Following yesterday’s reports from Canon Rumors and EOSHD about delays in shipping of the EOS R5 to retailers, Canon has released a statement to set the record straight. There is no delay, says Canon. The first shipment is going out this week, as promised.
The statement was prompted primarily by a report published by EOSHD citing several retail sources in Europe and the UK who had received extremely limited quantities of the EOS R5 ahead of the official ship date. That report was corroborated by Canon Rumors, whose sources indicated that the second allocation of EOS R5 cameras might not arrive at retailers until November—a 4 month delay that CR characterized as “unheard of.”
This led to speculation that there may be a recall in the works in order to implement a possible hardware fix for the camera’s thermal limitations, which Canon has been very transparent about from the start.
The EOS R5’s thermal limitations have already inspired at least one third-party product.
However, according to Canon USA, there is nothing to these reports, and they should be ignored. In a statement that we received just moments ago over email, Canon makes it clear that the initial shipment is going out as scheduled.
You can read the full statement for yourself below:
Orders of the EOS R5 are scheduled to be delivered as initially stated at launch. The first set of cameras shipped from our warehouses this week. We eagerly await the content that will be produced by talented creatives using this camera to be shared with the world.
This directly contradicts EOSHD‘s claim that retailers are not receiving shipments as promised.
No doubt the debate will still rage on. The statement doesn’t directly address when the second allocation of cameras will go out, and it doesn’t touch on the recall speculation directly, but the fact that the first shipment is going out as scheduled should quash any rumors that a recall is actively in the works.
Academy and Emmy Award-winning software developer Boris FX is dipping its toes in the world of still photography with “Optics”: a new standalone application and plugin suite that brings some of the company’s feature film visual effects to the world of photo editing.
Optics is described as “the definitive digital toolbox for photos,” but what it offers is maybe better described as a comprehensive mishmash of filters, presets, lighting effects and lens flares… with some masking technology thrown in for good measure. It’s honestly hard to tell what Optics is primarily meant to do, because it does so much.
The list of features includes:
160 total filters that simulate optical glass cameras, specialized lenses, film stocks, lens flares, optical lab processes, grain, exacting color correction, natural light, and photographic effects
75 Boris FX Sapphire filters to create stunning organic looks with superior image quality and creative control. Filters include lens flares, light leaks, glow, night sky, clouds, luna (moon), zap (lightning), free lens, rack defocus, digital damage, and more.
294 color and B&W still photography film stocks, motion picture film stocks, and historical photography processes
89 color grading presets from Academy Award-nominated movies including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Apocalypse Now, Blade Runner, Back to the Future, Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, King Kong, Saving Private Ryan, and Titanic
751 gobo lighting effects categorized into abstract, doors, elements, foliage, snowflakes, textures, and windows groups
Gobo EffectsLens Flares
All of this is available as either a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom, or as a standalone application that comes with a layer system for stacking multiple effects, a non-destructive editing workflow, and the ability to batch process your images. Plus an ‘advanced masking tool’ they call EZ Mask.
Here’s a quick video intro to Boris FX Optics that goes over all of the available filters, effects, and masking tools so you can see how it works IRL:
What sets Optics apart from other collections of filters, lighting packs, and film emulation plugins comes down to the experience Boris FX has in the world of filmmaking, and the professional-grade lighting effects that they ported over from their Sapphire VFX plugins.
“Optics marks the first collaboration between our DFT (Digital Film Tools) and Sapphire product teams — delivering powerful digital photography tools for creative pros,” explains Boris Yamnitsky, Founder and CEO of Boris FX. “Photographers now have access to the same lens flares, glows, and lighting effects used on Hollywood blockbusters, TV shows, and music videos. The inclusion of Sapphire’s popular effects inside Photoshop provides a missing bridge between video and print design.”
If you’re curious and want to try out Optics, you can learn more about the plugin and/or download a free trial on the Boris FX website. And if you actually want to buy a copy for yourself, you can purchase a permanent license for $149, an annual subscription for $99, or a monthly subscription for $9.
Back in August, peer-to-peer rental services KitSplit and ShareGrid both announced a nearly identical “Owner Guarantee” that protected users in case someone they’ve rented to walks away with up to $20,000 of gear. However, it seems ShareGrid has quietly suspended the policy due to COVID-19.
We first became aware of the change earlier today, when a PetaPixel reader and ShareGrid user reached out to share the news.
“The guarantee was introduced last August to much fanfare and purported to protect gear owners from ‘voluntary parting’ — i.e. a renter straight-up stealing your s*** — of up to $20,000 worth of gear,” wrote Wil, a gear owner in New York City. “Now gear owners are no longer protected, but most of them may have no idea.”
Wil is right. An ALL CAPS update to the ShareGrid Support page for the Owner Guarantee reveals that “Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the ShareGrid Owner Guarantee program has been suspended until further notice.” This appears to be the only place where the information appears; notably, ShareGrid did not include this update in its public COVID update in March, nor does it appear anywhere on their homepage or in the ShareGrid user dashboard.
When Wil emailed ShareGrid support to ask why the coverage has been suspended, he received the following response:
Thanks for your message. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, the owner guarantee program has been suspended until further notice as listed on our support page. This is due to the significant drop in rental activity that helped fund the coverage.
“I’ve been renting out a Sony A7 III kit with the Sony 24-105 F4 and Zeiss 35 2.8,” Wil tells PetaPixel. “My finances have taken a big hit during Covid and I would be devastated if this kit was stolen with no recourse.”
We’ve reached out to ShareGrid for comment, and have emailed KitSplit as well. The latter hasn’t posted any such update on its website, so it appears that the KitSplit “Owner Guarantee” is still active; however, we’ll update this post if and when we hear back from either company. In the meantime, if you use ShareGrid to rent out your gear, know that you’re no longer protected from “voluntary parting” … at least not until their rental volume goes back up.
The folks over at COOPH recently tamed up with Brooklyn-based freelance photographer Joe Greer to put together a helpful “beginner’s guide” of sorts for anybody who wants to get started with film photography.
The short video consists of 7 quick tips that’ll help you get off on the right foot if you want to explore analog image making. In short, the tips Greer covers are:
Keep a Logbook – Film photos don’t come with EXIF data. If you want to improve quickly, keep a logbook so you can learn from your mistakes and capture more keepers.
Choose the Right Focal Length – Consider your location and the story you’re trying to tell, and choose the right focal length for the job.
Experiment with Different Film Stocks – Test out as many different film stocks as possible, both B&W and Color. This will give you the experience you need to choose a film stock to match the “mood” you’re going for.
Over and Underexposing Film – Many film stocks are less forgiving than digital in the shadows, but more forgiving in the highlights. Generally speaking, it’s safer to over-expose than under-expose when shooting film.
Make Mistakes – Don’t let the expense of analog photography scare you away from taking lots of pictures and making mistakes along the way. It’s the fastest way to learn, and there’s a lot of beauty in the imperfections you’ll accidentally capture.
Choose the Right Aperture – Until you really know your camera and lens, choose a higher number. You’ll miss fewer moments if more of your frame is in focus by default.
Forget the Tips – Cliché but apt: it’s important that you find your own aesthetic. Don’t let tips—these included—keep you from experimenting and carving out your own path.
If you’re been reading PetaPixel for a while, you’ve definitely seen a few of these before, but they’re worth repeating for the beginners out there. As film photography continues to grow in popularity, simple tips like these lead to fewer wasted frames and a more enjoyable experience for those who are just starting out.
Check out the full video up top to hear more about each of the tips above, and see some of Greer’s own work sprinkled throughout!
In his TimeScapes series, photographer Martien Janssen has been “playing with the element of time,” combining images in creative ways to create “a new type of dimension” in his time-lapse photography. And there’s no better example of this than his film TimeBlend.
Captured in Bagan, Myanmar, the time-lapse uses a stacking technique you may have seen before—usually called cloud-stacking, and often used for star trails as well. Basically, Janssen blends the images in each time-lapse sequence into each other, creating something striking and painterly in the process.
“By blending images from the timelapse sequence with each other, I aim to show the changes that occur over time blended into each frame. It captures time in a way we can’t perceive with our own eyes. You’re no longer looking at a moment, but a blend of time that can show the trails of the stars for an entire night of up to 10 hours,” explains Janssen. “In other words, what you’re looking at is the motion of time and change of light. So in a way ‘I’m ‘drawing with light by blending time.'”
Here are a few stills from the piece to give you a taste of the end result:
As we mentioned above, this isn’t a new technique. Cloud stacking first blew up in landscape photography eight years ago when these photos by Matt Molloy went viral… to say nothing of ‘time blended’ time-lapse films that prominently feature star trails.
But Janssen’s TimeBlend is a good reminder to try and think outside the box on occasion, instead of sticking with the accepted methodology for capturing a certain subject. You never know: your experiment may yield something really beautiful in the process.
If you spent any time on social media yesterday, you probably ran across the latest Nike ad titled “You Can’t Stop Us.” The brilliant bit of video editing was put together entirely from archival footage, combining multiple frames into a seamless montage that’s dropping jaws left and right.
Each shot in the video is made up of two different bits of footage, which have been stitched together down the middle to create a continuous shot. It’s visually arresting, grabbing hold of you and refusing to let go while simultaneously sending the symbolic message that “we are never alone.”
Here are just a few screenshots showing some of the impressive edits from the video:
Check out the full ad up top for a dose of inspiration. Whether you’re a sports fan, a filmmaker, or just a fan of high-quality video editing, you’ll appreciate what Nike was able to achieve with this latest bit of marketing.
Photographer and occasional PetaPixel contributor Usman Dawood has put together a video and camera showcase that seeks to prove a simple, possibly overlooked point: the best beginner camera for aspiring professionals isn’t a high-end APS-C system… it’s a used Canon 5D Mark II.
The recommendation might seem absurd to some readers—the camera is a full 12 years old at this point—but its age is part of its appeal, explains Dawood.
A used full-frame 5D Mark II can be had for around $500, and despite its older sensor and image processor, DPReview studio scene test images show that the full-frame 5D Mark II has an advantage in low light/high ISO when compared against some modern APS-C cameras. But even if performance were neck-and-neck, the advantage of the wider field of view, the pro-level build quality, and the rock-bottom price tag mean you can spend more money on high-quality glass.
By way of example, Dawood grabbed a used 5D Mark II online and used it for a proper photo shoot that his studio Sonder Creative did for a bag maker. The photos below were taken using a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART (click to enlarge):
In the end, it comes down to the original point Dawood made: you get a professional “workhorse” camera body for a low, low price, allowing you to spend more money on better lenses… which you will be able to take full advantage of sans crop factor.
“You have to remember that the Canon 5D Mark II was the workhorse camera when it first came out,” says Dawood by way of conclusion. “That’s the level of camera that you can buy now for less than £500.”
Check out the video up top to hear Usman’s full thoughts on why the 5D Mark II is the best camera for aspiring photographers, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Are the latest features, faster autofocus, and advanced video capture capabilities of the latest cameras worth the extra money, or is a 12-year-old DSLR really the best choice in 2020?
Image credits: All photos by Usman Dawood/Sonder Creative and used with permission.
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have put a specialized camera to use in a cool new experiment, capturing super-slow motion video of a light beam moving through a carefully-arranged set of mirrors.
We’ve shared some of incredible high-speed camera achievements in the past, including the recent breakthrough that allowed scientists to capture a staggering 70 trillion frames per second. But even with these advancements, we haven’t seen any footage of a beam of light actually moving through the air, and that’s exactly what Edoardo Charbon and his colleagues have captured here.
The video above is part of a research paper titled “Superluminal Motion-Assisted 4-Dimensional Light-in-Flight Imaging,” in which Charbon and his colleagues explain how they were able to use a “time-gated megapixel single-photon avalanche diode camera” called MegaX to capture a high-resolution “light-in-flight” video.
Although light isn’t usually visible in flight, the researchers were able to capture the photos that scatter off of particles in the air as a laser pulse moves through, using machine learning to predict the trajectory and capture the 3D light path.
You can see the light path in this figure we pulled from the full research paper:
And here’s a screenshot showing the light beam mid-flight:
Speaking with Digital Trends, Charbon explains how the camera uses an electronic shutter speed of just 3.8 nanoseconds to capture light as it propagates.
“Subsequent laser pulses are used, opening the shutter with increasing delay, so as to follow the propagation along its path,” explains Charbon. “Thanks to the large number of pixels and the fast shutter, one can see the light propagation in multiple shots without moving the camera and without superposing the images to images taken with other cameras. Everything is done on MegaX.”
The result is “the first 4-dimensional light-in-flight imaging.”
To see this breakthrough for yourself, check out the video up top. And if you want to dive deeper into how this works and what exactly they’ve achieved here, you can read the full research paper at this link.
Multiple outlets with inside information are reporting that Canon is holding back and/or delaying shipments of the new EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras as a result of the overheating issues that early reviews have been reporting. This could be a sign that a recall is in the works.
While a recall might seem like a drastic step given how transparent Canon has been about the thermal limitations in the EOS R5 and EOS R6, both Canon Rumors and EOSHD are reporting that Canon is shipping far fewer units than expected, and has delayed the second allocation of cameras “significantly.”
One user who had an unrelated issue was told by Canon that the second allocation of EOS R5 cameras isn’t due until November—an unprecedented 4-month delay—while Andrew Reid at EOSHD was told that one of the largest photo retailers in Germany received only 5 units for their Berlin store, and 70 units total for the entire country, with similar reports from other major electronics chains.
There are a few ways to interpret this information, but as Craig from CR told us over email, drastic shipping delays like the ones that he’s been hearing about from retailers and his other sources seem to point towards a recall. After confirming to PetaPixel that he’s been hearing similar information to what’s been reported by EOSHD, he said:
In my mind, if it was just a firmware release, why delay shipping more? There must be a hardware change coming and they’re reducing the number of recall repairs.
According to an anonymous source, Canon is working on “multiple solutions” to the overheating concerns, and will have “a full statement and plan in the coming weeks.” The question now: will that plan involve simply releasing a firmware update? Launching a hardware solution? Or will Canon choose to recall the cameras that have already shipped?
Many Canon fans believe the overheating issue has been overblown by some early reviewers, but as pressure mounts on Canon to do something about it, those same users may find themselves waiting a very long time for their pre-order to arrive.
Most photographers know the basics of lens-based image stabilization (Lens IS) and in-body image stabilization (IBIS), but if you’ve ever wanted a technical deep-dive that explains exactly how these systems work to generate 4, 5, or even 7 stops of stabilization, this video from Imaging Resource is here to answer that call.
At the most basic level, most people understand that Lens IS offers only two axes of stabilization (pitch and yaw) while IBIS offers 5-axis stabilization (pitch, yaw, roll, X and Y). Most people also know that this is done using floating lens elements (Lens IS) or a sensor that can move around in its own specially-designed housing (IBIS).
But that’s probably where “general” knowledge ends. How these systems achieve the results that they do—either working together or separately—is a mystery to most people. That is, until now.
An IBIS system can correct for shake in the ‘roll’ axis, which is impossible with Lens IS.
In his quest to get to the bottom of the tech behind Lens IS And IBIS, Dave Etchells travelled to Olympus’ R&D headquarters in Hachioji, Japan, where he sat down for an extended conversation with Hisashi Takeuchi, the General Manager of the Mechatronics Technology Department in Olympus Corp.’s Imaging Product Development Division.
Long title aside, Takeuchi-san is in charge of the group that’s responsible for developing all of the image stabilization tech in Olympus cameras—and based on IR’s recent IBIS shootout, they have the best stabilization around. The topics covered over the course of the video include:
A basic overview of Lens IS and IBIS
An explanation of the gyro sensors that make it all work
A deep-dive on the magnets and coils that actually move the lens elements or sensor housing in response to camera shake
Showing how Olympus was able to shrink down the thickness of their latest IBIS housing
An inside look at the build of a modern-day IBIS system and Lens IS system
An explanation of how Lens IS and IBIS are able to work together to compensate for more shake than either could do individually
The IBIS sensor assembly rides on these tiny ceramic bearings that keep it flat to within a few thousandths of a millimeter.
Etchells and Takeuchi-san cover a lot of ground in their talk, and while it can get quite technical at times, they do a good job of explaining how the system works (and works so well) without making it hard to follow or understand. Whatever your level of camera tech geekery, you’ll walk away with a fresh appreciation for the incredible precision involved in getting image stabilization done right.
To dive into all of the topics mentioned above in detail—and get an inside look at what the Lens IS and IBIS systems actually look like—watch the full video up top or head over to the IR website. And if you want to see what this kind of stabilization technology produces IRL, check out Dave Pardue’s recent IBIS shootout here.
Earlier this month, in the waters off the coast of Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France, a freediver got into an underwater tug-of-war with a small octopus who badly wanted to run away with the diver’s GoPro. The resulting footage is sort of like a 4-minute underwater chase scene.
The “incident” took place on July 8th, and you can see it above captured from two vantage points: the stolen camera, and the diver’s camera in hot pursuit. Eventually, the duo meet and play tug-of-war as the persistent octopus refuses to give up his bounty.
If you’re been a reader of PetaPixel for a while, this probably won’t surprise you. Not only have we seen plenty of animals steal photographers’ GoPros before, another enterprising octopus went viral 5 years ago when it grabbed the camera in its enclosure and used it to photograph its captors. A year before that, an octopus tried to run away with a photographer’s entire underwater SLR rig…
This video isn’t quite as dramatic as all that, but if you need a break from all the overheating controversies or you’ve been beating yourself up for selling your Kodak stock before it shot up 2,000% in 48 hours, check out the full video up top.
Looking for the perfect gift for someone who enjoys travel and/or photography?
Do you have anyone on your list (or you!) that loves an outdoor adventure and travel photography?
Through the years we have tried and tested various travel and photography items, and have determined the gear that works best for us.
Our travel style is usually a road trip with hiking to enjoy and photograph nature and the great outdoors.
We’ve put together this Travel and Photography Gift Guide with our favorite gear for taking pictures while enjoying outdoor adventure.
• Gifts for Travel
• Travel Photography Gifts
• Gifts for Road Trips
• Gifts for Hiking
• National Park Gifts
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you! Read the full Disclosure Policy.
GIFT IDEAS FOR TRAVEL
Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are amazing! We were hesitant to join in the packing cubes trend, but once we used them, we were immediately hooked. Packing cubes make great gifts for anyone who likes to travel.
They keep everything organized and really do save space when packing your backpack, travel bag or suitcase.
→ We have 2 sets of the Travelwise packing cubes – a different color for each of us!
Buff Headwear
We never venture outside without our Buff headwear to protect us from the weather and insects.
The headbands can be worn 12 different ways and they dry quickly and wick away moisture.
I use it as a headband to keep hair out of my face or cover my ears or neck. Dave likes to make his into a cap for his head and another one to wear around his neck.
A Buff headband is a terrific gift for anyone who likes outdoor adventure. We also love the fleece lined Buff headwear for cold weather adventures!
Reusable Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle is the best practical gift for anyone who travels.
Staying hydrated is so important while traveling.
We use our refillable water bottles to avoid buying single-use plastic water bottles. Collapsible water bottles are nice to save space and avoid carrying something bulky. The Contigo metal bottles are a good choice if space is not an issue and you want to keep the water cold all day.
Do you know someone (or YOU) who enjoys travel photography? A travel camera is the perfect gift for the person who likes to take pictures as they travel to capture memories as treasured souvenirs to share with family and friends.
A good travel camera should produce quality photos and be easy to carry.
A sturdy tripod is the one thing that can dramatically improve your photos. Really!
A lightweight, compact tripod is a wonderful gift for anyone who likes taking photos while hiking and exploring the outdoors.
Use our travel tripod buyer’s guide to help you find a portable tripod to suit the travel and photography needs of those on your gift list!
→ We always recommend the MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon Fiber tripod.
Camera Bags and Backpacks
A good camera bag or backpack is perfect for anyone who enjoys travel photography.
The camera bag should be comfortable and equipped with pockets and organizing sections.
We need our backpacks to carry a camera and some other stuff like a water bottle, jacket, etc.
→ Our three favorite backpacks are made by Peak Design – Dakine – LowePro. They are built to take the wear and tear of outdoor and hiking adventures.
Camera Accessories
One of the best practical gifts you can give a photographer is a camera cleaning kit.
Anyone who travels and takes photos outside (with a camera or phone) will need to remove dust or water from the lens at times.
It’s no fun to come home from a vacation to see dark spots on your photos because the lens was dirty! We travel with a cleaning kit and also carry extra microfiber lens cloths in our pocket as we hike.
There are many other camera accessories you can give to the photographer on your gift list.
GIFTS FOR ROAD TRIPS
Plug In Cooler
A plug in car cooler is the perfect gift for anyone your list that enjoys road trips.
The car cooler eliminates the need for costly stops for drinks and snacks.
We use plug in coolers for a few reasons.
1. It uses technology even more sophisticated than a home refrigerator to keep things at a consistent cool temperature. It can assume a vertical or horizontal position to accommodate your car.
2. Many coolers allow you to use an AC Adapter to plug in your hotel room as a second fridge (you do have to purchase the adapter separately).
A plug in car cooler should be at the top of your gift list for anyone that likes road trips.
A road trip usually means listening to music, books, podcasts, etc.
A portable charger is a terrific travel gift to bring electronics devices back to life while on the road.
Simply charge it at night, then use it during the day when you need a quick boost.
→ We always use Anker portable chargers because they are fast and provide the best long-lasting, portable power we’ve found!
Traveler Road Kits
There should be a car emergency kit and a car first aid kit packed for any road trip.
Emergency and first aid kits are practical gifts for any traveler on your list.
Hopefully they’ll never need to use them, but if they do, they will be prepared for an automobile breakdown or personal injury that may occur on their road trip.
Picnic Blanket
A fun gift item for anyone who likes road trip adventures is a waterproof picnic blanket.
It’s useful for pit stops since it has a waterproof bottom to lay on the grass.
The soft top can be used as a blanket when it gets chilly in the car. Be sure to find one that’s washable.
After rolling my ankle while hiking, I learned the hard way the importance of a good pair of hiking shoes.
The result of me only wearing sneakers on that ‘easy trail’ was a small fracture and torn ligaments…. with weeks of recovery and physical therapy. I will always wear hiking boots with ankle support from now on!
→ Baffin Boots are the best for winter outings – we love them!
Darn Tough Socks
Seriously, Darn Tough socks are the BEST for hiking. This is our FAVORITE item on this list.
Darn Tough socks are comfortable, durable (with an unconditional lifetime guarantee) and let your feet breathe.
We’ve had kids use them multi-day walking treks, and they never get a blister. They are worth every penny!
If you have anyone on your list that likes to hike, these socks are the perfect gift. Their feet will thank you!
Hydration Pack
Water is the number one priority for any outdoor adventure. When you’ll be hiking, use a hydration pack (instead of reusable water bottles) because it’s so convenient to drink from the tube that’s just ‘right there’.
Hydration packs are wonderful gift ideas for people who enjoy the outdoors.
There are many types of hydration packs depending on the outdoor activity.
→ Add Nuun tablets as a little something extra. They help replenish electrolytes from sweating.
Clothing Layers for Outdoor Adventure
Wearing layers is common practice for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
Read our cold weather gear guide where we explain the various types of layers to stay warm for outdoor adventures in the winter.
Jackets, fleece, gloves and winter hats are fun gift ideas for anyone on your list who enjoys the outside, no matter the weather.
Amazon Best Sellers Lists for Travel, Photography & Outdoor Adventure
Amazon Best Seller pages are dynamically changed each hour by Amazon so the lists are always up-to-date.
The Best Seller lists are sorted by category and sub-categories. They are SHORT lists of best-seller items other people have purchased and reviewed so I can then find the one that’s best for me.
→ National Park Apparel | Parks Project Apparel from REI(with each purchase, they donate money to fund habitat restoration, visitor programs, wildlife conservation and more at the National Parks).
→ National Park Board Games – a portion of the proceeds are donated to the National Park Foundation!
In a move that’s either brilliant marketing or a sad indicator of financial struggles, GoPro has just debuted a line of “lifestyle gear,” including a range of bags, camera cases, clothing, and even accessories like a pair of floating sunglasses and a GoPro-branded water bottle.
The news dropped quietly a few days ago, and if you’re a fan of the GoPro brand, you suddenly have a lot more gear to choose from. That includes everything from rugged roll-top backpacks, to dry bags, to hats, sunglasses, and camera cases.
The main thrust of this release are the bags and camera cases, which include 7 options in all. Here they are, including product descriptions by GoPro:
Daytripper – Designed for daily adventures, the ergo-friendly Daytripper provides hydration compatibility and padded storage for a laptop, essentials and gear.
Stash – Stash is a flexible, fast-loading rolltop bag. The lightweight construction is designed for easy storage layering and reach-in accessibility.
Mission – Mission is a 2-in-1 backpack duffel built tough and sized up to handle the demands of extended trips and larger loads.
Storm DRY – Amphibious by design, Storm DRY is a tough, yet streamlined, waterproof backpack. It’s welded, watertight and lightweight while being tough as nails.
Sling – Sling is a sleek, minimalist crossbody bag you can also wear as a waist pack. Perfect for daily adventures from trail runs to supermarket runs.
Casey – Casey is a protective, customizable, compression-molded case for your GoPro and accessories. Features padded construction with soft tricot lining.
Casey LITE – Casey LITE is a lightweight, travel-friendly case for your GoPro and accessories. Features customizable padded construction.
The bags and cases start at $20 for the smaller options and go all the way up to $100 for the DRY bag or the Duffel. These are already up for sale starting today, and can be purchased on the GoPro online store. Clothing and other accessories will be available August 19th, starting at $25 for a hat and going up from there, with “floating sunglasses and water bottles” starting at $30.
It’s hard to know how to interpret this move. It’s either brilliant marketing—cashing in on hard-earned brand recognition among adventurers and outdoorsy types—or it’s indicative of the fact that GoPro is struggling to find a way to make money as competitors like DJI continue to undercut them at every turn. The truth probably sits somewhere in between those two poles.
Either way, if you’re interested in GoPro’s bags, clothing, or accessories, head over to GoPro’s shop to pick up your GoPro branded water bottle, which you can put in your GoPro branded backpack, while you don your GoPro hat.
Photographer Dan Roberts recently collaborated on an “intercontinental light painting.” Using a projector and the power of the Internet, he and Frodo Alvarez captured a light-painting portrait in real time from across the world: Frodo’s light from Spain ended up on Dan’s camera in Denver.
Enter Dan, who describes the experience below and explains how you can recreate this neat experiment.
Some Thoughts, Over Time
RECENTLY: I’m in the United States, and we’re not allowed to enter most other countries because we did a horrible job with a global virus.
TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO: “Hey Frodo, I think we should collaborate on a project where you’re in Spain and I’m in the USA and we make an art piece together”
TONIGHT: Hmmmm, I can do the thing with Frodo and I’ll be able to team up with a light painter from another country. Let’s finally do it!!
Lights, Camera… Where’s the Action?
In most light painting photographs the people adding light to the scene are, well, at the same location the camera is, or at least nearby. If you’re waving lights for a camera, that kind of makes sense. The problem with light painters is that we’re often so far away that it’s hard to get together. Even here in Colorado we’re an hour or two apart and don’t meet up as often as we should.
One way to get around this seemed pretty straightforward… connect with a remote friend using video conferencing software, use a projector, try to team up on a light painting. Tonight that happened, and I’m going to tell you how to do it.
What You Need
In order to create a picture the way we did tonight you’ll need the following:
A friend who wants to light paint with you
A video projector, preferably a short-throw projector
Something light to project on to (screen, wall, etc)
A computer or phone that can video conference, and hook up to the projector
Your standard light painting gear, including your camera
Your friend is going to need:
A computer or phone that can video conference, and hook up to the projector
Standard light painting gear, but no need for camera
The Setup
The light painter with the projector and the camera will set up the scene.
Set up your camera facing the projector screen
Your model will stand somewhere between the two, posing for the camera
The short-throw projector will sit on the ground between the model and the screen, and will project the video conference ON to the screen.
It’s a good idea to have a short-throw projector, but most people don’t know what those are. This type of projector has a different type of lens that allows a projector to be placed very close to a screen and it will project the image up at a very steep angle, allowing for a large picture to be displayed without having to have a projector quite far from the wall.
Using a projector like this will allow us to but the entire projected image BEHIND the model, and no light from the projector will shine upon the model at all.
If you don’t have a short-throw projector, the next best thing might be a screen that you can project onto from behind. Most people don’t have that either. If you have a normal front projector you can use aspects of this approach, but you’ll likely have to deal with light projecting on your model.
If you have a large TV you can also try that out instead of using a projector, but the area you can work with will be much more limited.
How Tonight Went
Frodo Alvarez (Children of Darklight) set up his space in Madrid. He would connect to us by Zoom video conference. Next time I think we’ll use Skype, or another program that doesn’t display a username on the bottom corner of the screen.
I ran around a lot today, looking for gear I haven’t used since before the pandemic. To be truthful, I haven’t used most of it since the PNW Meteor Jam right after our wedding; it’s been a busy year.
As I was shooting in the middle of the day I used Live Composite on my Olympus. We were in my garage and it was mostly dark, but for a first go this was also a way to ensure that the ambient light from the projector wouldn’t blow out the image. Blacks are black, but projector blacks are usually a little lighter than what we’d like black to truly be.
I front-lit Reagan, and used some black fiber optic to do her contour. Frodo had Wendy (his mannequin) in Madrid, and we lined Wendy’s projector position up with Reagan.
This gave Frodo a human shape to work with that more or less aligned with Reagan, across the world. He went to town with his lights, filling in the background and sides, waving lights in Spain and having them appear for my camera in Denver.
At one point we wanted his light to swoop around Reagan, so at the end of the shot we had her step out and he swooped around Wendy, and the light layered nicely into our picture!
Blue light by Frodo in Madrid; orange light by Dan in the USA; Reagan is our model.
Here’s a video of the process. It’s almost two minutes, there’s a lot of darkness, but it’s actually pretty easy to watch.
If you’d like to see what it looked like in Spain, you can see that here:
A New Way to Collaborate
I can’t believe that multiple years have passed since I first wanted to do this, and with Frodo nonetheless. With all the theory and experience I’ve gained over time, I was sure this would work, but yet it remained unexplored.
Tonight’s experiment can absolutely be improved upon. Among other things things I’d like better camera focus (using an unfamiliar camera, but no excuse for this!). Some of the lighting techniques can also be refined; this includes possible ditching the mannequin to allow the model to have more variety in poses and shape.
That said, tonight DID show that with a little bit of equipment we can team up with our friends even when we can’t be in the same room together.
The team, across the world.
None of us involved tonight know of anything like this having been done before in the light painting community, but if you know of someone who has already done this please let us know and we’ll update this article to give them a respectful shoutout!
Finally, check out Frodo’s video that talks about his experience. It’s a combination of English and Spanish, and gives some more insight into his side of this collaboration!
About the author: Dan (Chick) Roberts is a software engineer with an artistic passion for technical light painting. He loves to share his ideas and techniques, focusing as much on the ‘how’ and the knowledge-share as the creations themselves. Based in Denver, Colorado, and with a background in applied physics, he and his wife Reagan have traveled to Europe for three educational light painting meetups, with Dan presenting at two of them. He runs Light Painting Lab on Facebook, started the Colorado Light Painting group, and built the PieceOut.com collaborative photomosaic system. You can find more of Dan’s work on his website, Facebook page, and Instagram.
Frodo Álvarez DKL, from Oviedo (Asturias, Spain) is the artist Children Of Darklight. He started light painting in 2009. Light painting became his passion, and is now his way of life. You can find him on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
