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cheap sound blimp??? NPR's Anne Garrels pics

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Todd Art

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Tonight I had the opportunity to shoot Anne Garrels, NPR's Baghdad
correspondent. She was a very animated and insightful speaker. My
biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter. No one seemed to
mind, as I only fired 4 or 5 bursts through the whole talk, but I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please

offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.

These were shot with the 20D and 70-200 f2.8 IS at about f4 and
200mm from the back of the ballroom.





--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
 
I had seen some posts here for ones costing several hundred dollars--thanks for the alternatives!
tony field said:
tony field said:
... I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please
offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't
shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.
Click to expand...
They can be home made:

http://www.whistler.com/buzzard/Blimp/

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=148811&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&vc=1

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB1&Number=280627&Forum=All_Forums&Words=pelican&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=278461&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=8309&daterange=0&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post280627

tony
http://members.shaw.ca/eclat
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
Mr. Whistler's concept has me thinking of a vinyl inner and outer shell, form fitted to the 20D, and filled with foam. It'd be much more comfortable than holding a box--and with no hard edges, it might be quieter.

I'll see if I can come up with a prototype.

--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'
 
The "bursts" were 2 or 3 shots at a time. She was an animated speaker, and was constantly blinking, waving her arms, screwing her face into tortured expressions, wiping her nose, etc. I'd wait for "the moment" and then fire 2 or 3 hoping to get her eyes open. About 75% of my shots are unusable because the pose wouldn't be flattering. She's not a T.V. reporter, she's a radio reporter.
RDKirk said:
--
RDKirk
'TANSTAAFL: The only unbreakable rule in photography.'
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
If you are really going to proto something, also consider the needs for cold weather shooters too. Maybe a pocket to hold one of those small chemical hand warmers to keep the batteries warm. Fleece material with a waterproof nylon jacket would be great for cold, but not much in the way of stopping noise. Just my two cents.

Things like this are a very high dollar market for the TV industry, search for Porta-brace K & H products, for a comparison of video products.
 
I know this isn't practical for just one insident, but perhaps it would be worth it considering a different camera type for this kind of situation if you are going to do it a lot?

On one end you could get a DVF point and shoot if you want to go the inexpensive route. You could pick up a camera that works well for this particular kind of situation for no more money than building a sound-proof box, and it'd also be less conspicuous.

On the other end, you could consider a rangefinder camera, and resign yourself to scanning film (yourself, or let the lab do it). You'd get replaceable lenses, silent operation and excellent image quality - and there's some street cred to be had in using such a piece of kit as well :)
Todd Art said:
Tonight I had the opportunity to shoot Anne Garrels, NPR's Baghdad
correspondent. She was a very animated and insightful speaker. My
biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter. No one seemed to
mind, as I only fired 4 or 5 bursts through the whole talk, but I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please
offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't
shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.

These were shot with the 20D and 70-200 f2.8 IS at about f4 and
200mm from the back of the ballroom.





--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
Click to expand...
--
http://lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
 
Wrap your jacket around your hand and the camera, so that only the front of the lens peeks out. The bigger and fluffier the jacket, the better this works.

You usually don't need total silence, after all--just some muffling.
Todd Art said:
Tonight I had the opportunity to shoot Anne Garrels, NPR's Baghdad
correspondent. She was a very animated and insightful speaker. My
biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter. No one seemed to
mind, as I only fired 4 or 5 bursts through the whole talk, but I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please
offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't
shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.

Todd
http://www.muskopf.org
Click to expand...
 
Todd Art said:
My biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter.
Click to expand...
I don't know what you shoot with, but the Nikon CS-13 camera blimp should be under 100.00 new.

The "big daddy" in sound blimps is Jacobson Photographic. See http://www.soundblimp.com/

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
 
My present rain cover is made out of vinyl, form fits to my lens and camera body, and has a drape which allows me to get my head underneath it to shoot. I've found that by holding the camera as I'm walking in snow and such, my hands are much warmer under the hood. I assume it keeps the camera warmer also. I just got back from a hike and it was 12 degrees F when I began. I had no battery troubles--been on the same battery for over a week I think--several hundred shots. I usually get over a thousand on a charge.

Thanks for the tips.
Greg_E said:
If you are really going to proto something, also consider the needs
for cold weather shooters too. Maybe a pocket to hold one of those
small chemical hand warmers to keep the batteries warm. Fleece
material with a waterproof nylon jacket would be great for cold,
but not much in the way of stopping noise. Just my two cents.

Things like this are a very high dollar market for the TV industry,
search for Porta-brace K & H products, for a comparison of video
products.
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
I've got a Nikon 5700 with all the gizmos, but I don't think it would do the job in a situation like this. It had significant noise beginning at ISO 200 (ISO 400 was blotchy, 800 unusable)
Jan Moren said:
On one end you could get a DVF point and shoot if you want to go
the inexpensive route. You could pick up a camera that works well
for this particular kind of situation for no more money than
building a sound-proof box, and it'd also be less conspicuous.

On the other end, you could consider a rangefinder camera, and
resign yourself to scanning film (yourself, or let the lab do it).
You'd get replaceable lenses, silent operation and excellent image
quality - and there's some street cred to be had in using such a
piece of kit as well :)
Todd Art said:
Tonight I had the opportunity to shoot Anne Garrels, NPR's Baghdad
correspondent. She was a very animated and insightful speaker. My
biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter. No one seemed to
mind, as I only fired 4 or 5 bursts through the whole talk, but I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please
offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't
shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.

These were shot with the 20D and 70-200 f2.8 IS at about f4 and
200mm from the back of the ballroom.





--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
Click to expand...
--
http://lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
Good point about not needing perfect silence. After all, when I see the White House press conferences I can hear the shutters clicking all the time while the President is speaking.
snowwrestler said:
You usually don't need total silence, after all--just some muffling.
Todd Art said:
Tonight I had the opportunity to shoot Anne Garrels, NPR's Baghdad
correspondent. She was a very animated and insightful speaker. My
biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter. No one seemed to
mind, as I only fired 4 or 5 bursts through the whole talk, but I
really wished I had one of those sound blimps so I could've shot
more--anyone with tips or recommendations for one of those, please
offer it! Hopefully, not one that's too expensive, as I don't
shoot this kind of "speaker" shot very often.

Todd
http://www.muskopf.org
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
I'm shooting a Canon 20D with a 70-200L f2.8 IS.

Anyway, I think I'm going to take a look at all of these designs and see what I can come up with first, and order one if it doesn't work out.

Don't worry, B&H gets thousands out of me every year! :) It's my favorite toy store!
henryp said:
Todd Art said:
My biggest problem was that I became very self conscious because
everyone in the ballroom could hear my shutter.
Click to expand...
I don't know what you shoot with, but the Nikon CS-13 camera blimp
should be under 100.00 new.

The "big daddy" in sound blimps is Jacobson Photographic. See
http://www.soundblimp.com/

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
This has been on my list of 'to do' things. I want one for
a 4x5 more than the digital. The design would be a hole in
the top of the box and have the lens exposed and a ReadyLoad
door on the side. The idea would be to protect the camera for
hiking and field use or street photography, but have easy use.
The box would give some sort of camouflage to the camera. For
example, often in large churches in Europe you want to set the
camera for a long exposure, yet not attract attention. A 4x5 in
an otherwise nondescript box would help while you are waiting
for those 20 second captures.

SoundBlimp.com is very cool, but seems like someone can do
similar with some basic tools and a bit of glue?
 
I agree, this seems like a homemade fix to me.

I'm not sure I'd want to use it hiking, though (at least with my cameras). When out hiking, I'm constantly changing shutter speeds and apertures, which would require opening up the covering every time.

Indoors with the subject in one spot, like in my shoot last night, once you nail the exposure every other one will be the same. That makes the cover very usable.

Did you see the prices of the sound blimp? $800 + $200 for a lens tube? I guess it's worth it if you're working in the film industry.
centralcoastmagazine said:
This has been on my list of 'to do' things. I want one for
a 4x5 more than the digital. The design would be a hole in
the top of the box and have the lens exposed and a ReadyLoad
door on the side. The idea would be to protect the camera for
hiking and field use or street photography, but have easy use.
The box would give some sort of camouflage to the camera. For
example, often in large churches in Europe you want to set the
camera for a long exposure, yet not attract attention. A 4x5 in
an otherwise nondescript box would help while you are waiting
for those 20 second captures.

SoundBlimp.com is very cool, but seems like someone can do
similar with some basic tools and a bit of glue?
Click to expand...
--
Todd
http://www.muskopf.org

Artists don't argue about paints and brushes.
 
henryp said:
I don't know what you shoot with, but the Nikon CS-13 camera blimp
should be under 100.00 new.
Click to expand...
I posted a question on Galbraith and received a couple of responses, not positive....

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=318546&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

tony
http://members.shaw.ca/eclat
henryp said:
The "big daddy" in sound blimps is Jacobson Photographic. See
http://www.soundblimp.com/

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video, Inc.
Click to expand...
 
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