Hi all experienced photographers, especially GOPRO users.
Got a Guernsey for the L2L this year and decided in order to share the experience I would have a stab a using a GOPRO / similar. Since I am not an experienced photographer or user of such devices I opted for the "or similar" camera - a Kaiser Baas X80.
It makes use of the GOPRO mounts (not all, but most).
My Question is regarding what you experienced users out there might deem to be the most appropriate mount to use to capture the whole experience? I will be using a helmet, because I plan to challenge for the win..... nah, not really but deem it to be an appropriate piece of equipment for this event.
We are obliged to wear PFD's so not sure I can get a back mount on.
Some suggestions please.
Dave
If it was me I would be trying to get a few cameras for different angles. Will make your video heaps better to watch.
Select to expand quotesnoopy said..
If it was me I would be trying to get a few cameras for different angles. Will make your video heaps better to watch.
Yip, have thought this. Being essentially a one-tack race a strut mount (orientated the correct way) will capture a nice broad view of the field, but since I may actually come in last it could also turn into a very lonely view! 
I am thinking that a helmet mounted camera gives me some control of content, is this true or does it give a very shaky view?
Select to expand quoteLostDog said..
Being essentially a one-tack race a strut mount (orientated the correct way)
Is the correct way backwards to capture the field behind you? 
... a couple of things I found, if using camera on the kite:
I found set the camera for 960 rather than 1080. When in 960 it comes out 'taller' so to speak and you can capture more usefull stuff rather than just the wing tips of your kite when set up as wide 1080. It gives you more chances to catch stuff in the back ground that would other wise be missed. I found you can then post edit the footage and 'cut' off either the top or bottom or even stretch the footage wider and make it 'look' like wide screen, more pleasing to the eye.
If you can, get a big memory card and set camera for the highest frame rate, you can always slow it down when post editing. This way you'll have more 'frames' or more footage to play with so if you want to slow mo, it ends up smoother. Mind you not sure but it might chew the battery a bit more, not sure why, probably working the electronis harder. Oh and really important but make sure the card is Class 10 too, HD footage is fast and memory hungry and class 6 and below just isn't good enough!
Do a test flight. You don't wanna have the big day come and find out the angle or position is wrong! Experiment with mounts and angles.
Make the mounts as steady as possible so camera is not wobbling, even though gopro is amazing at evening it out, less wobble is better.
Try not to get water on lens, nothing worse than a drop sitting on the front taking up most of the screen.
Chuck a good tether/safety line so if mount breaks the camera doesn't go flying on its own!
Have fun,
Robbie
Select to expand quoteairhead said..
From 2011...
Thanks for this, nice edit. It's given me a few ideas about sharing the experience rather than merely the kiting action..
Good job.
Select to expand quotePuetz said..
... a couple of things I found, if using camera on the kite:
I found set the camera for 960 rather than 1080. When in 960 it comes out 'taller' so to speak and you can capture more usefull stuff rather than just the wing tips of your kite when set up as wide 1080. It gives you more chances to catch stuff in the back ground that would other wise be missed. I found you can then post edit the footage and 'cut' off either the top or bottom or even stretch the footage wider and make it 'look' like wide screen, more pleasing to the eye.
If you can, get a big memory card and set camera for the highest frame rate, you can always slow it down when post editing. This way you'll have more 'frames' or more footage to play with so if you want to slow mo, it ends up smoother. Mind you not sure but it might chew the battery a bit more, not sure why, probably working the electronis harder. Oh and really important but make sure the card is Class 10 too, HD footage is fast and memory hungry and class 6 and below just isn't good enough!
Do a test flight. You don't wanna have the big day come and find out the angle or position is wrong! Experiment with mounts and angles.
Make the mounts as steady as possible so camera is not wobbling, even though gopro is amazing at evening it out, less wobble is better.
Try not to get water on lens, nothing worse than a drop sitting on the front taking up most of the screen.
Chuck a good tether/safety line so if mount breaks the camera doesn't go flying on its own!
Have fun,
Robbie
Thanks Puetz
There's good advice in this, will be using a lot of it.
Dave
who took this helicopter photo in the background?
www.cvent.com/events/the-2013-lighthouse-to-leighton/archived-c68094f393cc45e286d79e0b6a790674.aspx
on that page.
I want to buy one for my wall.
Select to expand quotePuetz said..
..Oh and really important but make sure the card is Class 10 too, HD footage is fast and memory hungry and class 6 and below just isn't good enough!
Top point, I ran the lowest recommended in my go pro and the hd footage wasn't as good as a class 10. My logic at the time was if they recommend class 4 then what could a class 10 provide, turns out it just skips frames or something and ends up with worse footage. $15 for a 8gb class 10 from office works these days
So, decided to get another unit. 1 on the helmet and a second on the kite, on the centre strut. Question to the editing buffs.
Do I mount the kite one parallel to the strut and edit the footage by 90 degrees post filming, or do I mount it perpendicular to the strut and have it the right way up for the crossing, thus avoiding the reorientation in the editing. Is the editing easy enough for this to be a non-issue?
Got the race number in the mail today, so soooo excited.
Select to expand quoteLostDog said..
........... Is the editing easy enough for this to be a non-issue?.......
Google has shown me that this is most probably the dumbest question ever.. 
Some obvious gaps in my technology knowledge.
Select to expand quoteLostDog said..
So, decided to get another unit. 1 on the helmet and a second on the kite, on the centre strut. Question to the editing buffs.
Do I mount the kite one parallel to the strut and edit the footage by 90 degrees post filming, or do I mount it perpendicular to the strut and have it the right way up for the crossing, thus avoiding the reorientation in the editing. Is the editing easy enough for this to be a non-issue?
Got the race number in the mail today, so soooo excited.
do not try and rotate video in post - vertical video is bad - very very bad. EVERYONE shoots video incorrectly on their phones - it should be held horizontally
Select to expand quoteReflex Films said..LostDog said..
So, decided to get another unit. 1 on the helmet and a second on the kite, on the centre strut. Question to the editing buffs.
Do I mount the kite one parallel to the strut and edit the footage by 90 degrees post filming, or do I mount it perpendicular to the strut and have it the right way up for the crossing, thus avoiding the reorientation in the editing. Is the editing easy enough for this to be a non-issue?
Got the race number in the mail today, so soooo excited.
do not try and rotate video in post - vertical video is bad - very very bad. EVERYONE shoots video incorrectly on their phones - it should be held horizontally
Your best bet for an engaging edit that will be watchable is to try and get coverage of the start and finish by a land based camera - prefereably on a tripod. Or an iphone with a steady hand (good luck finding anyone that can get this right) at a squeeze. This is where some networking will help you out.
That way you will have enough angles to not just be another crappy go pro video on the net.
Try and get some pre and post race comments from a few characters - and some party footage too - and i guarantee you will have something that people like.
Getting a functional cheap editing set up will be a whole other challenge. Something that will let you use - for example the 720p / 100fps reconform to slo mo wont come cheap - investigate the Go Pro cineform software - that may help.
Good luck -I look forward to NOT seeing a GO pro only edit! Get those extra elements in and you will be on your way!
Try and get your kite low and over some other riders - that could be a fantastic angle!
Thanks for this! Saw your recent SUP Fig to Fig edit - very nice work.. will you be doing one for the L2L?
I started out just wanting to share the experience with family, but if I'm going to do something I might as well try to do it right - somehow feel way behind the eight-ball on this tho.
Select to expand quoteLostDog said..Reflex Films said..LostDog said..
So, decided to get another unit. 1 on the helmet and a second on the kite, on the centre strut. Question to the editing buffs.
Do I mount the kite one parallel to the strut and edit the footage by 90 degrees post filming, or do I mount it perpendicular to the strut and have it the right way up for the crossing, thus avoiding the reorientation in the editing. Is the editing easy enough for this to be a non-issue?
Got the race number in the mail today, so soooo excited.
do not try and rotate video in post - vertical video is bad - very very bad. EVERYONE shoots video incorrectly on their phones - it should be held horizontally
Your best bet for an engaging edit that will be watchable is to try and get coverage of the start and finish by a land based camera - prefereably on a tripod. Or an iphone with a steady hand (good luck finding anyone that can get this right) at a squeeze. This is where some networking will help you out.
That way you will have enough angles to not just be another crappy go pro video on the net.
Try and get some pre and post race comments from a few characters - and some party footage too - and i guarantee you will have something that people like.
Getting a functional cheap editing set up will be a whole other challenge. Something that will let you use - for example the 720p / 100fps reconform to slo mo wont come cheap - investigate the Go Pro cineform software - that may help.
Good luck -I look forward to NOT seeing a GO pro only edit! Get those extra elements in and you will be on your way!
Try and get your kite low and over some other riders - that could be a fantastic angle!
Thanks for this! Saw your recent SUP Fig to Fig edit - very nice work.. will you be doing one for the L2L?
I started out just wanting to share the experience with family, but if I'm going to do something I might as well try to do it right - somehow feel way behind the eight-ball on this tho.
no l2l job for me - i imagine the organisers have enlisted a video crew / photographer though. Perhaps Col at Windsurf Australia has the gig ? Should be a good result.
