The Backstory
Innovation is key to making visible, recognizable images.
And there’s almost always an option to photograph something from a cool angle or a unique perspective. One of my favorite techniques to take advantage of this involves creating killer point-of-view (POV) images. While the thought of strapping a large, expensive camera to a model, your buddy, a bike, car, etc, may seem like nothing more than a good way to break some gear, this 1 min 49 sec video called Chase Jarvis TECH: POV Photography outlines how it’s really quite simple. Watch:
The Video
Video Stills to Help Illustrate Some Details
This image below features a decent shot of the Magic Arm attached to the bike handlebars on one end and the camera on the other, with a Pocket Wizard receiver and cord taped to the Magic Arm in the middle. The camera is facing forward in order to shoot nearby moving bikers at close range:
This image below highlights the same camera contraption just pointed back toward the rider:
This image below shows another option for using the Superclamp and Magic Arm combo for dropping the camera off the lower tube on the bike frame. Make sure your biker knows how to ride well:
This image below shows our customized chest POV setup. We’ve had a cobbler (that’s right, guy who works on shoes) sew nylon climbing webbing and plastic rings to a neoprene Op/Tech DSLR sleeve and then, using a LowePro harness we’ve affixed the camera to the subjects chest. You can see the Pocket Wizard receiver and cord gaffed to the rigging.
Shopping List
And finally, in case you missed it on screen, here’s a list of items from the video and their approximate costs when purchased online:
Bogen 2915 Super Clamp – $25
Bogen 2929 Magic Arm w/ 2933 Camera Platform – $107
Pocket Wizard reciever – $188
Pocket Wizard transmitter – $188
Pocket Wizard PreTrigger N90M3-P for Nikon – $139
Motorola radio set – $200
Gaffer tape – $12
Op/tech neoprene camera sleeve – $133
Lowepro harness – $10
Nikkor 12-24mm f4 lens – $895
Nikon D2Xs camera body – $4356
(keep in mind that if you don’t want to throw down to purchase these things, that your local pro camera store likely rents all of these items!)
BTW this post was inspired by a comment from reader “DJ” on the Chase Jarvis RAW: New Zealand Spring video post: “Chase, I’d love to see the bike tripod/camera attachment thingy closer. That looked very cool.” In addition to it calling us to action to produce a little video on this topic, it spawned a larger initiative to create yet another concept that is the kissing cousin to Chase Jarvis RAW, and Chase Jarvis FRAMES… From here on out, these photo nerdy, techie ones will be called Chase Jarvis TECH.
Point: Keep sending in your comments and further ideas of what you want to see. I don’t do all that many photo tips, but overall your feedback and direction helps shape this blog and make it a worthwhile community.
Other Vids
[Chase Jarvis TECH: Photography Laptop Case (aka Pimp your Laptop Case)]
[Chase Jarvis RAW: New Zealand Spring]
[Chase Jarvis RAW: Ninjas]
[Chase Jarvis FRAMES: Hasselblad Masters]
Of course, if you have further questions or, better yet, have knowledge or points to add to the discussion, please do so in the comments section below. Let’s make this a great little resource/reference for POV stuff!
Depending on your RSS Reader you may want to watch the Chase Jarvis TECH: POV Photography vid clip here.
Related posts:
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I’ve used my magic arm on my motorcycle before and after a little bit of moving and vibration the locks always seem to loosen up the magic arm turns into a rag doll. Anyone else had this problem, or even better yet have a solution for it… Chase maybe you perhaps???
Adam,
We’ve gotten good results on bikes and cars with a combination of some really good torque on the magic arm knob, and some gaffers tape to keep anything from rotating. Also using some tape or rubber between the super clamps and the area being clamped keeps the whole assembly from slipping. There is also strategy in terms of the angles of the magic arm and mounting points. I’d be happy to hear other ideas as well!
Chase – thought you’d like to see your inspiration at work!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist/discuss/72157607111423973/
Regards,
Jonathan
Hello Chase & crew,
Is there a way to rig up a D80, D90, etc. (i.e. Nikon without the 10-pin) for remote work with the PocketWizards? The Nikon IR remote leaves much to be desired.
Thank you!
Jeff
Jeff: We don’t know of a way to get the PW’s to trigger the remote camera without the 10-pin cable. There may be a way out there, and if you find it feel free to pass it along. Thanks!
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the reply. My dad (the electrician in the household) rigged one up using the MC-DC1, or whatever the D80 cable is, and a mini-plug from Radio Shack. I think the whole thing cost about $28.
I’ll ask him the details, but we are able to use the cable release lock as the pre-trigger.
thank you for sharing… so far I was struggling with a gorilla pod to fix my camera on the bike… I guess I new some more gear, thank you for the references!!!
that’s nice you share all this little tips, I’ll chase my wife to have her sew me a chest harness, it will be less harmful than carrying my wife on my back when shooting spinning kids!
Thank you for posting this video/information.
Question for anyone who can help:
Do you think it would be possible to use this setup with a camcorder rather than a SLR? I’m worried the vibrations might ruin any footage. I would be riding the bicycle fairly slowly (no more than 25 mph) and on normal road conditions (pavement). Does anyone have any experience regarding this? For the record I’m using a Canon HV30 High-Def Camcorder.
Thank you for any information.
Take care,
Mark
@ gooddaysir914
Yes, that method would work for that video camera depending on the conditions. Of course you’re going to get vibrations but it might be a cool treatment as well. Test it and tell us how it went!
Cody
Chase, I have linked to the picture of your chest/camera harness thingy here and have included a link to your blog.
Hope you don’t mind.
posted the wrong link. I meant http://fixuplooksharp.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/the-journey/
G’day Chase,
After looking everywhere on the internet and not finding the answer for my question I must turn to you. I hope this comes handy to other photographers. I’ve bee looking for camera tracking rigs such as this one. (www.bluefish.com.au once you entered the site click on “science”then go to facilities then “tracking rig”.
big thanks all the way from Australia
David Cartier
davidcartier@mail.com
@ david: you should be able to track down this sort of stuff from any high end grip and lighting store. think film/video, rather than photo.
good luck!
Is that crusty with the yellow jacket on?
Hi Chase,
On a rig such as the camera on magic arm attached to the handle bars (looking forward), would you mind telling us a bit more about focus/DOF and how you manage to 1) set the focus point while in movement 2) make sure you have enough DOF so that all subjects are in focus? Do you carry DOF tables with you?
Thanks again for sharing.
Mathieu
mathieu: i pre-focus and tape the focus ring using gaffers tape so it does not move. i usually shoot with low shutter speeds, allowing for great DOF.
Hi Chase, really nice and educational video, I hope to try it some day. I have a question about a kind of POV photography, I have been asked to take photos of a couple of friends’ cars. And I think it is really cool when you connect the camera on a tripod in the car, drive through the tunnel during the night and use a long shutter speed. So my question is, do you know if there is any reasonable priced kits for this or do you need to pay pretty much to get this kind of photos.
And keep working, your photos are stunning.
Hi Chase,
Thanks for the vid. Very inspiring. I love rollercoasters and would love to get a pov shot. But I don't want to lose my gear! Do you know of a rig that could withstand the g-forces involved?
Thanks!
Pam
Really inspiring post!!
What a great blog!There have a chance that we can have an furthur exchanges and cooperation.I will always pay attention to your blog.
In the sport's culture now, success is measured with shoe commercials and video game covers. Beautiful and fashionable young people theme of the
times! And I like sports shoes! Casual Wear!
thanx nice nice nice
Nice Blog you got. I searched about CHASE and I found your Blog
on a Sunday afternoon.