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02/28/2005 02:19:25 AM · #1 |
This had to be the most unsettling thing that I have done to my equipment to date.
First some background information...
I have researched car mount systems for a few years off and on and I finally took the plunge and bought a nice little system that should fit my needs. For those don't know these rigs are a tripod of sorts but instead of feet at the end of the legs, there are suction cups so that you can mount them to any smooth surface (ie: a car or truck).
Even though this is professional equipment that is used by Hollywood studios, it's still in the back of my head that my gear is being held on by suction cups.
I received the rig about a week ago but because of bad weather I never got a chance to play with it. I was going to test fit it on my truck but because of all the rain, I never got a chance to wash the truck so that I could play with my new toy until today.
So this morning I grab all my gear and headed out to the track where I am to meet a friend of mine, on the way out to the track I stop by a drive through do-it-yourself wash and clean up my truck real quick.
I arrive at the track and start playing with the rig immediately. I mount it to several different locations on my truck and take some pictures while I drive around in a circle real slowly. I'm trying to minimize any sudden movements because I don't want the camera to shake... 1) I don't want any extra shake that might ruin the picture and 2) I don't want the suctions cup popping off and dropping my camera to the ground.
So after a brief hour or so of playing with teh rig, my friend comes up and tells me that he talked to a driving instructor who is willing to allow me to setup this thing on one of the Corvettes that the driving school uses at the track. These are not ordinary Corvettes mind you and these aren't ordinary drivers. I am about to send my gear out hanging over the side of a track prepared Corvette Z06 that will be piloted by a professional driving instructor who is intimately familiar with the track.
So here I am mounting a camera rig that I myself have only had about an hour to get comfortable with. As we head out onto the track a wave of parania flows over me. I have to tell you, there's nothing like the feeling that you just mounted your camera to race car that is about to enter a corner at 60mph and god only knows how many g-forces are being applied to those little suction cups. (sgh) *click* I press the button on the pocket wizard hoping I did everything correctly.
As we race around the course going through turn after turn I start to have a flash back. I think back to when I was kid and I used to shoot suction cup darts at the TV screen and then watch them fall to the ground because you didn't lick the dart... Another corner coming up! *click* ...
Truck Test Shot : Right Side : Rig Mounted to the 3rd door
Truck Test Shot : Left Side : Rig Mounted the Rear Quarter Panel
Truck test Shot : Right Side : Rig hanging from passenger door
How low can I go!?
Corvette Z06 on track at approx. 50mph : Mounted on rear trunk lid hanging off to rear quarter panel.
Corvette Z06 "Behind the scenes"
Message edited by author 2005-02-28 02:27:57. |
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02/28/2005 02:22:40 AM · #2 |
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02/28/2005 02:24:08 AM · #3 |
You're a brave man, Charlie Brown. LOL
June
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02/28/2005 03:44:14 AM · #4 |
| you need a lift on that truck and some 40's ;) then do it 4wheeling now id buy into that |
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02/28/2005 04:10:18 AM · #5 |
Damn, you're gonna have fun witht hat, dude. HUGE amount of suction you got there, I wouldn't be real worried about it flying loose.
Ask me someday about the time we cantilevered a Linhof 4x5 camera from a balcony to shoot a shot straight down. My assistant was going for more film holders and kicked the projecting tripod leg; the whole thingflipped over, fell 12 stories, and shattered to smithereens on the pool deck.
After that, we tethered the camera for those shots. A different camera, of course :-)
Robt.
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02/28/2005 06:06:44 AM · #6 |
A quick Question for Bear, After the camera took its plunge, did your assistant land heads or tails?
:) Mike
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02/28/2005 07:47:44 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by mfairbanks:
A quick Question for Bear, After the camera took its plunge, did your assistant land heads or tails?
:) Mike |
I'd guess heads. LOL |
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02/28/2005 10:43:39 AM · #8 |
| Wow, how much did that little thing cost? |
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02/28/2005 12:54:41 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by a1leyez0nm3:
you need a lift on that truck and some 40's ;) then do it 4wheeling now id buy into that |
Nooo.... Tires are big enough, I would like a 2" to 4" suspension lift but nothing drastic. I do 4-wheel but I'm not rock climbing. :)
Originally posted by bear_music:
Ask me someday about the time we cantilevered a Linhof 4x5 camera from a balcony to shoot a shot straight down. |
That hurts just reading about it.
Originally posted by NathanW:
Wow, how much did that little thing cost? |
This is a professional rig bought from a supply house in L.A., the complete solution out the door and delivered was $710.
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03/05/2005 03:23:56 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Jason:
[quote=a1leyez0nm3] you need a lift on that truck and some 40's ;) then do it 4wheeling now id buy into that |
Nooo.... Tires are big enough, I would like a 2" to 4" suspension lift but nothing drastic. I do 4-wheel but I'm not rock climbing. :)
NIce truck BTW anyway. WHEEL IT!!!
Originally posted by bear_music:
Ask me someday about the time we cantilevered a Linhof 4x5 camera from a balcony to shoot a shot straight down. |
That hurts just reading about it.
yeah i bet it would be painfull to whoever got hit by it falling haha
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