Shooting in extreme conditions: first-hand details. Action Cameras Extreme Cameras
As part of the annual international exhibition Photoforum 2015 at the Nikon booth hosted a presentation by the master of extreme photography and brand ambassador - Kirill Umrikhin.
–– Extreme shooting is, first of all, traveling, and traveling is a dream. Through sports I get to know the whole world. I was in Cairo when there were motorcycle jumping competitions, I was in Rome, I flew to Mauritius. I had never done windsurfing before, and when I started filming this sport, the guys suggested that I try it. And now he has become one of my favorites. I tried a lot: I jumped from a bridge with a rope, and recently I jumped from a bungee from a height of 200 meters - it was very scary. Extreme sports created my whole life and myself, outlined the circle of my relatives and friends.
Dynamics is present not only in Kirill's life, but also in his work. A photographer who takes pictures of action sports always changes the shooting points, he does not stand still. For example, during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sochi, during the entire ceremony, the photographer had to go around the entire stadium more than once in search of a new interesting perspective.
Kirill visits Sochi quite often, he has been shooting winter sports there for four years. The photographer recently returned from Krasnaya Polyana, where he worked at a snowboard camp. There he tested Nikon's novelty - the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f / 4E PF ED VR lens. It is the first model to combine compact and lightweight construction, long focal length and high quality image, which allows blurring the background very beautifully, despite the aperture 4. The lightness and compactness of this lens model made it possible for Kirill to take photos and ride on his own.
In extreme shooting, professional sports lenses are indispensable. When preparing for a trip, I choose what equipment I need for each specific task. If I need lenses that I don't have, I borrow them through the NPS (Nikon Professional Services) program. I often need 300mm or 400mm sports lenses, which are very expensive optics. I am grateful to the Nikon dealership for always helping me out.
The photographer has always been fascinated and fascinated by the opportunity to shoot from a height, so his new hobby appeared - shooting from a quadcopter. Kirill's plans for the near future are to try to launch a Nikon camera into the sky in order to get higher quality images.
The most difficult thing in shooting from a quadcopter is not even shooting itself, but learning to fly. Here I advise you to buy some toy helicopters and train on them. And when you crash 2-3 helicopters, you can safely buy a quadcopter. There is now ready-made solutions already with built-in cameras. You can buy and fly right away. But in general, you need to study, and in good conditions: no wind, no rain, in an open area. And I have never read the instructions so carefully! The quadcopter provides an amazing opportunity to see the world from above without ordering a helicopter. Each quadrocopter launch for me is like a small flight into space.
If we talk about shooting in rainy weather, then, according to Kirill, all Nikon professional equipment is not afraid of rain drops and splashes of water. And this is very important for extreme photography.
Kirill is sure that professional technique is not so important for a beginner photographer, you can start shooting with ordinary cameras. For example, a series of mirrorless nikon cameras 1 is great for this, and learning how to photograph takes a lot of photographs.
According to Kirill, there is one rule, the observance of which will help to achieve excellent results - you need to shoot not just a person flying in the sky, but show where and where he is flying from and what he is doing. The secret to good photography is three simple things - location, weather and rider. If all of them are present, the frame will definitely work.
The trendsetter in the world cameras for extreme sports is a GoPro company. The manufacturer offers a wide range of mounts and accessories that will help you securely fix action camera on a helmet, snowboard, ski or chest. And fans of windsurfing or cycling will appreciate the pipe fasteners. Thanks to a special box, the device will be protected from snowfall, moreover, it will allow shooting under water or when falling into a snowdrift. And if you additionally purchase a telescopic cane, then you can even film yourself from the most incredible angles. In most cases, a basic set of mounts is sufficient.
How to choose camera for extreme sports
To buy correctly action camera, it is necessary to take into account the series the most important points... Some of the most important are specifications... Since the shooting will be made in active motion, the number of frames per second comes to the fore. The indicator is especially important if you plan to record all kinds of tricks or various sudden movements. With high frames per second in the future, you can watch the recording in slow motion and analyze every action. In addition, modern video editors will help you get the desired effects.
If you want to choose the right one action camera, evaluate the conditions in which it will be used. It's good if the device has a waterproof case. Moreover, this characteristic is important not only for shooting underwater, but also under normal conditions. So, for example, if it rains unexpectedly, you will not miss the opportunity to make a quality video. On the other hand, you can limit yourself to a waterproof camera that will withstand splashes and light rain.
Determining the quality of shooting
By choosing action camera for extreme sports, it is important to choose its optimal resolution. So, if the recording will be viewed only in non-full-screen mode, then 480p (WVGA) resolution should be enough. However, for viewing video on an LCD TV screen, such indicators will clearly not be enough. On the other hand, these cameras will help you achieve maximum cost savings because they are inexpensive.
Cameras that shoot in 720p (ActionHD) resolution provide better quality images. The picture will be good qualityeven if it will be viewed in full screen mode on a computer. On the other hand, owners of plasma screens will appreciate devices that allow 1080p (FullHD) resolution. It is the maximum today.
It's also a good idea to think about additional accessories that you might need. For example, a rechargeable battery with increased capacity, the presence of an LCD screen, or other points that expand the functionality of the device.
Sports cameras from the best manufacturers are presented in the AvtoProfi store. Each model is highly reliable, and thanks to the wide range, you can easily choose the most optimal device for you. Contact us! We will help you capture the best moments of your active life!
Cameras for extreme shooting GoPro are no longer curiosities. A wide range of accessories and mounts for the extreme camera allow you to mount it on your chest, mount the action camera on a helmet, directly on skis or snowboards. A tube mount for an extreme camera will come in handy for cyclists or, for example, windsurfers. A special box will protect the camera for extreme shooting not only from snow during a snowfall or falling into a snowdrift, but you can also shoot videos underwater with it. You can also buy a telescopic stick for a GoPro camera, from which you can shoot not only the environment, but also yourself. The extreme camera will be able to capture you in the most incredible angles, everything is limited only by your imagination. The GoPro action camera comes with a basic set of mounts in the starter kit. Some craftsmen are quite limited to it and irreplaceable scotch tape.
Many fans of extreme video, even before the trip, think over the scenario of the future video to participate in various contests, choosing the optimal mounting systems for their extreme camera and coming up with an original plot. By the way, we highly recommend stocking up on an extra battery for your action camera. Time flies by quickly, and in cold conditions the battery can run out rather quickly.
Extreme camera for all occasions
Extreme GoPro cameras are very compact! Such a camera will definitely not weigh down your backpack, but if you wish, it will just fit into the pocket of your ski jacket. With this camera, you can take photos and videos of different formats. Perhaps the disadvantage of the extreme camera is the lack of a screen for viewing captured photos and videos. However, this problem can be easily solved by installing a camera application on the smartphone to view the footage on it.
If you buy a camcorder for extreme sports, it will also come in handy for family home video. You can safely entrust an extreme camera to your child without fear for its safety.
By mounting the action camera on a tripod and setting the Time Lapse mode, you can capture the awakening of the camp, getting ready for the trip, as well as sunrises and dawns and whatever you have enough imagination for!
You can also buy an extreme GoPro camera in order to analyze your riding technique or simply so as not to ask your friends to film yourself this or that. By purchasing an action camera you can do it yourself!
Camera features for extreme sports
You can come to the decision that you need to buy an extreme camera rather quickly by analyzing all its advantages in comparison with a conventional video camera.
- Extreme camera compact and lightweight
- The action camera is very easy to use, with just a few buttons that anyone can figure out. This is a very important factor especially when you ask your friend to film you.
- The action camera is reliable and durable, it is always ready for extreme falls, ups, dives.
- The quality of shooting is practically not inferior to classic video cameras. You will be surprised what extreme cameras are capable of.
- A wide range of all kinds of mounts for extreme cameras will open up new perspectives for you.
- What's also great about an extreme camera is that the price is not that high compared to classic camcorders.
"Sport-Marathon" offers to buy extreme cameras in Moscow at 4 Saykina, or place an order for an action camera in the online store on our website.
The man is a hunter, and the thirst for adrenaline is in his blood. If you are fond of alpine skiing, snowboarding, rafting, surfing, rock climbing, wake or any other extreme sport, you probably know how you want to capture your best trick and leave some cool pictures to remember.
If you love photography, on your next trip to the mountains or the coast with friends, take on the role of a sports photographer. Keep in mind that doing this can be as difficult as doing the sport itself. You have to climb trees, shoot on rocks, follow the athletes, not lagging behind them a step, and sometimes even ahead of them, and at the same time think only about how to get good shots... Professional sports photographer Leonid Zhukov shared the secrets of extreme photography with us.
“Extreme photography is when you love sports so much that you can't help but shoot it. It all started with a hobby - photographing for myself, for friends. And then it stopped being just a hobby, and now it is one of my main occupations. And my favorite. "
The basics
Extreme photography is a separate direction of photography. As a dentist, he understands little about cardiac surgery, and also here: in order to take good pictures of extreme sports, a photographer must "be in the subject." A few tips for those looking to learn how to shoot sports:
Love what you shoot. Best of all, if you yourself are involved in extreme sports, or at least tried yourself in the direction that you shoot. This will allow you to feel and catch the most interesting moments, to convey in the frame all the beauty and complexity of the tricks performed.
Get fit. Extreme photography places high demands on the physical fitness of the photographer. This is not a studio shoot! You need to be ready to climb mountains with a backpack full of equipment, sit in the snow and rain, waiting for the rider to jump from this springboard, run with the camera along the track to catch the most important shots.
Get started from filming friends or local sports events. Once you find that the shots are good, you can try moving on to larger competitions and tricky shots.
About technique
Of course, professional equipment is not a guarantee of a successful shot. Capturing the right moment and choosing the best angle requires experience and reportage skills. However, no matter how master of photography you are, amateur technique will never give you the opportunity to take the perfect shot.
Choose the right camera. Professionals prefer to take one accurate shot than "scribble with a machine gun." However, the trick can be so dynamic that it can be difficult to isolate a specific moment. It is better to shoot a series and only then, in a calm atmosphere, choose the most successful shot. The determining factor here is the rate of fire of the camera - choose a camera that shoots at least 5 frames per second. For modern digital cameras, another parameter is important - the matrix. Professionals choose full frame cameras - when the sensor is about the same size as a 35mm film frame. Only full-array cameras can capture the full depth of light and color that traditional film equipment is capable of.
Speed \u200b\u200bmatters. Photos need not only to be taken quickly, but also quickly recorded. Use high-speed flash cards: when shooting large series, the difference with regular cards is very noticeable. The temperature difference is also important here, at which it is guaranteed stable work... Special "extreme" series of cards allow you to shoot in the range from -25 to 85C without failures.
What else to pay attention to. A set of fast lenses - from wide-angle to telephoto - will make it possible to shoot in any conditions (for example, 14-24 f / 2.8, 70-200 f / 2.8). Flashes help freeze motion or create more dramatic lighting.
Save money. Good technique is usually expensive. If you have just started to master the art of extreme photography, do not rush to immediately purchase premium equipment. After all, before investments in a hobby begin to pay off, it will take more than one month of long and hard work. Ebay.com will help you save money and time on selecting the right equipment. Often you can find there not only individual profitable offerbut also whole sets - a camera with suitable lenses, filters, flash and everything you need to get started. This collection, for example, contains everything for a beginner extreme photographer.
About travel
“When traveling, you always want to combine shooting, recreation, and extreme sports. Take pictures of your friends and let them take pictures of you! And then everything will work out. "
If you have already mastered surfing in Bali and ski raids in the Alps, and still decided to seriously take up sports photography, be prepared for the fact that all the fun is happening at international competitions. You have to travel a lot, attending various sports. What to take with you on such trips?
What should be in a backpack. When going on a trip, in addition to photographic equipment, you may need: swiss knife (saw off a branch, tighten a bolt on a tripod, cut off a piece of a colored filter, or share an apple with friends); insulating tape, 2-3 meters thin climbing rope and several plastic clamps (universal tools that allow you to fix anything, anywhere), several garbage bags (in summer, rain can start as unexpectedly as it ends, especially in the mountains; the bag can not only cover the camera, but also wear it instead of a raincoat), a couple muesli bars - sometimes the photographer simply does not have time for a snack, but it is necessary to maintain strength.
Clothing should not restrict movement. This applies not only to a comfortable cut, but also to suit the shooting conditions. The photographer should be thinking about how to get a beautiful shot, not how not to stain the sneakers. In winter, the two main attributes of a wardrobe are warm waterproof boots and good gloves. Gloves should be moderately warm to keep your fingers warm, but also moderately thin so as not to lose sensitivity to control the camera. In summer, these are usually light pants, a pair of T-shirts (most often synthetic), a fleece that can be stowed away in a backpack, and a sun cap.
Get ready for extreme conditions. In search of unusual interesting angle, you may have to shoot in the mountains or climb trees. For this, climbing equipment is very useful - ropes, carabiners, a safety system, a helmet (and who said that it would be easy?). Professional sports photographers often carry two backpacks (one with a camera, the other with equipment), but the shots are really interesting and the result is worth it.
About inspiration
“When I see how my friends perform some new element, pass a difficult track, raise the bar even higher, I want to catch this moment and tell others about it!”
Athletes - these are, obviously, those for whom you generally started doing this. To convey the tension of a person, his emotions, the beauty and complexity of the trick, the picturesque landscape and nature around him is a whole art.
Professional photographers. Check out the shots of talented sports photographers, especially if you are new to the business. Colleagues can provide new ideas and inspiration beautiful photos... Do not be afraid to borrow ideas, in any case, everyone embodies them in their own way.
Nature and city also very inspiring! Always try to shoot not the stunt itself separately, but in relation to the surrounding space. Sometimes the simplest element can look absolutely stunning in the appropriate setting.