New Camera: GoPro Hero Motorsports

Well it has been a very sunny week this week and I had only just got my brand new GoPro Hero Camcorder at the start of it... Anyway I decided to take my GoPro Hero Camcorder in addition to my Mountain Bike over to Mam Tor (Mountain) in the Peak District and make a video.  This is the very end result of that video.

The GoPro Camcorder is a Professional Camcorder, that is for sure.  However, there are a few nibbles that I do have with regards to it.  They are.....

A)  the mounts only allow you to turn the camcorder in 90 degree turns.  (Swivel & Lock would of been better here GoPro).
B)  you can not preview your composure on the GoPro so you can't be 100% sure that the shot you want is the actual shot that it is that you are going to get.  However I have learnt a new trick, which involves taking a photo onto the GoPro memory card and using an external device to preview that image in order to view my fixed composure.
C)  I really hate the noise that the microphone does pick up on the GoPro when it's inside it's water proof housing. Honestly that noise quality sucks and makes me cringe all the time.  Plus I don't understand why GoPro installed a microphone onto the GoPro Hero in the fist place as you have to use the water proof mount to mount the GoPro on to everything i.e. bikes, people, helmets, roll cage etc... etc...

Any way to finish, then out of 10 I would give the GoPro hero 8.

Cheers

Strober

Asrock Instant Boot Up On My Desk Top PC

Ok so I took the leap recently and invested in a decent Windows PC for my photo / video editing work.  I ended up buying a system that ran the AMD Phenom ii x6 1055t processor.  One of the additional features that did come with this system was the "Asrock Instant Boot" feature which I am pretty impressed with..... just watch my video below and you will see just how fast the Asrock Instant Boot really is with regards to starting / booting up your Windows Desk Top.  Over all i'm impressed with my new computer and look forward to working / editing my videos & photos on it.

Just thought I'd share the Instant Boot thing with you all though...... Strober........

Shooting wispers of Smoke

I've been meaning to photograph wisps of smoke for some time now and it was only yesterday (18th Jan 2012) that I did give this theme a go.

So I set up one SB600 and activated it via commander on my Nikon D90's flash.  As a result these are the final images that I did produce.

Also if you want a more detailed look at my set up then just watch the video below and it will give you a better insight as to how I made these images.

To finish with I was pleasantly surprised when I seen a young woman in a dress in one of these wisps of smoke looking back at me, when I look at the higher resolution of the image then I can even make out her face too.  Some would call it spooky, but I for one call it cool :)

Enjoy

Strober

Painting By Light

I was bored so I decided that I would go out in the middle of the night and make a new video for my YouTube channel with regards to Light Painting.

So off I went on my travels into the deep dark night.  I ended up finding this derelict building which was pretty cool.  But at the same time it was NOT that cool..... this is because part of the floor gave way on me and seen me plunge into the basement beneath it.  So beware if you are looking at going into derelict buildings for what ever reason then remember that derelict buildings are dangerous at the same time and you enter them at your own risk.

Any way I ended up making my video (which you can see below) and these are the finished images from that shoot.  Enjoy

Strober

PS:  Yes that is the hole that I feel through into the basement at the end :)

Pixel TW-282 Wireless Remote Control

The Pixel TW-282 is the “Wireless” version of the Pixel TC-252 Remote Control.  It sports off all the same features as the TC-252 but again the Pixel TW-282 is the “Wireless” version of the TC-252.

I done some fair tests with this remote control and I am pleased to say that it performs very well.  The main focus of my tests was to put as many “obstacles”  between the transmitter of the TW-282 and the receiver as much as possible i.e.  brick walls etc… now I’m very pleased to say that the Pixel TW-282 did very easily pass these tests of mine as my camera did continue to fire shot after shot after shot.

The Pixel TW-282 is the must have remote control to have in your photography kit if you’re a sports photographer, or a wild life photographer.  As it is going to help you get close to the action and get the shots that you will just other wise not get with out it.  For more on the Pixel TW-282 watch my video below.

Pixel Opas Transceiver

The Radio Trigger Market is just flooded nowadays and plenty of people are confused as to what trigger it is that they should be spending their hard earned cash on?

For example I know that there is a MASSIVE amount of photographers out there that are simply if not over the moon with their Yong Nuo RF 602 Raido Triggers.  Then on the other side of the coin we have those other photographers who simply just won't shoot with out their triggers being the big brand names like Pocket Wizards.

When UK Highland Photography first sent me out the Pixel Bishops, then I have to admit I was pretty "unsure" about Pixel Products.... that was unto I put the Pixel Bishops and the Pocket Wizards head to head with each other and was very shocked at my findings.  Basically the Pixel Bishops done exactly as they did say they would do on the box.  However, the big brand name Pocket Wizards failed to do exactly what it is that they claimed their product could do.

Now moving on, yes the Pixel Opas Transceiver does look like a Pocket Wizard.  But people for real the Pixel Opas just feels so much better build than a Pocket Wizard.  The Pixel Opas is solid, if I dropped my Pocket Wizards then I'd expect them to shatter / break.  But I've got this feeling that if I dropped my Pixel Opas then it would just gain a cosmetic scratch and nothing much more.

In my honest opinion then the Pixel Opas is what the Pocket Wizard 11 should of been.  I mean I have got "options", for example I can activate my speedlites via a hot shoe on the Opas or I can use a PC sync cord if I really wanted to.  There is something about the Opas that I just like.... it's sexy, sleek, well built, comes with an excellent case to keep it protected, has all the cables that one would need.  Again in my honest opinion the Opas is exactly the kind of trigger that kicks the Pocket Wizards back side.  I spent £360 on my 2 Pocket Wizard Plus 11's and it eats me up inside to know that with triggers like the Opas on the market then I could of got 4 triggers for the same amount of money and would of had more options with regards to working with them. e.g. Hot Shoe, PC Sync Cord etc......

Since I've been writing / making videos for review of Pixel products then I have to say that I am becoming more and more of a fan of Pixel products.  For example if I had a Wedding to shoot tomorrow then the reality is I would 100% be taken my Pixel products with me in order to get the job done.  Watch the Video below guys and see for your-selfs just how much of a cracker the Pixel Opas really is.

Regards

Strober

Pixel TC-252 Remote Control

Wow.....  I've been playing around with this new Pixel TC-252 Remote Control of mine which I got from www.ukhighland.co.uk and wow this new bit of kit has taught me to be even more creative with regards to the way that I do use my DSLR'.s

What I have learnt from working with the Pixel TC-252 Remote Control is how to do "Time Lapse" photography.  For example if you watch my video review below of the TC-252 Remote Control then you will see that I did make a "Time Lapse" of two birthday candles as they do go through their stages of burning.

The Pixel TC-252 Remote Control boasts these following modes.... Single, Continuous, Bulb & Delay.  It feels comfortable in your hands and is very easy to operate. For more info on the Pixel TC-252 then watch the video below.

Regards

Strober