Thursday 30 December 2010

Camera bag showdown...

I have a few different camera bags, from small ones that just hold my camera and a lens, and 3-4 backpacks...This is just a short blog post summing up what I think of 3 of the most used bags I own.

They have all been used in anger, some for longer than others, some are better, some worse...read on to see which one I prefer for what...

First Off is the F-Stop Gear Satori.

This is my Fav bag of the 3, its my work horse and has never been anything other than perfect if not better for the job than I thought possible.
Carrying a bag full of gear can get heavy, when traveling the bag can weigh around 40 Lb's and that's a lot, but in this bag it feels half that thanks to the big soft padded straps and internal Alu framing.

Put this with padded laptop pouch, side pouches, top space great for drink/coat/cables etc, the fact its rear loading so you don't get your back all wet and dirty putting it down in the woods , non rip fabric which trust me, I have tested, its water resistant more than you will ever need, and again trust me, I have tested this, has a totally removable internal camera unit ( a small padded camera bag inside the main bag, see there site for more info on it ) which is very useful in some situations.

The padding is all very soft, in the right places, and the bag is still very light which is good news when you need to get on a plane with a bag that's already 2 times more than your allowed ( could do a whole other post on how to cheat your way through airports but like I say, another post entirely)



http://fstopgear.com/en/product/mountain/satori



http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-lowepro-flipside-400-aw-backpack-black/p1028114

The second of the bags that I use on a regular basis is the Lowe Pro Flipside 500 AW

Now this is a Pro only bag which I was given as part of a group of Togs to test, but you can buy a slightly smaller version of this ( the 400, see link above ) in any good camera store.

Its a bit smaller than the Fstop, a little less comfy for hiking in, a few less straps for really tying down tripods etc if you need to ride with it. Basically its more of a bag for short walks, taking round towns, cities, internal jobs, portrait shoots, and it was the bag I used and was perfect for EuroBike.

It is rear loading like the Fstop so when you put it down in the woods you don't get your back all wet and muddy, non rip, had the all weather ( AW ) cover, a strap on the front for A tripod. Like I say, the bag I use when I'm not shooting Bikes, or need something that's a bit neater and doesn't look like I'm about to go up Everest.




http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tamrac-expedition-8x-photo-backpack-ta5588/p1029113

This is A bag I don't use anymore, and is in fact up for sale ( email me if your interested )

I got this bag when my first bag ( A Lowe Pro photo Trekker ) just got a bit small for my growing amount of gear I needed to take on shoots.

I just needed a cheap, big, sturdy bag which is just what this is. Its pretty huge, and It says its hand luggage for planes, which it is, I have taken it on Sleazy jet flights, but if you can get it in to the little cages at sign in, you are a better man than I.

The bag does what its meant to, it doesn't do it well, its not very comfy, heavy, doesn't use the space it has well with very thick walls...

BUT! Its cheap, and HUGE. If I ever needed to take lots of gear on a shoot abroad both video and photo so Dollys, Video and photo Tripods, reflectors etc Then Its a bag like this that you could ram full and put as hold luggage that would be useful as you know with its bulk and padding your gear should be safe.

Anyway That sums it up in short...

For anything where your out in the woods shooting, or will be carrying the bag for any length of time, or when looks aren't important, then this is THE bag. Its amazing in every way and just look at the Fstop Team on there site if you need anymore people telling you how good they are, really amazing.

The Lowe pro is a bit neater, good for commercial portrait shoots, weddings etc, or going on holiday and going sight seeing in cities.

The Tamrac...the cargo plane, big, burly but not a touch on either of the others...

Hope this helps you pick a bag if your looking for one, and last thing... Have a good new years. bring on 2011!

Ta Jacob

Wednesday 29 December 2010

New Wideopen Mag

The new WO mag is out now, and another bumper issue full of MTB goodness...including a fair few shots from yours truely...Here are just a few of my shots in the new issue and a little bit of info on them...



This shot is of elite racer Rob Smith at the 2010 finals of the BDS races pinning through the root and stump fest of a top section, just one of those shots where the riders body possition, good light , and good comp says it all.



This is the Cover for issue 14, and its Sam Dale smashing in to a little rut we found, you have no idea how hard they where smashing in to this but you can get an idea from how aggresive his body position is.




This is a page from the spread about a few days I spent up with Josh and Sam while they where filming for Speedkings ( http://scott-marshall.co.uk/homepage.html ) Few good riding shots and a great portrait of Josh



This is a shot from a peice they did with Marc Beaumont, a shot from Ft Bill WC, just looks fast, and really love this shot...

Sit down, take some time out, and have a read...

Thursday 23 December 2010

DMR bikes christmas video...

If you follow me on Twitter ( @JacobGibbins ) you will have seen me tweet a few things about me filming for a funny little Xmas thing for DMR bikes with Olly Wilkins and Sam Reynolds....

Anyway now that the big day is only a few days away it was time to get the thing uploaded...

so put it up on pinkbike,mpora,youtube, its gone on dirt and with any luck will get on some more sites soon...

Anyway here is the video...and a cool photo of them riding as well...

Ta And to everyone who reads this thing, have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, want to see anything new on here in the new year, let me know!

Ta



Wednesday 22 December 2010

Heath and Riffle

Just 2 more photos I found hidden away in the 1000s of images on my PC...

Was looking through for some images for a few up and coming interviews on http://factoryjackson.com/ and found these aswell...

Anyway one is from the first WC I went to last season in Maribor , and another from the last in Val Di Sole...

Leave a comment with which one your prefer...


Monday 20 December 2010

Showreel 2010 round up on PB

Got a nice story up on pinkbikes main page today, Just a short recap of some of the things I did with my year, and really just a great bit of personal marketing...

Take a look via the link bellow...

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Jacob-Gibbins-Showreel-2010.html



on a differant note, look out for a few festive things coming online in the coming days from the DMR shoot a few days ago.

Thanks

Jacob

Sunday 19 December 2010

Interview with me on HT nation

HardTail nation asked me a few questions last week, find the interview on there site via the link bellow....

http://www.hardtailnation.co.uk/?p=2442

Quick snap of me on the right side of the lens, on the bike, back in the summer...

Sunday 12 December 2010

Few interviews on FJ

Theres a new bike website sprung up a few weeks ago called Factory Jackson

factoryjackson.com

And I have been involved in getting some shots together for a few interviews and a few other projects in the pipeline with these guys.

Anyway the site takes great content on bmx, mtb , moto , clothes, art, just all good stuff really, in a nice neat site, with lots of great new parts of the site going live soon.

Anyway in the past week the have put up a few interviews with both Josh Bryceland and Danny Hart both of which have a good ammount of my work in...

So head over to the site and check them out here:


factoryjackson.com

Saturday 11 December 2010

More from my local tracks

If you follow this blog, or look at pinkbike daily you should have seen my article on there from the other day on riding in the Tamar Valley see post on it here:



Anyway I havnt stopped shooting for that project just yet...

WideOpenmag want to run a more full story on it all so im still shooting some fresh stuff over the next few weeks for that.

So went down the woods today with local hero Mullane and a load of the other local pinners and shot some stuff, im really happy with how most of them turned out, to see the rest of them you will have to keep an eye on the next WO, but here 2 to have a cheeky peek at...


Thursday 9 December 2010

Local Scene photo essay on pinkbike...

Over the past few months on spare days, days out riding etc I have taken the camera out and shot some photos with a photo essay about riding in the Tamar Valley in mind.

Anyway the last week I have finished shooting enough to put together a good article, I will carry on shooting for it and there will be a full written up article plus some fresh work in the next issue of WideOpen mag.

But till then find the new article on PBs main page here:



Have a look, comment, let me know what you think.

Ta




Tuesday 7 December 2010

Dartmoor Tree Landscapes

Went for another one of my spur of the moment walks up on the moor with the camera...

This time up around pew tor just before sun set, met a few ponys, fell over a few times, and did some off roading in my new car...

Anyway photos...







Monday 29 November 2010

Freezing Dartmoor

Went for a bit of a walk up on the moors this afternoon and took the camera ( duh!? )

Also was really testing out a new app I got for my phone, like it so should be tweeting a lot more random photos from all over the place....

Anyway a few pics..

First a few from my phone:





And now a few from the big camera...










Thanks to the ponys of great staple tor for being such good models

Friday 26 November 2010

DIY camera Dolly - How to

Now I have been busy ever since I started making films making little toys and tools to help get slightly differant shots and to improve what I am doing.

I have made a few things in the past, Jibs, shoulder mount rigs , steering wheel thingys , etc but its the simple camera dolly I have tried to make on I think its 4 or 5 differant projects now.

Now they seem very simple in theory, but to make one thats easy to use, easy to transport, quick to use, smooth, and versitile is quite tricky.

MK1- I made where full size and took a full size tripod on, it was in essence a MTBoard with a cross strut on it and some tracks for the wheels to run on... To Heavy

MK2- Was that same rib but chopped down so just the camera sat on it...camera had to be level or horrizons where wonky

MK3- A new rig from scratch using scooter wheels on a small wooden truck with an old bodged tripod head on it...Not smooth enough and tripod head kept hitting the ground when using it in the woods

MK4 - This is my new one. I looked at what the best ones online where, and rather than looking at them and working out how to cut corners, I just copied them...and unsupprisingly it worked out well...DUH!?

O well its the journey not the destination right ?

Anyway First Have a few photos of my new one... I will then list all the componont parts and a few links on where to get them...





















Right first off you need the strip of Alu angle- I got mine from Focus but you can get it in any old B&Q etc

Then the steel rods - again same places

the nuts, bolts and washers - again same places

Then the wheels, now I used 8 skateboard wheels I got 4 from a mate off an old board he has which I brought for £5 , and the other 4 my mate gave me as they where his old ones... But you would be best ideally getting new ones so they are the exact same size.

Then the bit of ply wood the camera sits on, and a few zip ties to get it on to the steel rod axels...

Now the tripod head is what makes this dolly so much better than all my earlier attempts, Just a simple ball head with QR lever- I got this one but any simalar one will do...



Thats about it really, Any more questions add them in the comments and I will answer them.

If people want I can do ones for the other bits and bobs I have made, but will see if theres the interest.

Thanks Jacob

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Speed Kings cover Artwork

If you follow the latest MTB DVD realeses you will have heard about the new film from Scott Marshall "Speed Kings"

The trailer looks like something from the days of sprung, more than just racing or smashing out full on DH....just fun on things with 2 wheels. Makes you want to go ride.

Anyway back to the reason of this post, The photos on the front and back cover....

Now the photo on the back cover of the bike painted on the road ISNT mine. Im not to sure whos shot it is but its NOT mine.

ALL other shots on the front and back covers are mine, and im stoked on how this looks, really filmic, love it.

Anyway heres the Cover layouts....and a link to an excusive section from it on Dirt...See Scotts site to order it on this link

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/speed-kings-matt-simmonds-joe-smith.html



Monday 22 November 2010

2 more from last season

Looking through the 1000s of photos again for something, Found these 2 that I quite like...

Ones from Ft Bill, the other from Val Di Sole... The one of Marc is from Val Di Sole which is the round he won, missed this shot first time round when it mattered... O well...



Sunday 21 November 2010

Gee Atherton, the video...

Right a few weeks ago I blogged about Gee Atherton coming down to Gawton to do the Dirt 1:04 with a few photos and screen shots...

See it here: http://jacobgibbinsdotcodotuk.blogspot.com/2010/10/gee-atherton.html

And the video I filmed went up on Dirt a day or 2 ago.... Having had very nearly 60,000 views in its first weekend online... its not going to badly.

Anyway please find the video embeded bellow....


MPORA Action Sports >>

Saturday 20 November 2010

Goon Ride ( Dolly test )

The other afternoon I finaly had the last part for my new Dolly ive been making the last month delivered.

So I just wanted to get out and try it out on something slightly more taxing than the walls and flowers in my garden, So gave my mate mono ( filmer for MTBcut ) a call and said lets go out the woods, I need to try this out, you like riding whats not to like WIN WIN!?

Where down there shooting about 45 mins till it started raining, so well called it a day, Came home and spent 15 mins editing. thats a 2 min riding web vid turned round from start to online in an hour...

And we thought, with all the vids out there of people just riding, that arnt pros, so we went for the goon ride approach.

Anyway, enjoy, the only real clips in this thing both in terms of riding and shooting are the last two... just a bit of fun...more polished vids coming in the near future of some much better riders.



Will get some snaps and a DIY step by step of the dolly online in the coming days....

Wednesday 17 November 2010

Few more from the WCs

This time Ben Baker wanted me to have a look for photos of him from a few of the WCs...

So while looking for the one of him I found, I came accross these ones...

Now I was giving them a quick edit in PS and they all just seemed to look best as BWs, not to sure why, but none where really had strong uses of colour so not much was lost.

Anyway few from Champery WC last season, riders are the Santa Cruz Syndicate and Harry Heath.