GoPro Hero 8, GoPro Hero 11, Nikon Z Fc + Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 DX
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, Motion, QGIS, mCallouts
Subscribers when released
640
Trivia/Background:
First bike-related adventure in a while - was certainly a fun day. But really I have to get my other bike fixed…
Video:
Description:
Melbourne’s got a bunch of trails for bikes and pedestrians that traverse the city. Although they’re frequently narrow, hilly and almost never take the direct route from anywhere to anywhere, they frequently go through some nice bushland and are technically “off road”. With some judicious navigation, it should be possible to connect a bunch of them together and get all the way out to Warburton… if you’re willing to ride that far.
Because I still need to work on my bike, but I need some practice for Around The Bay, I’m doing this on an e-bike I’ve hired - a Tern GSD cargo bike. Which will totally be fun…
Apologies for the sometimes chaotic camera work here. I had a GoPro mounted on my helmet, and as you’ll know, you tend to need to look in about 6 directions at once while riding. Never realised quite how much I look up and down, either…
A 10m tape measure yagi that never quite got finished
Camera(s) Used
2x GoPro 8, GoPro 11, DJI Mavic Zoom II, Nikon Z Fc + Nikon 16-50mm DX VR and Viltrox 13mm f/1.4
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, Motion
Subscribers when released
629
Trivia/Background:
Fun, but the weather sure didn’t go well…
Really liking the 8:7 footage the GoPro 11 produces for “head cam” point of view shots - gives you a lot of room to aim the camera up and down in post. The Star Trails timelapse mode is also spectacular as well, and while it can’t even come close to how much more light sensitive the Z Fc is, especially with the f/1.4 lens on the Z Fc, it’s a lot better in the dark than the 8 was.
This one was of course skipped way ahead in the queue - there’s a whole bunch of stuff that actually took place much earlier to come out later. But this one’s only two and a half months ago!
Also, time to start a new “season” I guess - after the last of the Canning Stock Route videos.
And this is the 100th video!
Video:
Description:
Antennapalooza’s on again this year! After the previous event we were eager to attend again, XSS even having a talk to present. But will the weather hold out? Spoiler - it did not. Much “fun” ensued in the mud, and I attempted this year’s project - building a 10m tape measure yagi.
Menindee to Hattah Kulkyne, then back to Melbourne
Notable Equipment
Unusable solar panels, a RS41…
Camera(s) Used
2x GoPro Hero 8, Nikon Z Fc with 16-50mm DX VR, 13mm Viltrox f/1.4
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, Motion, QGIS, OmniGraffle
Subscribers when released
615
Trivia/Background:
A bit less subscriber growth since the last one, but at 615, that’s nearly double the number that we started the CSR series with.
The bit where we scroll over the map with all the clips took… probably about twice as long as the rest of the video put together, it was a surprisingly infuriating effort.
There’s also a few bonus things to be seen in the background of the last scene that weren’t specifically mentioned…
Video:
Description:
In the last part of our Canning Stock Route journey, we return home from Menindee, visiting Big Lizzie and staying in Hattah Kulkyne National Park…. in the same campsite as last time.
The Story of Big Lizzie, The World’s Largest Tractor (so much more than “The Big Tractor”!) - https://youtu.be/walolpVicHI
When we get home, it’s time to unpack, recap and start fixing the broken stuff, and put some of it into storage. As well as a little electronics project that didn’t quite work out.
And then give a few hints about what’s coming next :)
Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, Living Desert State Park, Burke and Wills Campsite
Notable Equipment
None
Camera(s) Used
2x GoPro Hero 8, Nikon Z Fc with 16-50mm DX VR
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, QGIS
Subscribers when released
603
Trivia/Background:
In terms of splitting this one up, it turned out a bit interesting. Too much to cover the whole trip back and the post-arrival stuff in one video, but not quite enough for a video of its own.
Well I didn’t intend for the Burke and Wills expedition to be half the video, but it certainly provided some decent content, and it is an interesting story.
Video:
Description:
Heading south from Tibooburra, we reach the town of Broken Hill. Although it’s in New South Wales, a lot of things about it are quite South Australian - but why could that be?
We visit the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (who was Albert Kersten anyway?), try and fail to go on a mine tour, then tour the Living Desert State Park with its Cultural Hike and sculptures.
After that, we camp at the Burke and Wills campsite in Medindee - spotting an interesting piece of local wildlife.
And then I briefly* recount the Burke and Wills expedition. (* - ok, it’s half the video).
2x GoPro Hero 8, Nikon Z Fc with 16-50mm DX VR, DJI Mavic Zoom II
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, Motion, mLooks ‘Golden Age’
Subscribers when released
585
Trivia/Background:
This was a pretty nice area that I’d never been to despite living in Adelaide for a long time. A lot to see, although we missed a few iconic things on the Oodnadatta Track by joining it half way down (we’ll go back someday!).
The “cinematic” bit just kinda came together when I decided to try adding the 2.35:1 letterboxing to see how it looked. Turns out all you need is that, an over the top LUT, and to convert the video to 24fps, and it produces a surprisingly convincing effect…
Video:
Description:
Leaving Coober Pedy, it’s time for the next part of our adventure, where we traverse Outback South Australia to eventually reach Cameron Corner - the corner of SA, NSW and QLD.
We cross the Woomera Prohibited Area, which despite the name, we’re only in the green zone, so as long as we don’t deviate from the main road, we’re allowed through without even needing a permit.
Turning onto the Oodnadatta Track near Coober Pedy, we soon reach William Creek Station, featuring one of the world’s most remote pubs, where we add something of our own to the wall.
Next up is the former Strangways telegraph station ruins, Beresford Siding, then we reach Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park, to check out two springs - Blanche Cup and The Bubbler.
Then Curdimanka Siding, with the impressive Stuart Creek Bridge.
After catching a quick glimpse of Lake Eyre from the lookout, we reach the Mutonia Sculpture Park with the impressive Planehenge.
Reaching Maree, we see the Lake Eyre Yacht Club, the first mosque in Australia and some old trains from when The Ghan passed though.
Leaving Lyndhurst via the Strezlecki track, we find the Art Baker lookout, which had some Bart Simpson-esque vandalism, then finally turn onto the track to Cameron Corner. After a ~140km longcut, we get there.
After some interesting service from the local pub, we just decide to continue on to Queensland instead. Then back down into NSW and dinner at the Family Hotel in Tibooburra, staying in “the residence”.
Coober Pedy - The Big Winch, Lookout Cave Motel, Old Timers Mine, the opal fields
Notable Equipment
None
Camera(s) Used
2x GoPro Hero 8, Nikon Z Fc with 16-50mm DX VR
Software Used
Final Cut Pro, Gyroflow, QGIS
Subscribers when released
570
Trivia/Background:
It’s an interesting place, and I do wish we got to stay there for longer, but all the accomodation seemed to be booked out. But there was more to do.
Wish I’d picked up some opal - you can buy plain white opal pretty cheaply because there’s tons of it and it’s not considered valuable.
I mean, you can even just go out into the opal fields and pick it up off the ground, as long as it’s not in someone’s staked out mining claim.
Video:
Description:
Our next stop is the outback town of Coober Pedy, famous for opal mining. Dinner at a 360 degree theatre, stay in an underground motel, then visit a former opal mine that was… discovered, when an underground house broke into it when digging out another bedroom.
Then we head out into the opal fields to get extremely close to a wind turbine.
The lawn care section is due to the small number of detached houses around Yulara and Mutitjulu, rather than the Yulara resort visitors, of course.
Video:
Description:
While we were in the area, we decided to see Uluru, as I’d not done it yet. Splashing out on two nights at the Sails in the Desert Hotel in Yulara, we set out to walk around Kata Tjuta then Uluru. But what’s the resort like? How much of a tourist trap is it exactly?
Plus, one weird trick to look quite a bit smarter than everyone else on the way in…
