Monday, February 18, 2013

Gorillapod to the rescue


Wifey told me “You know how it is when you go to the theatre and miss out the start”
I said “Yes”
“Well that is what you did with my dance. You missed recording the start”
“But dear you know how I was multitasking on that day. Dashing down a flight of steps and then operating the camera is not an easy task”

Well let me start at the beginning.
Clicking pictures at weddings is fun and you tend to get some interesting shots if it’s a fun wedding. But when it comes to capturing the same on video it’s a different challenge.
Had the opportunity to capture a wedding held in Goa. On the day of the Sangeet there was a lot of dancing and I had to take care of the music part (co-ordinate with the DJ) as well as capture the action on video. I thought I will somehow manage both by telling the DJ exactly when to start the music and side by side roll the camera. But at the venue I found that the DJ was actually sitting two floors above the dance floor. Now this was a tricky situation and I was wondering how to do both. To compound the problem I was supposed to shake a leg with wifey for a particular song. I don’t think anyone faced a situation where you had to be behind the camera as well as face the camera.  After racking my brain I came with a solution - the Gorillapod in my camera bag. It’s a smaller version of a tripod but the legs are flexible. It comes in handy when you want your hands free.

You can practically wrap it around anything, a railing or a tree trunk or around your rear view mirror.

At the venue, the closest place that I could find to fasten it was the railing around the stage.

For the first two songs I managed to get the action that way, but soon realised that climbing up and down the ladder (to reach the DJ) was eating into the actual shooting time. So finally I carried the camera up with me and did the shooting from top. Now this was something like a top view of the complete action which did not do justice to the performers.  I was hoping someone would take some decent shots from the front which I could mix with mine to get a reasonably respectable compilation.
Luckily for me, Ms Siddhi came to my rescue. She said she would send me whatever she has captured.

After a lot of splicing, joining, overlaying music etc, I came up with this short video.
I have added only 3 songs here in this video. This shows how one can splice and mix the inputs from two cameras effectively. I have retained the original soundtrack, so that the crowd’s reactions and cheering is not lost.
        A special mention about Martin’s entry. One moment he was standing there sipping beer and before I could zoom out he leapt on the stage. Very agile and quick I must say. Being Spanish, doing the Senorita song must have been easy for him.  
There are only three more songs in which I have some footage from Ms Siddhi. The rest of the song and dance will be with the “view from the top”
So if anyone else (who attended the wedding) has canned some shots, do send them across via We Transfer so that I can add them in the next volumes.  Happy viewing.


71 comments:

ROSY said...

Joe....that was quite a challenging effort at multi tasking. i really liked mayya's n your picture in our traditional red. I m glad u succeeded........love u both......

Sharmila said...

I have been wanting to buy this for a long while now ... but am afraid my camera would be too heavy for it and fall off. But seeing your camera didn't, am so going to get this. Lovely shots Haddock! :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey Joe...I have a couple of videos have sent it to you !! Thank you for sharing all the videos !! cheers !! Shirene

kevin said...

joe, excellant job. I relived those moments on the cruise!!! kevin

Rama Ananth said...

Excellent work Joe, you wife is very good.
However, I felt the senorita dance was a little slow for the fast paced music. There should have also been lot of swirling of the skirts etc., but on the whole it was very good effort by everybody. I liked the English Vinglish dance by you and your wife. Was it taken on a cruise ship, it must have bee so much fun.

Swapna Raghu Sanand said...

Funny and excellent at the same time. This marks the height of multi tasking indeed. Keep dancing, you two!

Shivani Singh said...

Oh this was happy viewing indeed. Enjoyed every bit of it and since i can't shake a leg i must say both of you are fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing this.:)

Ms Sparrow said...

Wow, that's impressive.

Haddock said...

Thanks Rosy. Yes I am surprised to see myself in that attire. (one of the few occasions of getting myself clicked)

Haddock said...

Yes Kichu Khonn, this takes up reasonably good load and can hold on if properly fixed. What you can do is take your camera along with you and try it out before purchasing.

Haddock said...

Thanks Shirene, will acknowledge when I get them :-)

Haddock said...

Yep Kep, it was fun :-)

Haddock said...

Thanks Rama, and agree with you on that skirts swirling etc, but we did not want it to look too professional :-)
This was on a pre-arranged boat cruise in the Goa rivers.

Haddock said...

Yes Swapna, I myself was surprised..... like they say, if there is a will there is a way.

Haddock said...

Glad you enjoyed it Shivani. Once upon a time I too thought that I can't shake a leg (noticed Amitabh dancing with Pran in Zanjeer?)

Haddock said...

Thanks Ms Sparrow :-)

Sunitha said...

Awesome, what good troupers you guys are. After seeing that video I want to be at a wedding and dance now. Enjoyed!

CAntony said...

You made the best of the situation... and had a good time to boot! I love watching you and 'wifey' dancing (from whichever angle.)
My favorite part of the video is Martin & Priyanka's behind the scene dance practice (with wifey's instructions). AWESOME. And so much fun!

trees said...

Great fun...You know, Martin could be a star!

Kathy said...

Nice! Multitasking indeed. My favourite part was seeing you dance and lip sync to that Bollywood song:)

P.S. - Martin has a new fan club and I'm the president:P

Haddock said...

Bingo Sunitha, got you in the mood :-)

Haddock said...

Yes.... never to give up on a situation. As for Martin & Priyanka, you better join the Fan club below.

Haddock said...

Join the newly formed Fan club by Kathy :-)

Haddock said...

Yeah looking for an opening in Bollywood. As for the fan club, there is already one in Pune :-)

R. Ramesh said...

ok kathy..is the vice president post still vacant? hehe good post sir

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Such fun viewing your video! Well done piecing everything together. I should love to be taught these wonderful dance moves. Greatly enjoyed seeing this joyful (and talented) group of people :)

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

How clever and it looks like you had a great time. Wives love to shake a leg.

Haddock said...

Thanks Lorraine and you are most welcome :-)

Haddock said...

Yes Linda, in fact all tried their best at shaking a leg.

Purabi Naha said...

Gorillapod is really a very useful thing! Wow, these pictures are amazing!!!!

A Cuban In London said...

I love that Gorillapod and I might even invest in one before shooting off on hols in a few weeks' time. Thanks for the post.

Greetings from London.

Haddock said...

I think you should go for it. Can't say when it will be useful.

Haddock said...

Thanks Purabi :-)

Pearl said...

How wonderful, and what a great idea!

My parents have a videotaping business, weddings and graduations and whatnot. I wonder what they would say about this!

Pearl

trishie said...

I've used the gorilla pod before and it was really handy!

PS: I'm hosting a Living Nature skin essentials pack giveaway at my blog, hope you enter: http://www.underlockandkeyblog.com/2013/02/living-nature-review-and-giveaway.html

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Wonderful post, thanks for sharing this with us.

Haddock said...

Thanks Pearl.
Why don't you ask them to have a look and give their opinion ? :-)

Haddock said...

Yes Trishie, they are really good at some difficult situations.
Will hop over and have a look :-)

Haddock said...

Thanks there :-)

Linda said...

Great post, thanks so much for sharing.

Marco Luijken said...

Hello,
Very nice shots with the gorillapod. It's very easy to use.
Mostly I use a monopod for wildlife shots!!

Greetings, Marco

Haddock said...

Thanks Linda :-)

Haddock said...

Yes Marco, I will be soon going for the monopod.

Stephanie said...

I am by no means a professional photographer but that little gadget you have jazzed up is simply fabulous!! Love that vid too!

Haddock said...

Thanks Stephanie :-)
Yes I too was not aware of this 'gadget' till I saw someone using it and said to myself "this is very practical"

aki! said...

I've heard about these but I've never seen them in action. They look great!

7% Solution​

Gillian Roe said...

Good work! That gorillapod is great, I've never seen anything like that before.

Gillian

magda said...

Very clever idea my friend!!!!
The video is bautiful and the mucic very nice!!!
Congratulations to dancers!!!
Many greetings

Haddock said...

Thanks Magda (you are back after a long time) :-)

Haddock said...

Its very handy Gillian :-)

Haddock said...

They are great Aki :-)

magiceye said...

Fun times captured!

Haddock said...

Yes Magiceye.... it was real fun.

Suburban Girl said...

Wow, that is a lot of work! I would be a nervous wreck leaving my camera unattended.

Haddock said...

You have a point there Rebecca, but then I had some close friends around to make sure that nothing happens to my camera.

Marie said...

The gorillopod looks handy! I still need a new camera. :)
Dancing is good for everyone. :) Happy days to you!

anilkurup59 said...

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Haddock said...

Yes Anilkurup, I will hop over and have a look.

Journey of Life said...

Sounds like a fun day and very creative way of capturing it :-)

Anita said...

What a fun time! Whatever media talents you used to capture it, worked out well.

There is a "Festival of India" once a year in Richmond, Virginia. I've been a few times. The last time, a friend of mine and her two daughters danced in a competition. While there, I wished I could get on stage and dance with them, just like wishing I could have stepped into your video. :)

Haddock said...

Oh yes it was fun all the way till late night.

Haddock said...

Hi Anita, fun is an understatement.
As for stepping into the video, any one is welcome :-)

radha said...

I just thought I would see a bit of the video, to be honest, who watches some one else's sangeeth. Well, I watched the whole bit.
( And thanks for the verse on my post... I enjoyed it ! )

Karen Xavier said...

Sounds like a fun wedding, south indian weddings are never this fun... never heard of the gorilla pod before, very handy device.

Haddock said...

Karen, you have echoed what I mentioned in an earlier post, but some people didn't take it in the right spirit.

Haddock said...

Ha ha.... isn't it contagious Radha? That is one of the reasons I put it on YouTube.

Shilpa Garg said...

Wow! You sure multi-tasked! Gorillapod is so cool... am seeing it for the first time! I recently bought a tripod! :)

Haddock said...

Yes Shilpa, I always carry them (as the tripod is too big and heavy)

Ruprekha said...

Lovely shots and video. Quite a multitasking that!But results turned out great.
Loved visiting your space.

Haddock said...

Thanks Ruprekha and you are most welcome. If I remember correctly, you had commented on one of my posts some years ago :-)

D.Nambiar said...

Now I want a gorilla pod. :)