Adventure Nomad

Adventure Nomad

Saturday, April 21, 2012

A Black Hole


The past six months of my life have been something of a black hole, sucked up by a mountain bike race in South Africa called the Cape Epic.  During the three months leading up to the race, I biked an average of 1000km a month, climbing over 37,000m... and it still wasn't enough.  I failed to complete the race with my teammate.

It wasn't a total loss.  I learned a lot too.  Still photography is difficult to do on a bike, and even more difficult to involve a viewer in the action.  But strapping on a small video camera to capture moving footage on a bike is relatively easy to do and easy to involve the viewer, and I so began the  process of learning how to shoot video.

GoPro HD Hero
I bought myself a GoPro HD Hero camera with various clips and attachments, and a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 with 14-140mm kit lens, a Panasonic 7-14mm f/4.0 wide angle zoom, and a Panasonic LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Pancake Lens.  I also bought Final Cut Pro X, and along the way, learned that the iPhone 4s makes a pretty good video camera ;o)

Since my Cape Epic race was a bust, I thought I'd show you a couple of my training trips, and share a little of what I've learned about shooting video on a bike.   Keep in mind I'm still learning this stuff, so if you've got some feedback for me, I'd love to hear it.
Olloclip Quick-Connect Lens with Glif Tripod Mount

Here's an early trip in December last year.  I shot this entirely on my iPhone 4s and edited the footage on FCP X.  Since then, I learned that the iPhone makes an excellent bike touring camera.  With IOS 5.0, you can turn on the camera and shoot one handed.  It's not really wide enough when shooting video as the iPhone crops down a bit, perhaps because of the image stabilizer.  I'll probably buy the Olloclip Quick-Connect Lens Solution,  which gives you 3 lenses in one - fisheye, wide-angle and macro lenses.  I probably also pick up the Glif Tripod Mount which I can use with a small Joby Gorillapod.



This second video is from a trip to Northern Thailand in March this year.  I had learned a little more.  Compare this video to another from an earlier trip to Thailand in February Here.  In this one, I've incorporated a greater variety of shots and blended them better into the action.



There are many places you can mount a GoPro.  I tried to incorporate a variety into the final production.  In this video, I shot from my helmet, forwards and backwards, used the Chest Harness, shot from under the down tube and from the handlebars.  If I have a preference, it is to shoot mainly from the helmet.  It collects less dust and water that way, and can be slightly more stable than from the handlebars, and can be changed quickly to face either forwards or backwards.  Also, If you need to handhold the camera, it is easier to remove your helmet and shoot holding your helmet with the camera on top than it is to unscrew the GoPro from the handlebar mount.  Putting your helmet with camera on top also makes a good impromptu tripod.  Because I can't see what I'm shooting, I generally shoot in 4:3 mode (960p Tall Mode r4) and then crop to 16:9 if possible during post-processing.

Here's what I would do more of in future:
1. More pre-planning;
2. Use copyright free music;
3. Steadier shots with a tripod;
4. Clean the camera lens more often;
5. Risk more - attach the camera lower on the bike to show wheels, or derailleur.


14 comments:

Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

This trekking is designed up to Poon Hill which lies into the foothill of the Annapurna massif. Poon Hill is located just 400m above Ghorepani 3210 m and offers such a brilliant view of the Himalayan giants such as the many peaks of Annapurna regions , the holy Machhapuchhre {Mt. fish tail} and Dhaulagiri (8167m).On a clear Day, it is even possible to see the transcendental valley of the southern side.


Itinerary:
Day 01: Fly/ drive Kathmandu to Pokhara
Day 02: Drive to Nayapul & trek to Tikhedhunga
Day 03: Trek to Ghoreopani
Day 04: Trek to Poon Hill & back to Ghorepani & back to Tadapani
Day 05: Trek to Ghandruk
Day 06: Trek to Nayapul & drive to Pokhara. http://www.nepalguideinfo.com/Ghorepani-Poonhill-Trek.php http://www.nepalguideinfo.com http://www.hikehimalayas.com

Unknown said...

Everest Base Camp trek 14 days
trekking to the Everest Base Camp in one of the most popular treks available in Nepal. This trek has a number of stunning attractions, one the foremost being the satisfaction gained by reaching the base of the highest mountain in the world the height of the mt Everest 8,848 mt and base camp height 6362 mt . Other attractions include the spectacular scenery of the Himalayan ranges. The Everest trek involves a tremendous amount of uphill and downhill walking.

Itinerary:
Day 01: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2849m) & trek to Phakding (2745m)
Day 02: Trek to Namche (3445m)
Day 03: Rest Day at Namche Bazaar (Hiking to Everest View Hotel)
Day 04: Trek to Tengboche (4245m)
Day 05: Trek to Pheriche (4362m)
Day 06: Pheriche Rest Day.
Day 07: Trek to Lobuche (4575m)
Day 08: Trek to Gorakshape (5165m)
Day 09: Rest Day at Kalapathar (5545m).
Day 10: Trek to Dingboche (4260m).
Day 11: Trek to Tengboche (4245m)
Day 12: Trek to Namche Bazaar.
Day 13: Trek to Lukla
Day 14: Fly back Lukla to Kathmandu
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Unknown said...

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Adventure Mountain Guide Team said...

Shiva Excursion Pvt. Ltd. is Dynamically Design by choice of Customer Activities in Nepal. Local Base License holder Trekking

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The top ten High Light full Board Package Activities As Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek, Annapurna round trek, Nar Phu Valley Trek, Upper Mustang trek, Manaslu circuit trek, Manaslu tsum valley trek, Ganesh himal Trek, Ruby

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, Langtang valley trek, Langtang tamang Heritage trail, goshainkunda Lake pass, Helambu circuit trek, Everest base Camp Trek most challenging high passes as

Everest Chola & Renjola Pass, Everest Three high pass, Ganjala Pass trek. Other Wilderness less touristic area as Kanchenjunga Trek, Makalu Base Camp trek & most high Light Adventure Peak Climbing

in Nepal as Island Peak Climbing, Mera Peak Climbing & Loboje Peak Climbing. The rare with wildlife activities tour in Nepal, Kathmandu to Chitwan jungle seafaring & more touring programs Manage by Shiva Excursion Pvt. Ltd.
Best Regard by
trekking in nepal

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Adventure Mountain Guide Team said...

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Expedition leading since 2005 to till Local Base Expedition Agency in Nepal. Most of the Challenging Trekking Agency

which is popular peak Climbing, Trekking in Nepal and Expedition in Nepal, the High 5 Adventures Company all Staff are

has been trained Mountaineering and enough Strong Local guide and Climbing Sherpa’s. Everest Expedition Company is one of

the most challenging and high light Trekking routes in Nepal. Everest base camp, Langtang Trekking, manaslu trekking, Annapurna base camp, Annapurna Circuit,

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Sappa Tamang said...

Manaslu Circuit Trek & Tsum Valley Trekking, located within Mid North West Himalaya straddles the border with Nepal & Tibet / China on the ancient Trans Himalayan Salt

and Caravan routes where trade still exist among the highlanders of Manaslu and Tsum valley people.
Manaslu & Tsum Valley Trekking a perfect combination on off the beaten trails, where western trekkers and adventurer seldom visits or explore this hidden and scenic

Tsum valley enclosed within massive Ganesh Himal known as Yangra in Tibetan and Kutang for Manaslu, where the ancient Sanskrit Manas name comes from as ‘spirit of the

mountain or soul’ (like the holy Lake Manasarover near Kailash in Tibet).
Mt. Manaslu stands at 8,163 m / 26,781 ft high, as world's 8th highest peak, which was first climbed by Japanese expedition in 1956 by T. Imamishi. K. Kato and M.

Higeta with Nepalese Sherpa guide G. Norbu.
Manaslu with range of stunning peaks Bouddha Himal, Himal-Chuli peak which follows the ridges of Ganesh Himal towards eastern direction where the hidden Tsum valley

located in the midst of Manaslu and Ganesh Himal massive range of mountains, certainly a pure wilderness to explore this undisturbed region of North Mid Western

Himalaya.
Starting this wonderful adventure taking an overland drive towards hills and valley of Gorkha town or from Dhading district which leads you at Arughat, a warm low farm

village at present stands as a big town on the shelf of raging Buri-Gandaki River fed feom Mt. Manaslu and Ganesh Himal glaciers.
First heading towards hidden valley of Tsum following the river upstream for few days past nice hill villages of Soti-Khola-Philim-Jagat and Dyang to reach upper

valley of Tsum at Mu Gompa which lies close towards the border of Tibet hidden behind massive Ganesh Himal, an interesting spot with dramatic scenery of mountains-

hills and valley.
At Tsum valley explore its ancient and interesting monasteries of Mu-Gompa and Chokhan Paro located above 3,700 m high in the shade of giant Himalayan peaks with hike

to saint Milarepa holy meditation cave of 11th centaury at Nele includes a visit to Rachen Gompa.
After an exciting and wonderful time on Tsum known as the valley of Happiness, heading towards further North West to join on the trail of Manaslu circuit trek, where the walk leads you on higher Manaslu valley situated upper

Gorkha district and then route leads past Lo and Bhi-Gaon villages to reach a large Samagaon village, which is on route to Manaslu base camp and Larkya-La pass.
At Samagaon explore the ancient culture of Manaslu Bhotia tribe of people who have migrated from across the border in Tibet, where the ancient culture of Buddhism

religion still practiced with much trade between Tibet and the local villagers of Manaslu Circuit Trek.
After rest day for local hike and acclimatization walks leads past Samdu village to reach at the base of Larkya-La pass known as Phedi or bottom, this spot also called

as Dharmasala or Larkya Bazaar, where in early days huge trade and market used to take place.

Shiva Excursion said...

The Everest Base Camp Trek is mostly popular trekking route in Nepal.That trekker really wants see Mt.Everest and Khumbu Glacier first test Everest Base Camp. Later if would like to take more experienced many choice of Routes there. As Everest Gokyo lake

Trek
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everyone know where is mountain Everest. Therefore select Main Items Base Camp with Kalapathar after tries to Best and good luck.

Travel Beast said...

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Himalayan Excursion Nepal said...

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Himalayan Excursion Nepal

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Shiva Excursion said...

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