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Leveling Up Your Twitch Stream

By | Gaming, TelePod, Tutorial, Uncategorized, YouTube | No Comments

Live streaming on Twitch has become a very popular way for steamers to get noticed doing what they love. If you put enough effort, time, and quality into your streams with your one-of-a-kind personality, the goal of becoming a Twitch partner and having a solid fan base may be achievable.

To help on that journey, having the right lighting gear is a must and quite easy to set up based on your current budget. Let us walk you through a couple options that hopefully will fit your needs as a streamer. You can also watch our detailed video going through a couple super-effective options with JOBY products and Lightstream streaming software.

One Light Setup

If you’re on a tight budget, a one-light setup that shines a good light on your face is where you should start. Your typical bedroom light is usually not ideal as it’s not pointed at your face and doesn’t give enough light where you need it.

The Beamo Ring Light 12″ RangePod Smart Kit is a great package to start with that won’t break your bank. You can stand the RangePod Smart full size tripod on your office desk behind your monitors and mount the Beamo Ring Light 12″ easily on top as what is called a key light. Point the Ring Light towards your face and make sure to adjust the brightness and temperature to your liking.

Additionally, if you want to use an external camera, you can mount that easily on the Ring Light, using the provided cold shoe adapter.

Two Light Setup

If you want to take your one light setup up a level, it’s as simple as adding what is called a fill light to brighten the opposite side of your face from the key light. You can use a Beamo or Beamo Mini LED light mounted on a TelePod Mobile

and place it directly on your desk or on top of something raised like your desktop PC so it’s high above shining down towards your face.

To keep your Beamo Mini shining, you can plug it directly into an outlet with any USB-A to USB-C cable cord.

Three Light Setup

To fully invest in great lighting for your stream, adding background ambient lights really will take your stream to the next level. Based on what you have placed in your background, a bookcase, shelves, etc. you can add color with any of the various RGB lights in fun ways. You can use string/tape LED lights and stick them over or under shelves or along your walls to create a nice look. An RGB light pointed at your wall behind you can change your boring white wall into any color you want to match your stream. Check out our video for some great ideas.

Live Stream Software: Lightstream

And to give your stream a final touch of quality, use live stream software like Lightstream so you can add text, graphics, and audio all with an easy-to-use interface to give your stream a more professional and impactful touch. You can add things like your handle, additional camera feeds, background music to spice up your stream.

Lightstream is powered by the cloud so everything you set up is saved and accessible from anywhere you go, no download needed. You can personalize your Twitch streams from your PC, console streams from your Xbox and Playstation, and Facebook and YouTube live streams.

The JOBY Mobile Vlogging Kit

By | Tutorial, Uncategorized | No Comments

Have you always wanted all the gear you need to get your vlog started in one box? We’ve taken our popular Mobile Rig and paired it with our new Beamo Mini LED light, and our own microphone, the Wavo Mobile, for the complete vlogging kit for your phone.

The Mobile Vlogging Kit makes creating quality content easy for those starting their own YouTube channel. All you need is your phone to create in horizontal for YouTube and vertical for your Instagram Stories and TikTok videos. The Wavo Mobile improves the quality of your sound when background noises get in your way. The Beamo lights up your content when the sun goes down or there’s just not the perfect light indoors.

Check out all the features straight out of the box in our tutorial below with Tim.

Filming Pro 4K Video with an iPhone

By | iPhone, JOBY Ambassadors, Mobile Filmmaking, Tutorial, Uncategorized, Vlog, YouTube | No Comments

Looking to boost the quality of your iPhone filming? Watch #JOBYAmbassadors Premiere Gal as she shows you step by step on how to utilize your iPhone’s film capability for filming with the new GorillaPod Video PRO.

Make sure to follow her on YouTube for tons of helpful filmmaking tutorials.

YouTube

JOBY @ NAB Show Review Round-Up

By | Gorillapod, iPhone, Press, Uncategorized | No Comments

The JOBY team had a great time at this year’s NAB Show, showing off the new GorillaPod Rig, Mobile Rig, and Griptight PRO TelePod to the crowd of broadcasters and content creators.

Check out all the informative interviews from the show floor and see if any of the new line has a spot in your everyday gear setup.

#JOBYAmbassadors Wil Dasovich Wins Vlogger of the Year

By | Gorillapod, iPhone, JOBY Ambassadors, Uncategorized, Vlog | No Comments

Vlogger and JOBY Ambassador Wil Dasovich had a fantastic 2017, sharing all his amazing journeys and challenges through his YouTube Channel. His community lifted him through his struggles with cancer which he conquered with the love from his family and friends.

He was recently nominated for Vlogger of the Year at the 2018 Shorty Awards with other talented vloggers like Alex Wasabi, iJustine, and Todd Smith. On April 14th his name was called out to his surprise at the New York show, and he took the stage to graciously accept the award in front of many respected creators like his idol, Casey Neistat.

We’re so honored to work closely with Wil and can’t wait for what he does next on his journey that he shares with the entire world.

Follow Wil on all his social channels.

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

The Mobile Rig and TelePod videos featuring Wil Dasovich.

BTS Toy Photography Magic by #JOBYAmbassadors Plasticaction

By | DIY, Gorillapod, JOBY Ambassadors, Tutorial, Uncategorized | No Comments

If you are a geek at heart like many of us at the office, you may have come across the magical world of toy photography on Instagram. Photographers will take action figures from your favorite movies and tv shows like Star Wars, Marvel, and Game of Thrones, and pose them in such a way that they come to life with the help of some special effects.

#JOBYAmbassador @plasticaction has created some stunning toy photograph photos and has some great tips to share if you want in on the action. Read on.

If any of you are interested in diving into the world of toy photography, I highly suggest some sort of tripod and remote shutter release for your camera. For almost every shoot I use my GorillaPod along with a remote shutter release because I need to have at least one hand free to execute an effect (wind, explosion, or weather).

My GorillaPod is absolutely necessary for not just this reason, but to keep the framing consistent. There are times in post-production where I use multiple images and combine them into one so it is important that the camera does not move while I’m shooting multiple images. Here are some behind-the-scenes footage of some of my shoots. Check the hashtag #plasticactionBTS on Instagram for even more footage.

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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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

JOBY Halloween

Behind the scenes: JOBY Halloween

By | Hacks, Uncategorized | No Comments

Go behind the scenes of the JOBY Halloween shoot

For Halloween, we wanted to do something. Actually, we’re always looking to do something fun and creative with photography. So our Halloween social image (seen below) quickly became a full-on project for the kid in all of us.

JOBY Halloween

First we nailed down the concept and then set off to accomplish it. This meant some very awkward stares as we shoveled up two buckets of sand from the volleyball court outside our offices. We’ll put it back 🙂 Then we set off to scavenge a few tree limbs and other items down by the river for the pieces of our landscape. Next, after some office debate and testing, we settled on the perfect faces for the pumpkins. All that was left was to make a few props and stage it all – which took about three hours.

Now for the photo. I knew lighting was going to be what made the shot, and that I was going to have to experiment a bit. I took one light from our Profoto B1 Location Kit and placed a red gel with rubber bands over it. I then placed it behind our scene as it would be the glowing moon in our shot. At first I thought I would need it to flash with the other Profoto studio lights. This sort of worked, but it didn’t produce the look I was going for. It just didn’t look like the moon was lighting the image.

After a lot of trial and error, I ended up with the following for the shot. I put the Profoto studio light with the gel on modeling mode with it set to the max. I then used two additional studio lights as flashes. One to the left low down at about 10%, and the second up high looking down on the right at about 15%. Then I set the camera (Canon 5Dmk3 with Canon 85mm f/1.2) for a long exposure. It was between 3-5 sec for the final shot. The flashes in the front provided just a hint of foreground light while. This allowed the light with the red gel to become the main light and produced some really creepy shadows.

Finally we brought it into Photoshop and then we just needed to remove the fishing line that we used to prop up everything. We added a bit of black vignetting, but mostly, about 95% was achieved in camera.

Instagram Spotlight – Mono Del Espacio

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Mono-top

JOBY Instagram Spotlight | featuring @monodelespacio

Monodelespacio or “Mono del Espacio” in Spanish is translated into “Space Monkey”. Besides having one killer Instagram handle Monodelespacio is one of the most diverse Instgramers we’ve come across. His images expand over a variety of subject and are carefully crafted by the eye of a designer. Climb onboard with this Space Monkey and join the 87.7k and growing Instagram followers along for the ride.

Mono Del Espacio  |  Age: 32  |  @monodelespacio  |  instagram.com/monodelespacio

Guatemala City, Guatemala

 

What gear do you use?

MOBILE: iPhone 6 Plus

CAMERAS: Sony A7

ACCESSORIES: Lowepro Protactic 450AW, JOBY GripTight GorillaPod XL, GorillaPod Focus with Ballhead X, Ultrafit Sling Strap, Action Suction Cup with Locking Arm

Mono-1

When did you start taking photos?

I have taken photos all my life I just wasn’t serious about sharing them with anybody. In 2011  I begun my instagram journey, the rest is history.

Mono-3

Why did you start taking photos?

I begun documenting architecture projects to keep track of the building process. I think this was the main reason I shared my work and begun paying attention of new points of view on everyday subjects.

Mono-5

When did you join Instagram and why did you join?

I joined instagram on late 2010, but didnt use it until 2011.

Mono-2

What is your favorite image you’ve posted to Instagram and why?

This was a decisive point in my explorations. It was the first time I found something based on a vague memory from my childhood, to find this bridge was quite exciting.

Mono-Fav

What do you use the most, DSLR or Smartphone?

This is a tough question. But on Instagram (until recently) just my iPhone. I’m using more and more of my mirrorless now though…

Mono-8

Are there any photo apps you recommend?

VSCO. Afterlight. Blender.

 

Are you a professional photographer or hobbyist?

I studied architecture. But right now have several photography commissions. So yes I am a professional photographer. I work with several brands taking lifestyle pictures as well as several look-books. I have been working lately on architectural photography.

Mono-4

Do you attend or have you attended photography workshops, classes etc?

No, I developed my craft taking pictures on my own. Practice makes perfect I guess.

Mono-7

What’s your day job?

I am a Senior Designer at an architecture firm.

Mono-9

Do you carry a camera daily? Which one?

Sony A7

Mono-6

Which fellow instagrammer do you admire the most?

@13thwitness

 

Any advice to those staring out?

Photography to me is more about being honest to who you are than to what you see. Pursue a distinctive voice in everything you do without compromise.

Mono-10

 

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