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Filming Pow

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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
Hey NS, I'm leaving for SASS tomorrow and as you might guess, I will be filming a lot of backcountry skiing. I don't have much experience filming in the pow and was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks they would like to share about what the best method of stabilization is, how to keep a camera dry/safe near a lot of snow, and what you use to carry your camera around in the BC along with avy gear.

I am bringing a t2i, a glidecam, a tripod, a slider, and a camcaddie (basically a handle that attaches via the tripod mount), and a couple of lense.

What are the best tools to film BC with? is the glide cam good for filming from afar? obviously a tripod is good, but I'm not sure I want to carry it around all the time...

Thanks,

Reed
Aug 1 2010 6:33PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,329
tripod is probably your best bet. What lenses are you bringing? This could determine how you shoot
Aug 1 2010 6:39PM
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MANDER
Posts: 4017 - Karma: 2,038
pow follow cams are so sick. bring your glide cam and take a few!
Aug 1 2010 6:42PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
I'm bringing a sigma 17-50mm, and a canon 70-200mm
Aug 1 2010 9:44PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Make sure you turn off IS when using a tripod. Also, stop your lenses down so that you don't need to be robo-accurate at FF.

Bring a small tarp to set your tripod on so that it doesn't sink into the snow. Also look into getting one of those towel-ish lens cloths that absorbs water really well. You will need it for when the camera gets sprayed and you want to get the water/snow chunks off before cleaning your glass.

and of course a polarizer is a must 99% of the time (the exception being wide angle landscapes)
Aug 1 2010 10:03PM
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ReedSkis~
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 98
^Thanks, I don't have a polarizer... is it really necessary?
Aug 1 2010 10:12PM
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IanAvery-Leaf
Posts: 9932 - Karma: 9,411
only on first gen IS, second gen helps by eliminating the slight wobble when pressing the shutter/any other buttons
I could be horribly wrong though I know thats the case for photos
Aug 1 2010 10:42PM
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1337
Posts: 31059 - Karma: 29,329
you can do both long and some sweet pow follow cams. Slandypoo nailed it
Aug 1 2010 10:45PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Yes. It makes the sky more blue, and brings out detail in the snow. I haven't filmed without a polarizer since I was in middle school, because it makes every image look better (sans lowlight conditions)
Aug 2 2010 12:52AM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
When you meet a kid named Al there, tell him I say hi :)

Everyone's pretty much covered it. I prefer the tripod, but if you want to go light you can use the GlideCam. Unfortunately that's a little less reliable when zoomed.

Good luck mang, you'll have such a good time.
Aug 2 2010 10:51AM
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GreenHorn
Posts: 4896 - Karma: 1,209
youre lucky
for these reasons

1. You're going to ski pow
2. You have an awesome set up

good luck and have fun

that is all
Aug 2 2010 10:29PM
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Keyjibbs
Posts: 1542 - Karma: 96
You don't NEED a circular polarizer but it is very, very useful for shooting in the snow. You'll probably need to stop down you lenses if it's sunny because the glare off the snow will be easily overexposed. The bad part about this is you won't be able to use a very shallow depth of field. I'd personally only use a tripod for long lens shots but a slider will bring an added level of creativity.
Aug 2 2010 10:49PM
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
If you're shooting a camera with limited dynamic range, you pretty much need one for snow. It makes a night/day difference. Also, good luck grading when everything in your shot is either over exposed or under exposed.
Aug 2 2010 11:04PM
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hue.
Posts: 1518 - Karma: 220
i hope to see this edit when you get back
Aug 3 2010 1:46AM
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icantskiiFILM
Posts: 2113 - Karma: 140
i usually take a clear plastic bag and just put that right over the camera and cut a big hole in it for the lens to go through but most of the camera is protected.

as for filming..ive come to learn that a more interesting shot would include nature as well as a skiier. i filmed a little and though it was cool by just setting up a shot looking over the mountain and the beautiful scenery and then a skiier would shoot on by and hed hit a little booter and it looked real nice. use your surroundings to your advantage and just keep finding cool angles
Aug 3 2010 9:25AM
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