Ha Ha, no worries brotha. When I post the most amazing videos in the whole world, don't be jealous. LMAO! I'm sure I'll have some fun with it, but I am also sure it will sit there a lot.
Wow, surprised at all the GoPro hate on here. Do you guys really hate it that much, or is it just cool to hate them? I have found the GoPro to be one of the best things I've ever bought for myself. Having never actually seen myself surfing, it was enlightening to see how much I actually suck once I started getting some video. But it has been useful as a critique as to things I now see myself doing wrong so I can work on correcting them. And, it's nice to have some video or pics to remember particularly good sessions. I can only wish I had one sooner. Anyway, to each their own I guess.
Nice photos. I personally believe the more perspectives, the better, editing multiple angles (not just a mounted GoPro, for instances) into a video.
I posted that first picture because it's everything I love about GoPro in one shot. That is a still from a very mediocre day at Off the Wall. There was a bunch of Japanese surfers right on the peak and this photog shooting them. Over time, I worked my way over and snagged that set wave. I don't usually surf with photogs out, so I just pointed my board right at him and surfed away. When I got out, I chatted one of the guys up and learned that the photog was Jason Shibata. I managed to track him down through Facebook and see the shot of me he took. He wanted a bit more than I wanted to pay for the pic. Regardless, though, the GoPro shot is one of my favorites. I love how you can see Jason's camera in the lip, and the reef through the wave. It's just cool. It's something I enjoy looking at to remember how awesome things were before I moved to sunny Rhode Island. It's a very neat tool. I do agree that it can be distracting, and there are sessions where I've deliberately left it at home as to not to have a distraction while surfing. So, it's not an "every session" tool. But, it's nice once you've built up your library to be able to go back and have pics bring back memories of great sessions. Ok, so maybe I'm a kook, but frankly I don't care if that's what you think when you see me out with my GoPro. I don't surf to make you happy.
The GoPro shot is, frankly, much better. And we were off by an order of magnitude on the cost, so it's really a non-starter.
LOL, I am sure 'tis fine, but I understand; perhaps he is not opposed to editing the photo in a manner preferable to you. You won't know, unless you ask.
Seems like a lot of folks really get off on documenting every stupid thing they do then posting on YouTube and jerking off every time someone views their pic/video. Just my opinion - to each his own.
Toonces, great shots and thanks for the input! I understand what the crew is saying, I think a lot of people got them, mounted up and then thought they were professionals. The Summer time warriors were all about showing they had a surf boart, etc. Which falls right in line with what Smitty is saying. There are def some annoying videos out there. On the other hand, I am pretty excited to play with this thing and see what I can get.
I find gopros funny. One day i you tubed "*local break* surfing" or whatever. I found so many go pro videos of guys i see all the time (who suck) on like waist high days. I got a kick out of it. Actually saw myself in one....dude dropped in on me. The videos look like crap, the waves are never worth documenting, and the surfing sucks. And is the same 3 guys with 20+ videos. Whatever makes you happy i guess. I do have a go pro, one of the originals before mouth mounts. I rigged up a head strap mount and took it out on a few small days. It was fun to play with once or twice but then it lost its luster. When the waves were worth documenting i didn't want to be playing around with a go pro. Plus my lady and pops are into photography and have nice cameras and lenses so i get plenty of pictures from them. Although video would be cool. The solo shot looks to be cool. I'd like to try one. But just like the go pro which lost its luster, I'm afraid of dropping the cash on it and only using it once or twice.
Bassmon, I thought about the head mount idea, I have seen the mounts. I have a water proof camera that I have taken out quite a bit and it was fun, but I wasn't surfing, just swimming around shooting. I have some pretty cool shots with it. The good thing is, the gopro was a gift, so I didn't have to spend a lot of loot. I am not sure just how much I will use it, but if I want it, its there.
If I had to watch a GoPro vid, I'd rather watch one that's pointed down the line rather than the one that's pointed up a the rider's face. Anyone with a camera on the nose gets burned at my local.
Bwhahahaha, I thought about mounting it and just pointing at my crotch. Then posting the video on here and acting all stoked! LOL
Bought one a few years back, used it once or twice nose mounted and the results are pretty **** unless the waves are yuge. Pointed down the line is ok but suffers from the same general issue as pointing it back at the user, the footage is tired and looks the same all of the time. Would be great on a trip with the guys to an uncrowded spot where you could take turns setting up down the line to get water shots. Before gopro I used to have one of these that I would swim out with to get some water shots.
I've thought about mounting my GP to a PVC pole and setting the pole up inside the white wash to click pics every .5 seconds. I haven't done it yet. It is placing an obstacle right in the zone but it could get some good pics too. Crowd dependent of course.
