I subscribed to Envato Elements

On October 29, 2020October 24, 2020 By Rick McIn Apple, blogs, product endorsements, videoLeave a comment

Of many competing services offering online digital assets, Story Blocks is most famous. And advertises the most.

But I was convinced to join instead less expensive Envato Elements US $198 / year. Both work with Final Cut Pro, my software.

They provide licensed images, audio, videos, graphics, plugins, fonts, logos, tutorials, 3D, graphic & video templates, presentation templates, infographics and much more. I’ll be including those in my videos, websites and presentations.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

One of the main things I like about using their digital resources is the simplicity of licensing. I’m much less worried that YouTube — sometime in future — might take down my YouTube due to copyright complaint.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

My Hiking YouTube channel

On October 27, 2020October 18, 2020 By Rick McIn Google, hiking, travel, videoLeave a comment

We love YouTube. My first upload was Mar 28, 2006.

Google bought the startup November 2006 for US$1.65 billion.

I spun off a hiking YouTube channel Jan 17, 2018.

Finally got it looking good October 2020. I’m studying how to post better videos in future. #CovidGoals

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube. Subscribe to be notified of future updates.

The best YouTube uploads have dedicated thumbnails like this. The rest show a somewhat random frame of the video.

YouTube thumbnail

30 second video in 4K

On October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 By Rick McIn videoLeave a comment

Yikes. 😗

Shooting and editing in 4K resulted in a video file of 1.58 GB.

If you click on the cog bottom right of the YouTube video, you can ~~watch in 4K.~~ .

UPDATE – For some reason YouTube doesn’t offer my 4K video in 4K. Another reason I’ll probably stick with the lower resolution 1080p, for now.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

On Oct 7, 2020 a guy still wearing his motorcycle helmet slipped and fell here. Wasn’t rescued until the next morning.

In 2012 a woman fell 100-feet — and somehow survived.

UBeesize 54-inch Selfie Stick Tripod

On September 28, 2020September 27, 2020 By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, photos, product endorsements, videoLeave a comment

For hiking I’m not often going to be carrying a full tripod. Too big. Too heavy.

But for cycling, I’ll often bring this one along.

I’ve spent hundreds of hours videotaping from tripods. But — until now — have never used one as an extended selfie stick.

Of many similar options, I got the Selfie Stick Tripod, UBeesize 51″ Extendable Tripod Stand with Bluetooth Remote for iPhone & Android Phone. I won’t be using the Bluetooth Remote.

CAD $33
610 Grams
suggested max weight is about 2.2 lbs/1Kg.
1/4” screw thread (fits my GoPro, Sony camera, OM 4 gimbal)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Click PLAY or watch some of my tests on YouTube.

You CAN replace an iPhone battery

On September 24, 2020September 22, 2020 By Rick McIn Apple, photos, video1 Comment

Like everyone, my iPhone battery life progressively died until it was nearly unusable.

A local shop wanted CAD $112 plus tax to replace the battery.

Apple Canada charged CAD $88 plus tax plus shipping. About $100 total.

3 months warranty.

It’s a bit of work backing up and then restoring the phone. But not confusing. It worked well.

I’ll now be using two iPhones:

2020 SE for day-to-day
iPhone X for video / photo on my OM 4 gimbal

slow motion 4K / 60 frames per second

On September 24, 2020September 23, 2020 By Rick McIn videoLeave a comment

This 17 second clip comes from an original 2.36 GB.

HUGE.

I don’t think I’ll be able to edit in 4K very often. I’ve crashed Final Cut Pro on my MacBook Pro a few times already.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

my first 4K video edit

On September 21, 2020September 20, 2020 By Rick McIn videoLeave a comment

In 2020 I don’t need 4K.

But since I’m experimenting with all the other features of my new Sony ZV-1, I gave it a go.

4K has more pixels. Bigger files, of course.

With more pixels you can zoom in your editing software.

Even better, you can use the “Ken Burns” pan-and-zoom effect normally used in photos — with video. That would be the main reason I’d shoot in 4K.

As my videos will end up on YouTube — most viewers watching in lower resolutions — you might ASSume there’s no advantage in shooting 4K for those who don’t have 4K monitors.

Not so. If you shoot in 4K the resulting 1080p YouTube version will be better than if you shoot originally in 1080p.

Click PLAY or to watch some experiments in 4K on YouTube. Watch in 4K.

The slow mo is choppy for some reason.

DJI OM 4 gimbal

On September 18, 2020September 17, 2020 By Rick McIn photos, product endorsements, video2 Comments

I’m again trying a DJI gimbal, this time because I really like the magnetic phone clamp. My goal is to produce smooth, stabilized video. No more shaky hand held clips.

As I travel solo most of the time, with the OM 4 you can take a photo or start/stop video with a hand gesture. Very convenient.

Click PLAY or see highlights on YouTube.