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Shooting From a Car
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I guess I should have included a bit more detail with my original post concerning safety issues but I understood from Marc’s original post that he is a safety minded individual and not an idiot. I would do all sorts of crazy things that I would never suggest to anyone less than a stunt man (stuntperson).
Make everything rock solid – no cushioning whatsoever. A rubber mount will vibrate everything but a Cine-Saddle will cushion everything.
Have you got a friend that is a Key Grip? If not, find one and get his advice. A good key grip will own hostess trays and every mount in the book. He may even help you if he’s that kind of guy. I get suckered into this kind of stuff all the time but I do it as a personal challenge and to help others get started. It’s not always about money.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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A rubber mount will allow the camera to shake and vibrate, ruining the camera and the shot. A CineSaddle is an excellent support for any camera.
Now, shooting a group of motorcycles is very cool but very dangerous. Do not take any chances. Let’s hope that the riders are experienced and know what to do. If some of them are new, make sure they ride in single file. I was knocked of a Harley in April of ’06, broke or fractured 25 bones and I’m still recovering. It happens very fast.
Some years ago, a group of us were on a ride and I had my wife sit in my lap and shoot back toward the group as we passed them. Awesome shot. Not many shooters want to sit in a dudes lap, if you know what I mean.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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Steve a real man would have let the wife steer while he sat backwards with the camera on the B**** seat
🙂
(If you never saw the King of The Hill episode about Sturgis, you need to) -
[Mark Suszko] “King of The Hill episode about Sturgis”
Now I’m on a quest for the “real” way to do it. Thanks Mark. You’ll make a man out of me yet.
My wife did have her own Harley for a while. It didn’t have a back seat or a B**** seat.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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If you want mounted options, you’ll limit your opportunities for cool angles.
If I were you. I’d rent a minivan that has sliding doors on both sides (as well as the big hatch in the back) Put a wide angle zoom on that camera and shoot out all the doors. Be sure to strap yourself in safely…then get the bikes to come as close as is safe, then you can reach out and get cool shots and angles from three sides of your “camera car.” No mounted camera will give you as many good shots in the same amount of time. The key is going wide and being close!
J Cummings
Cameralogic/Chicago
cameralogic.tv
HDX-900/HDW-730S/DXC-D50 -
[Mark Suszko] “If you never saw the King of The Hill episode about Sturgis, you need to”
Classic…
Hank: It just doesn’t work that way with biker couples. Lumpy and Pepperoni Sue have a great relationship, and she never rides up front. In fact, the spot behind the driver is called the…er…”bitch seat.”
Peggy: What? So then that makes me a —
Hank: No! It’s a motorcycle term, I don’t even think it’s spelled the same.
No wonder my better half won’t ride with me on any of my bikes (I bought her a Vespa to get her used to two wheels… which she loves… but still won’t ride with me two-up).
I’ve seen footage taken from a motorcycle where a rear-passenger was shooting, but sitting backwards on the bike. I’ve always been intrigued by that, but afraid to try it. Looks a bit dangerous.
T2
__________________________________
Todd Terry
Creative Director
Fantastic Plastic Entertainment, Inc.
fantasticplastic.com
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[Todd Terry] “I’ve seen footage taken from a motorcycle where a rear-passenger was shooting, but sitting backwards on the bike. I’ve always been intrigued by that, but afraid to try it. Looks a bit dangerous.”
I’m scheduled to reunite with my favorite bike driver for just such a shoot later this month. I’ve shot multiple marathons for ESPN this way…and that was with massive betacams. My EX1 should make the whole thing much easier.
If you’re not afraid of bikes and have a driver you can trust, it doesn’t feel all that dangerous.
We did have an incident where a car pulled out in front of us (illegally) onto the marathon course and we had to make an emergency stop…which wouldn’t have been a big deal, but I had gone to semi standing in the passenger pegs to absorb some of the rough road. Bob knew what was behind him, kept it steady and upright and when we stopped we looked like some sort of acrobat act with me arched backwards over his back, holding onto the lense on the betacam hanging down in front of him. We re-organized and continued on.
I’ll be on the California speedway this time out…that should make it interesting. Anybody know of someone with a well-maintained bike on the order of an 84 GoldWing (the side bags need to come off) or smething with a short sissy bar (videographer retainment bracket) on the back who wants to rent it for a couple days?
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions, -
[Tim Kolb] “my favorite bike driver”
Actually, we “ride” bike and “drive” cages (cars). Bought my first bike in ’63 and first Harley in ’68.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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Interesting! Looks like the rig I described earlier.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, Arizona
It’s a dry heat!Sony HDCAM F-900 & HDW-2000/1 deck
5 Final Cut (not quite PRO) systems
Sony HVR-M25 HDV deck
2-Sony EX-1 HD .Ask me how to Market Yourself using Send Out Cards
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Well…yes, I get that, but what is the difference between me “riding” on the back, facing the rear and shooting and the guy who is steering, shifting, braking etc…?
We’re both “riding” no? …or am I “passengering”?
TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,
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