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Photography

Who Needs an Assistant When You Have a GorillaPod

By | Photography | No Comments

Mark of Gold Hat Photography, shares his experience using his GorillaPod 5K effectively during wedding shoots.

 

I’ve been a wedding photographer for around 6 years and have been fortunate enough to shoot all over the world.

When I travel, it’s important for me to pack light and only carry one bag.

Not only am I able to breeze through customs with my camera backpack on my shoulders, but having my precious gear near to me at all times greatly reduces the possibility of something going missing – lost luggage would be a disaster!

When packing light, I need to be able to justify every item of gear. Bulky items such as full-sized tripods or light stands are a definite no-no, and everything needs to be as light as possible.

The whole mirrorless vs DSLR camera debate is getting a little tedious, but one thing’s for sure – shooting with smaller mirrorless bodies/lenses has definitely enabled me to reduce the overall size/weight of my camera gear.

In addition, products like the Joby GorillaPod 5k which serve multiple purposes have allowed me to create images that would have been difficult otherwise… at least, without enlisting the help of an assistant.

Most photographers think of GorillaPods as devices to support cameras – I prefer to use mine to attach lights in obscure places.

In the image below taken at a destination wedding in Montreal, the GorillaPod is supporting an LED light panel, which I attached to a wooden post directly behind the subjects.

(See this GorillaPod guide for more examples of what you can attach to our bendy 3-legged friends!)

Being able to quickly illuminate a subject from any angle, in any location, makes the GorillaPod + light an essential tool in my wedding photography arsenal… and rightfully deserves its place in my tightly packed travel bag 🙂

The GorillaPod 3K PRO

By | Gorillapod, Photography, Travel, Vlog, YouTube | No Comments

The serious GorillaPod for premium Mirrorless camera users. This brand new design featuring CNC machined sockets and Arca Swiss compatible BallHead sets a new standard for Content Creators using the latest hardware and techniques. Grip It, Wrap it and Stand it supporting Premium Mirrorless Cameras or other accessories up to 3kg (6.6lbs).

Check out all the details here.

The New GorillaPod Line with #JOBYAmbassadors Gunnarolla

By | Gorillapod, JOBY Ambassadors, Mobile Filmmaking, Photography, Travel, Vlog, YouTube | No Comments

Are you always in a situation where you need to take a great photo or video of yourself? #JOBYAmbassadors Gunnarolla, the king of selfies :), helps you walk through the new line of GorillaPods, to see which one is right for you.

See the new lineup here: https://joby.com/gorillapod-tripods?mode=grid

Follow Gunnarolla on his social channels.

YouTube

Instagram

Twitter

Catch Some Air With BMX Rider And #JOBYAmbassadors Rob Darden

By | Action Sports, BMX, Gorillapod, JOBY Ambassadors, Photography | No Comments

Professional BMX rider and #JOBYAmbassadors Rob Darden gives us a tour around his BMX life, how he sets up for a bike shoot, and how he uses his JOBY gear. Hop on and enjoy the ride!

Can you give us a quick bio of yourself?

My name is Rob Darden. I am 35 years old, originally from Concord, CA now residing in Greenville, NC. I am a professional BMX rider, husband, and father of two. I have been riding BMX Freestyle since 1992 and have a long competition history in BMX Park and Dirt I have ridden at major events such as X Games, Dew Tour and Fise. Throughout my professional career, I have participated in numerous tours and produced many video segments and continue to do so.

What’s your greatest achievement?

X Games Bronze Medal, Year End Park CFB Jacket, Nominated for Rider Of The Year.

What’s your go-to JOBY gear and why?

GorillaPod Hybrid. It’s not too big and supports all of my gear great. The GorillaPod Magnetic is the other tripod that is a must have for me. I always find myself in weird situations filming BMX. With the Magnetic feet, I can pretty much set my camera up at any spot. The Magnetic feet are also a nice security feature if it’s a windy day.

What camera gear do you use?

Sony A7ii, GoPro Hero 5, iPhone 6s

What’s your favorite image you’ve posted and why?

I don’t have a favorite photo of mine. I shoot so many different things it’s hard to narrow one down. Long exposure photos are always fun and interesting to me because you don’t know what you’re going to get until the camera is done processing the photo. I love the anticipation! Also going out at night and working in the dark is always an adventure.

What’s the next piece of gear on your wish list and why must you have it?

I want to add the DJI Mavic Pro to my gear.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to an up and comer?

Just get out and shoot as much as possible. It doesn’t matter what it is, just learn your camera, and it’s settings. Remember the best camera is the one that is with you. Have fun out there.

Hitting The Slopes With Snowboarder and #JOBYAmbassadors Seth Hill

By | Gorillapod, JOBY Ambassadors, Photography, Uncategorized | No Comments

With winter in full swing, #JOBYAmbassadors Seth Hill is in his element out on the slopes. Here he shares with us a little about himself, what gear he uses, and some tips on how to capture the perfect shot.

Can you give us a quick bio of yourself?
My name is Seth Hill, and I am a professional snowboarder and emerging filmer/producer. I have achieved a top 20 ranking in the world for professional snowboarding. I also produced, filmed and starred in a full length snowboarding documentary presented by RedBull called Really Gotta Wanna (currently available on iTunes). I also create content for Monster and my sponsors Sims and Phunkshun. I have found a fun place in mixing my love for action sports and videography.

What’s your greatest achievement?
My top snowboarding result was a second place at the ride shakedown in Canada; I was also Snowboarder Mag Super Park 16 Stand Out in 2012 and ended my career as 18th in the world. On top of my snowboarding achievements, I am also very proud of graduating from Colorado University in 2010 and the debut of my first full length snowboarding documentary, Really Gotta Wanna in 2014 (currently available on iTunes).  All in all, I have had a very blessed life, traveled the world snowboarding and filming and am now starting to get my company RGWproductions.

What’s your go-to JOBY gear and why?
I use the GorillaPod Focus daily; I like the event photo kit with the clamp and the suction for action camera timelapse shots. The UltraFit Sling Strap and Hand Strap are always on my camera and have taken out the jib kit to create some more unique video shots.

How do you setup for a shot with your JOBY gear?

With the array of shots and styles of shots, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one set up. I tend to keep the hand grip on my DSLR for running around and quick mounting to my GorillaPod Focus. I also like to use the clamp for a second angle while using my stabilizer.

What camera gear do you use?
I have a wide variety of camera gear, Canon 6D and 60D for most of my photography, Panasonic GH4 and FZ1000 that I filmed ReallyGottaWanna with, 2 GoPro 4s, and my newest addition of the Sony FS700 with Odyssey Q7

What’s your favorite image you’ve posted and why?
Below is one of my favorites from a random trip to London, even though it has nothing to do with snowboarding.

What’s the next piece of gear on your wish list and why must you have it?
The next piece of gear on my wish list is the Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW. I travel lots and love that the bag can be both inconspicuous for travel and can detach to run around with the backpack.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to an up and comer?
I have always been a learn from experience kind of guy and feel like its taken me pretty far. Get out and just shoot nothing compares to the first-hand experience.

 

Check out all of Seth’s adventures on his social channels.

Instagram     Facebook     YouTube

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Capturing Dramatic Urban Photography With Neal Kumar

By | Gorillapod, Photography | No Comments

My name is Neal Kumar, a Chicago-based photographer, focused mostly on urban photography. I usually shoot with both a Canon 6D SLR and an iPhone, and I have the extra gear to help me shoot with both of those. While my Canon body isn’t too heavy, some of the lenses I use can add a lot of weight which makes having a sturdy tripod essential.

The Gorillapod Focus is perfect for this setup and is very stable despite harsh conditions. In Chicago, it can get quite windy, and in those situations, I like to spread the legs of the tripod out wider to increase stability. To be safe, I often adjust the legs without the camera attached, so that I can ensure the set up is secure before resting my camera on the tripod. Once I have the legs set, I will make fine adjustments using the ballhead. Sometimes I will even use Live view on the camera screen so I can make adjustments without having to look through the viewfinder. I use the Gorillapod for light trails, moving clouds, and night shots.

Ever since the iPhone first came out, new apps have been developed that allow the phone’s camera shutter to stay open longer to capture motion, light trails, and night shots. In most cases, I will use my Gorillapod with the iPhone attachment and ballhead. Again I like to get the Gorillapod legs set up before attaching my phone, and then make small adjustments with the ballhead. The beautiful part about the ballhead is that you can take both landscape and portrait shots with the iPhone by tilting it 90 degrees.

For night shots I like to use Cortex Cam which has fast focus and a relatively short shutter speed which decreases the chance of blurriness.

AvgNiteCam is great for capturing motion during both day and night. To capture the action of moving clouds or bodies of water, I like to use 16-64 shots depending on how much movement I want. However, the more shots I take, the long the shutter is open and the higher the chance of getting a blurry shot. Be sure to turn on the timer so that when you press the shutter button, you aren’t shaking the phone while the shutter is open.

Lastly, I like to use SlowShutterCam to capture light trails from moving objects such as cars or trains. This app is also useful for capturing motion while shooting from the very back window of subway trains in cities like Chicago and NYC. This is the one occasion where I don’t need a Gorillapod since I’m able to firmly hold the phone against the glass looking straight-on with the tracks. You can adjust how long you want the shutter to be open, but I like to keep this on “bulb” which allows you to stop the shutter whenever you feel like you have captured enough motion. I almost always keep the app in “Light Trail” mode, and use a sensitivity of ¼ or ⅛.

Check out JOBY Ambassador, Neal Kumar’s photography on his social channels.

500px

Instagram

JOBY Capture The Holidays Sweepstakes

By | Contests, Gorillapod, Photography, Vlog | No Comments

Capture your holiday memories with some great gear for your camera. We have everything on your camera’s Wish List to start vlogging the holidays away! One winner will win this amazing prize package.

To enter on Instagram, find the sweepstakes post on @jobyinc. In the comments tag three of your friends, you’ll capture the holidays with, and follow the following brands.

Sweepstakes runs from 12/5 to 12/12. Check out the Official Rules for details. Have a Happy Holidays and good luck!

Step Into The World of Steel Wool Spinning with Dale Mears

By | Gorillapod, Photography, Uncategorized | No Comments

JOBY advocate Dale Mears took some time to walk us through his world of steel wool spinning photography. He’s been perfecting his style for a while now and recently came up big, winning a popular online competition versus many other talented spinners. Read his journey to spark some ideas in your photography!

I started spinning steel wool after seeing a shot online and instantly knew it was something I wanted to try. I went and bought myself a metal whisk, some steel wool, and some rope and called up a few friends.

I didn’t have a clue exactly what I was meant to do or what would happen, so I set my camera up on a GorillaPod and headed out to our local park at night to find some tunnels. With cameras set up and on a release shutter, we lit the wire wool, and I instantly knew it was something that I would have to do again. Sparks flying everywhere and the whole tunnel lit up was a real thrill. Back to the camera and waiting for the exposure to finish and up flashes the preview, we thought “wow, let’s do it again” and again and again. Our images got better each time and over a few months we tried a few locations and left it there.

A couple of months later I had a conversation with a friend of mine who said: “I know where there are some fields full of helicopters.” We had to visit the field, so we went a few times to grab some new steel wool shots.

We have since visited some cool location here in the UK based in Nottingham.

I have always had a thing about light painting and seeing what I can do with a camera and some cool toys, so this is the perfect hobby.

Earlier this year, I was asked if I wanted to take part in a UK competition called Battle of the Underdogs, an invite-only steel wool spinning competition over on Instagram. Of course, I had to say yes. The competition gives twenty contestants who have been spinning steel wool but were are not well known for it, a good chance to get some exposure.

It all started over at @steelwooldaily_uk and was a knockout format head to head. It was the best thing having to shoot specifically for the competition and go up blind against a competitor. The competition was judged by two well-known judges one of which Sergey the founder of Light Painting World Alliance so had to go large with the shots.

The competition went well and pushed me to travel with friends to some cool locations like a church carved into sandstone recorded to exist from 1658, some fresh graffiti ridden tunnels and a disused railway where we used the signal posts to club up high.

I ended up winning the competition thanks to the judge’s votes and, of course, a number of JOBY fans who gave some of my images a vote. A massive thank you from me!

If you haven’t had the chance to check out steel wool spinning, go and give it a go. If you need any tips check out the JOBY labs video guide!

My main piece of advice for someone wanting to start is to buy a nice comfortable dog lead and a good sturdy medium sized metal whisk. The dog lead will prevent you getting some real sore blisters. Make sure you have a sturdy tripod – I love to use my GorillaPod Focus + Bullhead X or SLR-Zoom as I can pack them in my bag without the hassle of carrying a big tripod and you get a nice low perspective. Use grade 00 or fine steel wool as this burns much better. Make sure you have some old clothes; a hoodie works nicely, so sparks don’t go down your back. Please be sensible and keep an eye on your surroundings, so you don’t burn anything.

Check out my channels and feel free to get in touch.

Instagram

Facebook

Instagram Spotlight – Hugh Roberts

By | Instagram Spotlight, Photography | No Comments

Boomeister-top

JOBY Instagram Spotlight | featuring @boomeister_ru

This month we’re featuring Hugh Roberts. Hugh originally caught our attention with his mystical slow shutter images, and we became captivated by how he saw his hometown – Cape Town, South Africa. Check out Hugh’s feed and get ready for some jawdropping images that will inspire you to get out and explore!

Hugh Roberts  |  Age: 36  |  @boomeister_ru  |  instagram.com/boomeister_ru

Cape Town, South Africa

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Instagram Spotlight – Nikita Ducarroz

By | Instagram Spotlight, Photography | No Comments

Nikita-top

JOBY Instagram Spotlight | featuring @nikitabmxgirl

This month we’re featuring Nikita Ducarroz. We all follow people who just make us laugh, entertain us, or whom we just admire. Nikita is one of those people whom doesn’t take herself seriously even though she’s seriously talented. As one of the only females in the world who can backflip a BMX bike her Instagram feed is full of action, spills, and a behind the scenes look at the making of a pro at the start of her career. Follow @nikitabmxgirl today and add some excitement and silliness to your day.

Nikita Ducarroz  |  Age: 19  |  @nikitabmxgirl  |  instagram.com/nikitabmxgirl

Northern California

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