Spent a few days this week putting together a photobooth for a friends wedding. Was a fun project. Had to hack my timelapse cable for the Lumix GH2 and run it into an arcade red button. Now pushing the button starts a 3 seconds countdown and fires a shot – which is automatically displayed on the LCD below the camera. Nice.
The one thing with my new Panasonic AF102 is that it’s not designed to be shot on your shoulder. To do this you need a 3rd party shoulder rig. Most of these are expensive to buy and have features that I don’t need. So I decided to build my own using bits and pieces I already had.
On tripod (with quick release plate)
I can add a weight on the back so it balances on my shoulder
Parts:
1 x handle off an old electric grinder
1 x Manfrotto quick release adapter & plate
2 x Aluminium strips (1 of those bent into shoulder shape)
1 x Steel weight
So simple, breaks down quickly and works exactly how I want it. Just need to add some padding to the shoulder part to make it complete.
Below are the lenses I use on my Panasonic AF102. (I have a Canon FD to Micro 4/3 adapter)
My current lens kit
So for the Dave Wallace video “Broken” I wanted to use a beat up old grand piano. It turns out old grand pianos are extremely rare in CHCH and if you do find one they are expensive. So I decided to build a fake one from an old upright. As fate would have it my next door neighbor had an old upright in his back yard!
Step 1 – Get some people who love to shift heavy things or just love being in photos
Step 2 – Pull off the 200kg + cast iron back
Step 3 – Recycle what you can from the old upright
Step 4 – Add a frame (get your dad to test it)
Step 5 – Give it a bottom
Step 6 – Sexy it up
And the final result….
We added rubber bands to every key so they actually worked. The lid is made from all the panels of the old upright.
In the final video it looks like a fully functional grand piano. I give it an A+
Don’t forget to check out the piano in action here.
