I’d love to have a deeper buffer and 10-12 FPS as on the Nikon D4 and Canon 1DX, but otherwise I find the 5D3 very practical for shooting high action sports with careful planning. I try to be pretty selective about positioning the camera, and timing to take maximum advantage of the bursts 
I can produce. I used a 400mm f/2.8 L IS lens this weekend.
Today I finished the preliminary shot list for the 2 day shoot, and the other details are being finalized. We’re going to advertise this project, which will hopefully extend high-quality works of art to be enjoyed by underpriviledged children. The bus would travel to many locations and host a variety of other functions:
– Traveling Art Museum
– Mobile Art Classroom
– Corporate/Private Events
– School Activities
– General Use for Public Art Appreciation
– Independent Curated Art Exhibitions
I’m very proud to be the DP for this project, and wish it all success.To Jaydee Dizon, who asked me to participate: thanks.
This ingenious tool allows stable placement of the camera in very tight locations, such as vehicle interiors; it also doubles as a fully functional video tripod, achieving full height when put on a desk, table or other secondary support. A full, complex rig can easily be mounted onto this hi-hat as it is rated to withstand a load of up to 165 pounds.
I can put a wide variety of photo or video heads on the hi-hat; because of the 75mm bowl, it’s easy to set up Dutch angle shots and to level the head to the horizon- or to the included bubble level. The leveler can be used whether or not the bowl is employed, due to its location on the base.
Construction: build quality is excellent. It’s very versatile in terms of height options due to the adjustments possible in each independent leg, and the swiveling rubber mounting feet permit bolting or spiking of the hi-hat as shown below, when desired.
I highly recommend combining a hi-hat with a good fluid head to get the most out of both- they were born for each other and are a wonderful asset in addition to jib and slider for achieving the kind of camera motions which contribute to the production value of projects.
Manfrotto 502 AH fluid head, custom wood apple box (platform)
used 3/8″ flathead hex bolts and wingnuts
side view
included: Rode Stereo Videomic Pro on articulated arm and 5″ HDMI monitor
there are 3 attachment points built into the unit
See
I also enjoy using slow motion as depicted here, but I usually do it in post (Premiere Pro/After Effects) rather than at capture.
For those who wish to share video, audio, text and/or photo files with me, please send them to my Dropbox if you have access to this feature.
I found this baseplate for $99 (no tax) last weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center, while attending a Big Photo Show. The Hoodman rep was at the Samys section and I was intrigued by the prospect of using a compact, lightweight ‘rail’ to add or remove my 3″ Hoodman loupe to a DSLR monitor. This would make use in bright sunlight much easier.
After a short demo I decided to buy it, and I assembled it this afternoon (see images). The box has excellent schematic images showing the location and names of all of the parts. This is a modular design with 3 components: the onboard 1/8″ hex Allen wrench, the rail which accepts the loupe, and the baseplate which attaches to the camera base.
I’m pleased with the very lightweight of this unit, its build quality, and the ease of attachment and removal of the loupe assembly. The fit to the 3″ Nikon D600 monitor is excellent. Controls are positive and smooth. And it’s in Nikon colors- the main set screw is gold….[sorry, non-Nikonians]. I can easily reach the LiveView and other camera controls, because none of the baseplate extends over them.
This unit also adjusts for a 3.2″ monitor such as the D4, and all hex screws are of the same caliber so that the entire apparatus can be completely adjusted in the field with no additional tools.
SUMMARY: I highly recommend this item for DSLR videographers and still photographers, especially if you do a lot of field work and/or do not use a matte box. You won’t notice it until you need it.
baseplate (L), rail (R)
baseplate from below
attacheing the baseplate to the grip for Nikon D600
The bracket also fits 3.2″ loupes
microadjustments to fit the 3″ loupe to the bracket
the lower left portion of the vertical adjustment rail contains the 1/8″ hex wrench
no interference with battery swapout from Nikon grip
lateral view of complete assembly on tripod, with D600
closeup of main setscrew to adjust rail (gold) and QR plate from baseplate to tripod mount
Arca-Swiss compatible (Acratech) tripod quick-release plate attached
Little Lakes Valley, Eastern Sierra, CA-December 2012
Sequoia National Park, CA, October 2012
It was great fun creating these, and there will be several more to come. I hope that you enjoy them as well….
Some additional details:
Adobe Lightroom 4 and Photoshop CS6 software
Nikon D600, various Nikkor lenses (Sequoia NP)
Canon DSLR (Little Lakes Valley)
Many thanks for watching my site!
Please ask if you would like a review of some item, if you want to know more about a location I mention or show in a video or image, or should you like to contribute to my site in some way. Contact me by e-mail at benjaminlafayettesisko@gmail.com, or phone (951)-255-9568.
If you are interested in one of my wilderness, landscape or video workshops, please let me know.
Again: I’m grateful for your interest and have a safe, exciting 2013…………..
William
the front door of the mobile office
Black Diamond Megalite shelter, less than 2 1/2 pounds
Room with view, no rent
First chance to head out with the <2 pound, 70 liter Golite Jam pack
Love the La Sportiva Batura boots!
Today there were spring-like conditions, and I had a good time preparing for the Sierra trip in 8 days
4 snowshoers, Left to right: Raul and Joann Loo, Adi and myself
The view approaching the South Notch, Long Valley, CA- you can see to Baja from here
I demonstrated use of a hanging stove in an ultralight hybrid snow shelter/ teepee-style tent (Black Diamond Megalite), use of wands and GPS navigation, and basics of constructing snow blocks for caves and igloos in 20’s F weather with approx 25 mph winds and blowing spindrift.
Here’s my finalized equipment list for the outing. I’m extremely impressed with certain items in my inventory for winter including the <2 pound Jam 70 pack, ❤ pound Megalite tent,the WM Vapor jacket, MHW Mithral hard shell jacket, and WM Antelope sleeping bag- these are highly recommended!!
Little Lakes Valley Eastern Sierra Winter Camp/ December 2012
Equipment Planning-William Hooks (final draft)
My personal gear:
Camera body: D600/ Kata weather cover, wired remote, spare batteries, SD cards, GP-1
Carrier: LowePro Toploader 75/ chest harness
Lens: 24-70mm f/2.8 Nikkor
GoLite Jam 70 pack (modified*) w mini-carabiner, pack cover
Western Mountaineering Antelope +5F, 850+ fill down sleeping bag/ REI Minimalist biv sack
Therma-Rest NeoAir XLite air pad*
BD (AAA) -LED headlamp
Freeze-dried food and drinks, Titan mug, spoon, trash bag, OP sack; packtowl, snacks
WAG bag in OP sack; snow collection bag (for melting)
GU/carrier, and other snacks
Smartwool shirt/leggings
Marmot Scree soft shell pants, WM Vapor (Windstopper) 850 down jacket
Mountain Hardwear (MHW) Mithral hard shell jacket
La Sportiva Batura boots, full mtg socks, liner socks
U-reservoir
1-liter Nalgene Lexan bottle, 1 water bottle parka; 1LPlatypus flexible bottle; Potable Aqua ClO2; REI storm matches
MHW (XL) SubZero Parka
toiletries, sun protection= sunglasses/carrier, Croakies, sunscreen, goggles, lip balm
Marmot Alpinist semi-mittens, MHW Altitude gloves w liners; MHW Ozone thin gloves
Sleeping clothes= MHW pile hat,1 pr socks, REI pile shirt, Icebreaker leggings
Leki trek poles, MSR Lightning snowshoes
REI Snoqualamie eVent hat, midweight balaclava, neck gaiter
TR closed foam sit pad
GROUP GEAR:
Permit and map , compass/inclinometer, Garmin GPSMap62
Micro-light table tripod with attachment to axe
2 Jetboil stoves w hanging kit, fuel canisters, matches; option- MSR Reactor stove
Rx (bandages, antibiotic, decongestant, XS Tylenol..)
Snow gear=2 snow saws ,2 shovels, 70 wands/ 3 pockets, av probe pole
Black Diamond Firstlight, Megalite, and/ or TNF Assault 22 single-wall 4season tent/ footprint, snow stakes
Optionals:
[Alpine climbing gear= hardware, helmets/helmet liner, ice axes, rope/s, pickets, crampons]
[carbon fiber or basalt ultralight Gitzo tripod/QR]
[whistles, transceivers]
William Hooks
maximpactphotography 