Nick Russill

GoPro HD Hero 2

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:51:55 +0000

I just took delivery of the new “professional” go-anywhere HD Hero2 camera from GoPro. I intend to use it as an additional time-lapse camera for use in appropriate environments and also for kite aerial photography (the forthcoming wifi bacpac should be excellent).

More details can be found at http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero2-outdoor-edition/, but in short the GoPro has the following features:

Professional 11MP Sensor
2x Faster Image Processor
2X Sharper Glass Lens
Professional Low Light Performance
Full 170º, Medium 127º, Narrow 90º FOV in 1080p and 720p Video
120 fps WVGA, 60 fps 720p, 48 fps 960p, 30 fps 1080p Video
Full 170º and Medium 127º FOV Photos
10 11MP Photos Per Second Burst
1 11MP Photo Every 0.5 Sec Timelapse Mode
3.5mm External Stereo Microphone Input
Simple Language-based User Interface
Wi-Fi BacPac™ and Wi-Fi Remote™ Compatible (coming soon)
- Long Range Remote Control of up to 50 GoPro Cameras
- Wi-Fi Video/Photo Preview + Playback + Control via GoPro App
- Live Streaming Video and Photos to the Web

I mounted the GoPro HD on the dashboard of my car, set it in 2s time-lapse mode and drove from Cardiff to home. I left it running to capture the sunset and see how it performed in low light. The interface on the camera is very simple indeed. The jpegs contain quite a bit of noise at 100% crop, but this can be significantly cleaned up in Adobe Lightroom 3 with the noise filters. The 1080p video below was exported use LR-Timelapse templates and I’m very pleased with the results.

New Photography website

admin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 09:38:55 +0000

I have finished going through over 16,000 images taken over the past 10 years and produced a new photographic website with sections on Arctic Photography, Antarctic Images, Aerial (including kite) photography, Wales and Italy.

This can be viewed at http://www.nickrussill-photography.co.uk

My videos on Vimeo

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:17:34 +0000

Adria 4 Twin Van Review

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:51:28 +0000

A few people have asked me about what our Adria 4 Twin van conversion is like after seeing photos over on my Flickr page. When I was researching vans to buy there was next to nothing on the web (apart from the obligatory forum rants by fringe lunatics), so rather than send out hurried emails I hope this will be a useful text.

The brief when choosing a van conversion was as follows:

- insulated for trips to the Alps

- high enough for me (6’1)

- garage for dog

- contain an energetic 8 month old

- fast, economical, confortable etc.

- flexible sleeping

- not a Ford Transit

The standard Adria Twin was a good consideration, however the sleeping accommodation on the double bed kind of ruled it out for a growing family. The 4 Twin seemed perfect in terms of the cleverest use of space I have seen in a MWB Fiat Ducato van. In the end we went for a second hand Adria 4 Twin based on a 2.3 Multijet Fiat Ducato that had been well looked after (the first owner kept it in a marquee on his lawn!). Extras included alloy wheels, full spare wheel, reversing sensor, Fiamma F65 awning, metallic paint. I subsequently fitted a Fiamma roofrack (that fits onto the F65 awning despite most dealers telling you it does not exist), rear door ladder and bike carrier.

What’s good?

The build quality and specification of the internal fit out is excellent. The van is a pleasure to drive, averaging around 29-33 MPG at brisk motorway driving. Plenty of power for mountain roads. The double bed assembly takes a bit of getting used to, but can be constructed in under five minutes with practice. Having the van level seems to be important to not waking up with a bad back in the morning.

The storage space is very flexible with a huge space under the top bunk with the lower one neatly folded up.

The central heating is very effective and not at all noisy in the night and the flexibility to run off gas or electric hookup is convenient.

What’s not so good?

We’ve got Sprinter vans at work and the bodywork is like a tank. I can walk on the roof no problems, but on the roof of the Ducato there is no way it would hold an adult’s weight without bending and causing the windows to leak. The only way is to walk along the very edge of the roof holding onto the roofrack – or get a duck board fitted (more wind noise).

Adria service is TERRIBLE. I took the van to our local authorised agent in South Wales and still after almost 7 weeks warranty issues have not been resolved due to lack of communication from the manufacturer. It seems that the fridge vent was incorrectly installed at the factory and needs refitting – plus repair of part-melted plastic exterior grille. Apparently nearly all motor home manufacturers are like this. Why?

Reverse gear – a known factory recall issue. Apparently Fiat got the ratios wrong, so the van can do 40MPH in revers (well the Italians like driving fast!). I need to get this checked, but worth doing as you get a free clutch.

Problems:

Fridge vent (see above)

Leaking kitchen tap – fixed under warranty

Toilet fill indicator always flashes red, even when empty. Apparently a know issue with these Thetford Cassette toilets

Infuriating that the side sliding door does not close properly when van is off-level. Bottom latch does not engage meaning the van cannot be centrally locked.

Conclusion:

Where ever we go in this van people admire it. Owners of big motorhomes are often envious of the wide sliding door and alfresco dining arrangements. With the side door open, the access and view is superior to any other motorhome that conversely have a narrow opening.

The layout is very practical and flexible. Particularly the ability to fold the lower bunk for large storage (plus dog), or have long things like surfboards in the aisle entered via the rear door. I’d give the van 8/10 if it weren’t for the non-existent support from the manufacturer.

Therefore great van, recommended 7/10.

Laser scanning Cologne Cathedral

admin — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:02:07 +0000

I was in Cologne for Intergeo 2010. On the second night our Topcon GLS-1500 scanner joined us for a beer outside the impressive cathedral. While we were relaxing, it did the hard work of acquiring an amazing point cloud…

Monitoring the Heritage Coast

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:41:38 +0000

A short film I made from a visit to the coast near Cardiff to carry out laser scanning. The aim is to monitor changes in the rock year on year for coastal erosion. More info about this method can be found here

Night snowboarding video

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:55:10 +0000

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I’ve just got back from the Mountain Travel Symposium in Colordao. We did some night snowboarding at Keystone Ski Resort and here is a short film of it. This was shot using a Canon EOS 5D Mk II. Note the amazing dynamic range and lack of noise in the image (shot at ISO 6400). View a high res QT movie here to see how amazing this camera is!

Kite photography in Maldives

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:41:26 +0000

Kite photograph from speedboat (of speedboat) in Maldives

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All taken from a Ricoh GRD camera mounted on a kite line. There was no wind so I made my own with the speedboat! A short film about how I did this can be viewed here

Alaska Project Published Worldwide

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:44:08 +0000

Last June I went to Alaska to train a group of surveyors how to produce land maps using helicopter-based low altitude photogrammetry.

The survey was centered on Huslia in the remote bush north of Fairbanks and was a big success. In conjuction with Topcon and the client, a two-piece article was written and published in the world’s survey press.

You can download the articles here: part 1 | part 2

For me the trip was an adventure to a part of the world I’d always wanted to visit. After leaving a wet, grey Wales, a sweaty stopover in Mineapolis, landing in Fairbanks was just like landing back in Cardiff (grey and wet) – but with more trees. I joined the survey barge which departed 2 weeks earlier after a four hour helicopter flight. The pre-flight briefing involved showing me a loaded pistol under the pilot’s seat for shooting bears (only in the eye socket as their heads are too thick to penetrate with a bullet), and a mosquito net (“if we go down and you’re too smashed up to walk then the mosquitoes will eat you before the bears get to you”) said Chris the Swiss pilot.

Click here too view a slideshow of some of my photographs of the trip

Bostonia

admin — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:54:00 +0000

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Bostonia Magazine, originally uploaded by nick_russill.

My aurora shot from Kulusuk in E. Greenland was used on the current cover of Bostonia – the Boston University Alumni magazine for their cover article on space weather and its effects on global telecommunications. Read the article here.