When it comes to making video edits and sports demos of yourself, finding a friend to film can be the biggest challenge of all. With this second generation advancement of the SOLOSHOT you can film yourself in endless scenarios, photograph panning DSLR timelapse, and forego the need for a buddy on the beach.
I grew up with a passion for surfing and photography, and it was always a challenge to choose between the two when the conditions were right. As I got older the decision became a lot easier as I aimed my pursuit in the path of photography and filmmaking. Now with the invention and evolution of gadgets like the SOLOSHOT2, having your cake and eating it too is a breeze.
There are plenty of new upgrades to the SOLOSHOT2. Perhaps the most significant, it is now capable of horizontal and vertical panning. Previously only able to pan 360 degrees on a single plane, the newest unit allows for non-restrictive panning. Another interesting feature is the DSLR timelapse photography feature. Just set the unit for a slow pan or tilt while capturing imagery at desired intervals for a perfect B-roll timelapse (below).
This newest model also adopts many new and different uses. The original SOLOSHOT was conceived to give surfers the ability to film themselves from the beach while in the water. Now the unit has given the ease of self-filming to so many others: wakeboarders, car enthusiasts, football players, equestrians, and so on. However, what does this mean for the videographer?
Many may argue that with the surge of people filming themselves with personal cameras and self-filming robots the need for the specialized skill set of a videographer is fading. In my opinion, the need seems to just be shifting and amplifying. After all, these clips need editors. While working with former WCT Pro Surfer Ben Bourgeois, I was asked to put together a series of Instagram videos using SOLOSHOT clips for WRV Surfboards (below). Having solid clips to rely on made this job a breeze. From the editors standpoint, this is paramount when putting together an edit of any duration.
In another case, we have professional surfer Brett Barley, an Outer Banks local ripper with a passion for making surf edits. Barley is perhaps the perfect individual for a tool like this. Barley is not only a talented surfer, but a skilled filmmaker, too. He has taken to making highly-anticipated YouTube videos with his clips. Like many sports, watching technique on film is a helpful tool of progression. In today's social media driven world, solid and frequent video edits are a great tool to make sponsors happy too (below).
While the SOLOSHOT2 can always be improved upon, it still makes stepping stones for some pretty amazing gadgetry that will likely change the way we approach amateur-level videography. The shift has been happening a while now, with the surge of personal cameras like the GoPro Hero3+ and access to advanced level editing software. Personally I can't wait to see what they come up with next.
[via Soloshot]
