tripod purchase will last a photographer for years. Some of us have been using the same tripod for most of our careers. If you really want to impress the photographer in your life, you’ll get him or her the best tripod you can find. One fantastic option is this Gitzo tripod. Carbon fiber, 4-section, screw lock legs, and all around one of the sturdiest and most trusted brands. A really great tripod that will last a photographer for at least 10 years. [Amazon | B&H]
Elinchrom EL 69″ Octo Bank A nice, large octagonal soft box is a beautiful thing, and Elinchrom makes one of the better ones available. This 5.75 foot softbox isn’t large enough for full body shots, but it is great for anything above the waist without worrying about falloff. The light that comes out of these things is beautifully soft and is the go-to style soft box for nearly every portrait photographer of any merit. [B&H ]
Litepanels Micro LED On-Camera Light Great for video when on location, but also fantastic for macro photography. Get this little daylight balanced light wherever you need it without having to worry about cables. I know a toy photographer who loves LED light for his macro work, so if your photographer friend is into that this is a phenomenal gift. [Amazon | B&H ]
Manfrotto Fluid Video Monopod w/head As a reader of Fstoppers.com, you surely recognize this sweet product. Excellent for video and photo uses, this monopod has a great head on it already. Super fluid, super smooth. This one product can do so many things. I seriously want one of these. Seriously. Major hint. [Amazon | B&H ]
Induro PHQ3 PHQ Series 5-Way Panhead If your friend is a very discerning photographer who likes things just so, this is the perfect gift. Five way articulating head with precise fine tuning and excellent control. This is a wicked head and perfect for a photographer who likes things exact. [B&H]
SmugMug Business 1-Year SmugMug Business adds full commerce tools and site-wide branding to a full service website and image hosting solution, and is a complete storefront solution for a photography studio. It’s perfect for pro photographers looking for a one-stop shop to archive, market, proof, price and sell their photos. [SmugMug]
Animoto Pro 1-Year Lee and Pat are wedding photographers, and they swear by Animoto Pro. If you haven’t seen Lee’s video where he talks about why he uses Animoto, click here. Animoto is a wedding photographer MUST. That’s it. End of story. [Animoto]
Lightroom 4 Lightroom 4 is the most popular photo editing and workflow software out there, and for good reason. No other software allows the RAW and jpeg editing freedom that Lightroom does (in addition to allowing for unlimited presets from various third party sources) and also gives the type of workflow simplicity that is important to photographers with a lot of images in their library. A must-have for any photographer out there. [Amazon | B&H]
PocketWizard Plus III If the photographer in your life uses off-camera flash, having a pair of PocketWizards makes all the difference. There are a lot of cheap knockoff brands out there, but if you want to show you care you’ll go for the real thing. You can also use them to remotely trigger the camera itself, so that’s great fun for photo booths or unusual angles. What’s good to remember is that you only really need two of these: one on the camera, and one on one of the lights. You can trigger the remaining lights using slave sensors. [Amazon | B&H]
GoPro Hero2 If you haven’t heard of a GoPro, you live in a cave. Or a barn. Whatever the case, these are the most portable and most popular mini-HD cameras out there. Though there is now the GoPro Hero3 available, the Hero2 is still a solid camera and will get you in under $200. [Amazon | B&H]
Lensbaby Composer Pro Tilt shift lenses are expensive. Crazily expensive. Though the result isn’t quite the same, Lensbaby lenses give a similar feel to the images for a lot less investment. There are a lot of popular photographers who use these lenses, and they can work great for bridal portraits or engagement sessions. They are a little tricky to use, but once you get a handle on it, they’re great. [Amazon | B&H]
Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic What’s really neat about Lensbaby products is that they are modular. Don’t like the way the lens shoots right now, or getting tired of it? Just slap a new optic on there and it’s like a brand new lens. The Sweet 35 is awesome, and has a great sweet spot of sharpness. Oh, and it’s much easier to change the aperture on this attachment than on the Composer Pro alone. [Amazon | B&H]
Voigtlander Viewfinder First off, this is technically $9 over budget, but it’s so close that I had to include it. So your friend has a shiny new mirrorless camera, but really doesn’t like how it only has an LCD viewfinder. Sometimes you want to see how the world really looks rather than how the camera perceives it. Well this guy fixes that problem. Attach it to the flash hotshoe, and you’ve got yourself an old-fashioned viewfinder that will make the photographer in your life give a sigh of contented relief. [Amazon | B&H]
Lowepro Fastpack 350 I have this bag, and I personally rarely use anything else when I’m out shooting. There are bags that give more support, but when it comes to ease of access, that hatch on the side of the back makes grabbing my DSLR instantaneous so I never miss the shot. I can’t recommend this bag enough, unless you’re planning on hiking to the top of Mount Rainer (in which case you’ll need something with more support). [Amazon | B&H]
Tascam DR-40 Digital Recorder If your friend is starting his foray into video production, one of the first things you’ll notice is that no matter how pretty his video looks, nothing ruins a production faster than bad audio. Be the savior, and get him or her a high quality recorder- they’ll thank you for it later. [Amazon | B&H]
Manfrotto 190XB w/ Micro Fluid Head Tripods are expensive, it’s a fact that many of us have had a hard time coming to terms with. That said, there are affordable options that still get the job done, like this tripod from Manfrotto. If the photographer in your life is still using that piece of junk tripod he bought at Best Buy four years ago, ease his suffering with a brand spanking new quality one. [Amazon | B&H]
indiSystem 2ft Slider and Pistol Grip Sliders are awesome. They allow for some really high production value shots, but unfortunately the really nice ones tend to be jaw droppingly expensive. We all had to start somewhere, for me (Jaron), Pat and Lee, our first slider was the indiSystem slider. I still use mine. They are really inexpensive, simple, and can give videos a great look and feel. I can’t recommend this enough. [Amazon]
Sennheiser ME 2 Omni-Directional Lav Mic I know, it’s just a mic right? Why so expensive? In this case, you’ll just have to trust me. Anyone shooting video would much rather focus on what they are shooting rather than fussing with a crummy microphone for thirty minutes. Just get something that works, and Sennheiser works. These kinds of mics are a MUST for interviews, lest you get a horrid tinny, echo in the video. Not fun to listen to. [Amazon | B&H]
Magic Arm / Super Clamp It is always nice to have a way to mount a camera or flash in a place that will give you a unique perspective. The Manfrotto Magic Arm and Super Clamp allow you to secure your camera so you can use it as a remote camera. These are popular with sports and wedding photographers when you often have to setup a camera and leave it hidden. Check out what sports and music photographer David Bergman did with his during our coverage of a Bon Jovi concert. [Amazon | B&H Video]
The Beauty Dish Everyone always asks what makes a beauty dish different from a softbox. The answer really comes down to spill control and overall harshness. The beauty dish is a bit like a fine wine in that it’s results can be rather subtle to the untrained eye but there is a reason all the fashion and beauty photographers use them. It’s not always as soft as a med/small softbox but it does maintain a softish look while still giving you the direction of a small reflector. This is one of our favorite lights for sure. [Amazon | B&H Video ]
Photoflex LiteDome When you’re looking for a solid, high quality softbox, Photoflex is a good choice. Their stuff tends to be really high quality without the premium cost. We own a few of their softbox products, and the LiteDome is a great one. From portrait photographers to food or product, a softbox is a must for an even, controlled soft light. [Amazon | B&H]
Manfrotto Fluid Head Shooting stills is one thing, but if the photographer in your life is shooting video, he should have a fluid video head. With one of these, you avoid those irritating jerking, skidding stops that take you out of the video and throws your viewing mojo. Manfrotto makes the best ones out there, and they aren’t too expensive on their own. Grab one for your buddy if they already have a tripod they love. [Amazon | B&H]
Westcott Apollo Orb Photographers around the world swear by these because they unfold like an umbrella, but give the lighting control of an octagonal soft box. Designed for speedlights, they’re made specifically for the photographer in the field. Not really the best option for a studio photographer, but are a great option for environmental portraiture. [Amazon | B&H]
I think this video has now been submitted to us about 5 times and we have simply been slow to post it. Rip Curl and TimeSlice, partners in the overall development, used 30 GoPro HD video cameras to freeze an infinite number of moments that could be viewed. The major benefit being a better way of catching all the performance surfing the Rip Curl team riders were doing, rather than just a fraction of it.
Here is your heart thumping GoPro video of the week. During a routine paragliding expedition in the Indian Himalayans an eagle collides and is caught in the chute lines of the glider. Acting quickly he deploys the reserve chute and lands safely and frees the bird from the lines. This video would be scary from a 3rd person’s perspective but it is even more horrifying watching it first person, from a helmet cam.
So I am going through some of the slow-mo HD camera options that are on the market right now for an adventure I will be taking soon, and I stumbled upon the new GoPro HD Hero2. On their site they have one of the illest trailers I have ever seen for a camera, and I had to watch it several times. This isn’t an ad for the camera and I am not saying that this is the one I will buy, but man what else compares? With that said, watch this trailer, it really is rad to see what kind of punch that tiny package can deliver! (that’s what she said)
It seems like every week someone uploads a new GoPro video which gives me shivers. Well this video has topped them all. 3 guys with helmet cams climb on to the OUTSIDE of a elevator and ride it to the top of the building before jumping off. The first person view makes you really feel like you are there.
We’ve featured tons and tons of extreme videos shot on GoPro Cameras. Usually what makes them exciting is experiencing first hand views of activities you probably won’t participate in yourself. This video has gone viral since it was released yesterday and for good reason. Mountain biker Evan Van Der Spuy probably didn’t see this huge Red Hartebees (an Antelope from southern Africa) charging him as he raced the Albert Falls Dam. Luckily his friend Travis Walker had his GoPro camera rolling and captured this remarkable footage.
A few months back I posted another video by “Betty Wants In” that involved skydiving in ultra slow motion. The video was created with the GoPro video camera and software called Twixtor that can create frames for a very realistic slowmotion look. This time they have created a very different video using the same technique. Enjoy this amazing look at the sport from the safety of your office.
I just stumbled upon another interesting video filmed with the GoPro HD video camera. It’s not really an informative video but hopefully it will give you guys some inspiration. You can easily film things with these ultra small/light cameras that simply were not possible a few years ago. What could you film in a different way?
Update: Sorry about the title. I’ve not heard of “squash” before.
I have a desire to jump off a cliff with a wing-suit on but I am still terrified to go skydiving. While I try to psych myself into it, I do enjoy watching others risk their lives from the comfort of my computer chair. I’ve seen a lot of base jumping videos and this one has to be in my top 3. Once again the cheap GoPro video camera has created another mind blowing video.
This video has been making its rounds today through the blogosphere and for good reason. Photographer Josh Maready thought it might be interesting to view New York City from the eyes of his skateboard’s back wheels by mounting a GoPro video camera dangerously close to the ground. The result is pretty interesting and extremely creative. However we cannot say no camera was harmed in the making of this video; Josh destroyed the first camera and practically vibrated the second one to death. Read more about Josh’s simple video project over on his blog. It should be interesting to see what sort of GoPro projects we see in the near future as they make great tools for exciting behind the scenes contest entries!
