Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Combat Rescue w/ VholdR ContourHD

[VholdR Contour HD & Available Mounts]

I edited this final footage/montage from my deployment to Afghanistan in 2009 of Air Force/Air National Guard Combat Rescue/Medevac/Casevac operations in the Helmand Valley area. Responding at a moment's notice via the HH-60G Pave Hawk, CSAR is an advanced and highly capable rescue system for the coalition forces fighting in Afghanistan.

I wasn't able to arrange for a RED this time around, but have been able to record some decent HD footage on a new Sony Handycam. This was a very sobering deployment and probably my last in an "operational" capacity as I move on with my military career.

I will continue to push for a dedicated high quality filming team, and a "prime time" outlet for the public to maintain it's connection with our service-members.

Corresponding articles:
afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123157644
michaelyon-online.com/pedros.htm

Camera = Sony HDR-XR500 w/ Wide Angle Adapter & VholdR ContourHD Music = Weezer - The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

MrGlory
http://vimeo.com/mrglory

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Using a GoPro HD Hero to create stunning videos

The GoPro HD Hero is a revolutionary camera because of it's size, weight, price, and last but not least it's quality. It's capable of creating amazing results in many different environments, but ending up with the best results isn't always as easy as you think.

Over the past 10 years I've been creating extreme sports videos. I've learned a lot about shooting and editing and the most important thing to know is that video creation is a trial and error process.

Here is how I use the GoPro to create my videos.
Before I even begin shooting I try to create a vision in my mind of what I want the video to look like. The clearer the picture of the final project, the better, so if you have a particular song in mind then include that in the vision.

Try to think about the location you are going to and what features stick out. Are there any jumps, gaps, untouched powder, obstacles that will make the video more interesting? If so, figure out how you can incorporate them into the video and what angles will make them stick out the most. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer is to always shoot multiple angles at each spot you ride. Showing one angle doesn't always give off the best view of the location but if you can edit together a sequence of the same trick with different camera placements, you're set.

With the GoPro you not only have the option of placing the camera on the ground or on a tripod, you also have tons of self-mounting options. I tend to stay away from the helmet cam (although this seems to be the #1 camera placement for amateurs) because it doesn't show what you're doing. My favorite mounting options for Snowkiting are on the board using the suction cup mount [See figure 1.1], on the bar using the seat post mount [1.2], on the lines using the KiteHero Mount [1.3], in the hand [1.4], and on a tripod or the ground [1.5]. You'll notice from my videos that the angle I use most is with the camera on the ground because it shows a full-body view of where I am and what I am doing.




Now that you have an idea where you're shooting and know what angles you'd like to get, you're ready to go out and ride. Of course you're going to explore new spots to shoot each time you ride and sometimes you'll be hitting a spot for the first time, but at least you'll know exactly what's possible and which angles will turn your vision into reality.

Since the GoPro doesn't have a screen, you need to become familiar with it's field of view and keep framing in the back of your mind at all times. Although there are no set rules for framing shots, there are some general guidelines to follow to make your video more viewer friendly.

Headroom: When shooting yourself, keep in mind how wide the lens is. If you point the camera directly at your face, you're probably going to have too much headroom. [Figure 2.1] Point the camera down a little bit to ensure that your head is near the top of the frame rather than in the centre.

Leadroom: When shooting yourself from a profile perspective, try to frame the back of your head against one side of the frame so that the direction you are looking has empty space in front. This space shows that you are moving in this direction. [Figure 2.2]



Proximity: To make the video more editing friendly, always try to shoot multiple proximity's so you can edit from one to another. It always looks better cutting from a wide shot to a close up rather than a wide shot to a wide shot. Variety is priceless.

Now that you've shot all your footage, you're ready to begin the edit. Stay tuned for my next blog describing the editing process I follow using footage from the GoPro.

Check out one of my latest snow kiting videos featuring GoPro HD footage using some of the mounts mentioned above like the suction cup mount

The Ordinary Days of Winter from Big Fall Productions

Thanks for tuning in.

-Brendan Schnurr
Big Fall Productions

Monday, March 08, 2010

Paintball Warfare (GoPro HD HERO)

[GoPro HD HERO & Available Mounts Shot on the tall 4:3 1280x960@30fps setting]

This is the first time I've used the Hero to play paintball (or Real Action Marker) and the results are amazing...
I Attached onto my helmet and sometimes clamped at the stock of the weapon to get that Call of Duty feel. OK, I'm a video game geek.

Shot on the tall 4:3 1280x960@30fps setting so you can see more of the top and bottom.
So here's a quick montage of me in action and more importantly to show off the power of the Hero. I just wish I shot more people up close to show you the detail of the powder smashing against someone.

RAM is pretty much the same as paintball although you get to use replica weapons and use clips that hold 20 rounds each, resulting in a more realistic feel of actual combat. Although I must say the RAM guns right now are not very accurate.

One peculiar thing about wargames in Hong Kong, and unlike paintball, gamers love to dress up and probably wear better equipment than most real soldiers!
You could call it 'combat cosplay'.

Filmed at Training Camp, Hong Kong: trainingcamphkcoltd.com/ Weapons courtesy of APS Paintball Limited: apsram.com

Edwin Lee
http://vimeo.com/10026762

Friday, March 05, 2010

Stop your ContourHD Mount Vibration Troubles w/ a Quick Tutorial

Is your VholdR ContourHD video super shaky, while your friends videos look great?

Prompted by some of our less-than-perfect videos, and by many of our friends & customers asking why some of the videos they took are turning a bit blurry and shaky, we decided to investigate.

Talking with some of the camera users and directly with VholdR we have found the most likely offender and a simple fix. This simple tutorial will show you how to properly mount your Contour HD or ContourHD1080p on your helmet using the flat surface mount.

Stop your video vibration troubles with these super easy to follow VholdR ContourHD Mounting tips