Most of the photos on this blog are now taken using my GoPro HD camera. About a year and a half ago I made a mast mount from plumbing accessories and a GoPro tripod adapter (total cost £12). Almost all the images are stills captured with SnapStill and then processed with Snapseed - both iPad apps that do a great job at capturing and then sharpening and structuring the images, with lots of easy to use control. Scrubbing through two hours of footage to find a few stills has never been easier.The results are pretty good too, I think.
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| Kimmeridge December 2013 |
Generally I mount the camera on the second batten above the boom, so roughly about 1m above the boom cut out. That slighter lower position still captures a full frame of rider and board (usually) but without the rider looking too distant and any waves too small.
Here are a few shots of the mast mount. It is constructed from a plastic plumbing T section that I cut in half and then bolted a slightly oversized plastic end cap to it - and then the tripod adapter to that.
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| The mast mount made from plastic plumbing T section and an end cap, Click to enlarge |
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| Tripod adapter for a GoPro |
The T section clips onto the mast and the (slightly rusty) bolt and wingnut can be tightened for a better grip.The other components are GoPro angles and mounts that are widely available.
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| Click to enlarge |
I also use a leash that is tied to the mast with a clove hitch. After a year and a half I’ve only had one of the GoPro components break - which was easy to replace.
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| December 2012 - On this shot the GoPro was rotated 90 degrees compared to the other image, creating a nice portrait frame for backloops |
Authors: Rod
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